The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-12-17

%SX2ISs SMIgI Every one can look
@s1g}lSssH~sA back in his life to
(SS&gI@S8S more than one &C.
c1g0yE&@W casion when, led
MssgW away by that most
EN@SEsSga@ a delusive thing, Cir
~ WIZ cumstantial evi,
dence, he has been firmly convinced,
for the time being, of the guilt of some
innocent person. The melancholy ex'
perience OF Mrs. Crumpet is case in
point. She was kindly, jolly, mid.
dle.aged woman happily married.
plenty of money and plenty Of friends
The most intimate OF these numerous
friends was Mrs. Brown. Mrs. Brown
and Mrs. Crumpet has been school
friends together, and although Mrs
Orumpet now lived in Baltimore while
Mrs. Brown lived in New York, the
old intimacy had never been allowed
to cool. Mrs. Brown was stately,
dignifed woman, with suggestion in
her manner Of the old school. At the
time this episode in their lives begins,
Mrs. Brown had been in New Orleans
and was thinking Of returning home
when she received o letter from Mrs.
Crumpet.
EDO you know, dear Jane" it be-
gan, sit is now over year since ]
have seen you. Do manage to give
me a little time on your way home.
We are just getting the house in order
for the summer, and preparing to- go
to the country. live are ct the coun.
try place when you and John pass
through Baltimore, come to us for as
long visit as you can, we will make
you comfortable there; if we are still
in town, come..to US, I beg, and take
us as we are; if you do not come, ]
shall feel as if it is because you do not
care to make any exertion to see you,
old friend. You always had such de,
termination, I remember" etc., etc
Which letter Mrs. Brown answered
by saying:
"Dear Amelia-We will come to you
Thursday of next week. We can stay
only the one night, as George is now
very anxious to complete the arrange
ments for the new house. I hope yor
will be in town and allow me to study
the proportion and arrangement Of the
mahogany room. I am quite deter.
mined to have one in the new houst
exactly like it," ETC., etc.
Thursday morning Mr.. and Mrs
Brown arrived in Baltimore and founG
their friends still in the town house
Che carpets were up, the curtains were
down, the sofas and chairs done up il
covers, the chandeliers swathed in the
CHASTITY white bags that delight the
heart of the good housekeeper; fear
full odor of tar, turpentine and cam.
phor pervaded the whole house. After
such a cordial greeting from Mrs,
Crumpet that Mr.. and Mrs. Brown
quite forgot the momentary feeling o.
discomfort caused by the aspect Of the
house, they were shown to the room.
called "the mahogany ROOM" by
Anne, maid who had been with Mrs.
Crumpet long enough to feel that she
owned Mr.. and Mrs. Crumpet as well
as the whole establishment. This
room was the joy and pride of Mrs.
Crumpet's life. twas furnished with
rare pieces Of rich old mahogany,
which had been in her family for gen
erations. The ceilings and walls were
tinted soft, mellow shades Of q lighter
tone of mahogany color. The room
was generally hung with curtains, q
combination of delicious shades oil
tawny yellow, richly embroidered and
heavily lined; these were put away in
preparation for the move nsthe coun.
try, which took placs noxt day.
That night the two old friends had
long talk, each feeling that as Mrs.
Brown would be obliged to take the
early train the next morning they
must improve their opportunities.
When Mrs. Brown finally went to her
room, tired out, she found Mr.. Brown
already in bed in rather a perturbed
state of mind. With q bed it certainly
is Handsome is that handsome does. u
Now, the stately mahogany fourposter
was unquestionably good to look at,
but Mr.. Brown had found it was not
good to lie upon; the mattresses
settled into an obstinate hollow in the
middle. Mr.. Brown, who took s
serious view of life in general, and his
nights rest in particular, was sitting
bolt upright, the picture of woe and
despair.
Mrs. Brown, being a woman Of re
source, proceeded to try to remedy
this state of things. CHOW, if I only
had one of those Marseilles quilts
George" she said, opening and peer
inn into the ranasaaa of O heav1