The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1899-09-05

lev SNltl4 lIllleb as
oretonne, small mattresses, Swiss
muslin, pink and blue ribbons. etc,
and thereby developed gift for up
tering that, but for the circum
Zee of going to housekeeping with
,1t to nothing to spend for furniture.
Aight have kept company with that
countless array of gems of purest raw
serene, and flowers that are born TO
blush unseen.
1t was really exciting to take old
kitchen chairs and paint them bright
vermilion, putting in seats of broad
ncarlet and white worsted braid: or
TO convert fossil remain from some
ones great-grandmother's parlor into
nm ebony affair, with n stripe of dead
gold. But dabbling in vermilion is
almost as dangerous as tigers taste
of blood, and we found it difficult to
refrain from giving everything a coat
OF melted sealing-wax.
Shellac, too, Is delusion and n
snare; and one of us was found walk
ing in her sleep with tho varnish
bottle and brush in hand, Just about
to try its virtues on the countenance
OF her unsuspicious relative.
Aside from our creative faculties
our cottage may be said to have been
furnished from other peoples garrets;
and while collecting together orr
household goods, we found ourselves
casting covetous eyes on every piece
of furniture that looked at ali out of
the common way. The possessive
pronoun, applied to n local habi elton
was particularly fascinating to Bohe
mians like ourselves, who had hitherto
haunted city boarding houses. until
the obliging demise of n distant rela
tive somewhere i'll the western wilds
put us IN possession of an elegant in
autiiciency, on the strength of which
we became landed prop rietors; for the
cottage was offered 10 us for "a mere
song, and we had strong haukerings
after a roof of our own.
So, after singing the song. which
meant making quite hole in our bank
stock. we set about transforming our
purchase with such womanly energy
that we were soon regarded as the espe.
clal torments of all the shiftless men
in the nelghborhoOd, who protested TO
10 odd jobs. They did not like being
interrupted in the amusing occupation
of twirling their thumbs to do things
right of, or not at all. Just like
women they grumbled: and with an
injured expression OF countenauce.
they crawled about their tasks. and nc.
compllshed about rs much in a day as
we could have done in two hours. had
we been gifted with the physical
strength.
But things got done somehow: and
having worked like bees inside of the
house, and provided ourselves with
the traditional respectable woman.
who seems to be the indispensable ar
penda9e to such households, we were
ready to stop existing and begin to live.
80 delicious was that first meal under
our own roof though it consisted of
bread and butter and round hearts.
eaten of packing-box; and we felt
very much like children playing baby
house"
BY and by visitors came: visitors
from palatial mansions, who assured
us that our little nest was charming.
so like things one sees abroad. But
one lady, an enyious sort OF person. af.
ter gancing rather supercilliously at
our rockery aud ferns. aud other rural
belongings asked, carelessly:
And you don't feel afraidhere. with
nil these dark woods so near"
Afraid" We laughed at the idea
We never thought Of such thing
Everyone told rs that it was partic1
larly safe place.
Every place is safe. replied the
visitor. sententiously, until some
thing happens
Now wasn't it hateful Of her We
bad very little peace after that. aud
although one side of the cottage was
close upon the road, we could not for.
get that the other was in the shadow
OF tue woods II was o one-storied af
fair, too. Our sleeping.room was
downstairs, and upstairs was only nm
attic. where the respectable woman en-
Ioyed the sound slumbcrs of the uu-
Imaginative
On the night Of tho very day when
we had been aroused tJ n sense of
our unprotected state. our fears cul
minated Dot pooh.poohcd them
TO be SIRE, aud pretended not fo Inc
disturbed i'm the least. Buf the con.
''.'''I NNA| wa WtIF destined 10 have
our Threats cut i'm the silence of the
night was gaining upon me. glare5
about uuensi'y. iu the moonlight.
but the trees only cast quiet shadows
over the road, aud the vines trombler
little Iu the night air
was reused, finally. from half
sleep by o subducj sound OF voices
under the window, aud an aguo.ftim-
m'dia'cly took possession Of me. ]
shook and shook the very bed was
shaken under mp. and wondered
That % didn't wakou Dot.
Tho wretchoa outside were probably
discussing the cosiest means of effect
ing an entrance, OF course. with the
object Of plumber and ] Immediately
ran over iu my mind an inventory OF
our available possessions. "Your
silver. or your life" would. doubt-
less, be the war-cry and I Thought.
with a Rroan, of our great. grand.
mothers teapot, that had been an OBJ
jet Of worship In the family ever
since II could remembor. and y bf1e-