The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-07-18
An ANTIQUE Treasure.

| The Cartons were an affectionate fam
| lily. They embraced each otter when
they met. They kissed each other when
they parted.
When their only brother of the five
sisters married Marcia Wright, the fam
lily, with its proud unity and generosity.
took her into the sacred Enclosure Of the
Carton contingent. She shared the Tres
/ Unable pleasure CT being one Of them.
She received presents and caresses. She
was Datronized with the utmost urban
ity. 1t was Matilda who took the lead
in these demonstrations. Matilda was the
eldest. She was also the wealthiest- Had
the Cartons been addicted to the sing
ing of hymns it is unlikely that they
would ever have chanted in the original
Praise God from whom all blessings
flow" The name OF the deity would IN
consciously have resolved itself into thar
of 'Tilda at whatever sacrifice of cor
rect musical cadence and devout lauda-
ton. It was Matilda who, when the
first anniversary CT Marcia's wedding
came around-or was about to come
around-informed the young wife she
should send her valuable commemora-
tive present
Marcia politely protested.
ut doesn't seem any time since you
sent JoeN and me that beautiful vase, "
she said. Her glance sought the vase
in question. So did that Of Mrs. Dobbs
which, by the way, was the marital
cognomen of Matilda, nee Carton
Almost year, my dear. We always
observe anniversaries-we Cartons"
80 sweet of you" murmured Marcia.
Young Mrs Carton made no mention
of the fact that, while both the price
inscribed on the box and on the vase
itself was fifteen dollars, the edges where
breakages had been duly Joined were,
on close observation. apparent.
Sometimes went on Mrs. Dobbs,
dreamily, 'one feels that TO give an ar
ticle of personal significance-of individ-
ual interest-far exceeds those that may
specified sum-
Indeed, yes" assented the bride of
the brother of Mrs. Dohbs.
She was thinking of the lot of lumber
which had accumulated in the attic Of
ner new home. She had taken out OF
storage the furniture of her mother,
who, being passed into the big blackness,
had no need for furniture, nor for any
thing else material 1t was only that
morning Joe Carton had entreated his
wife to get rid OF it.
Il know there are people who like old
trash Joe had said. 1t may have been
Jdck Oh mutual opinion on SuCl matters
which made these diverse natures so at
tractive to each other. 81 like the new
fUrniture-the kind you can smell the
varnish on. Let an auction man take
the truck. Sell them for whatever they
will bring"
The varnish, Marcia had suppressed a
groan. Varnish, The deep, reddish
CLEAN in that old black mahogany flick
cred before her eyes. And the golden
gloss OF the hand-polishsd birdseye ma
pie! And the dusky glimmer Of rare
butternut wood,
Il know" she said "But Ia ike to
reserve that brass-clamped desk, joe
Reserve nothing!' Joe had decided
He was dictatorial-like Matilda Tell
the Wabash avenue people to take the
lotr'
Marcia had early learned the cardinal
Carton virtue Of smiling submission. So.
with many an inward pang and innumer-
able repressed protests, she saw her an
cestral treasures carted from her door
In was only when Matilda had talke d
of the value of hereditary posse ssions she
had faltered for a moment Her reso-
luton to be present at the auction sale
on the following day was one not to be
contested. 1t was with some misgiving
though, that she entered the great,
dreary room. Men walked AROUND, their
hats on and cigars gripped diagonally
between their teeth. Women rubbed ell
bows with each other in frenzy OF
bargain getting.
i. =. !