The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-08-30

or changeful time unchanged it stood
-Longfellow.
The Cartons were an effectionate
family. They embraced each other
when they met. They kissed each 9TH
er when they parted. They gave each
other presents on birthdays, on ami
yersaries, at Christmas and Easter.
When they met each of the five sisters
asked each minutely and in detail as
to the children of the other. They adj
mired each man who had married a
Carton girl. They rivaled each other
in affectionate admiration of the off,
spring possessing such desirable par
ents And they were quite convinced
that the Cartons, separately and col
lectively considered, were of the elect
OF earth and destined to an immortal
1ty of unusual splendor.
When their only brother married
Marcia Wright, the family, with it's
proud unity and generosity, took her
into the sacred enclosure of the Carton
contingent. She shared the inesti-
mable pleasure of being one of them.
She, too, received presents and ca
resses. She was patronized with the
utmost urbanity. 1t was Matilda who
took the lead in these demonstrations
Matilda was the Oldest She was also
the wealthiest. Had the Cartons been
addicated to the singing 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 unconsciously
have resolved itself into that of 'Tilda
at whatever sacrifice of correct musical
eRlence and devout laudation. 1t was
Matilda who suggested names for the
new babies, who inspected the shop
windows for new styles, and beat the
family dressmaler down to her terms.
1t was Matilda who gave her nephews
and nieces tin toys and bulk candy.
1t was Matilda who, when she bestowed
china teapot on bride or a gradu-
ate. stuck a bunch of violets in the
spout and swathed the whole in tissue
paper, tied with baby ribbon-which
thus clearly indicated her artistic ten
denotes. 1t was Matilda who, when the
first anniversary of Marcia's wedding
came around-or was about to come
around-informed the young wife she
should send her valuable commence
rative present.
Marcia politely protested
1T doesn't seem any time since you
sent Joe 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 a year, my DEAR We al
ways observe anniversaries-we Car
tons!"
$50 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 brcakages had been duly joined
were, on close observation, apparent.
Sometimes" went on Mrs. Dobbs
dreamily, zone feels that to give an
article of personal signifcance-of in
dividual interest-far exceeds those
that may be purchased for certain
occasion, or a specified sum-"
Indeed, yes!" assented the bride of
the brother of Mrs. Dobbs
She was thinking of the lot Of lumb-
er that had accumulated in the attic of
her new home. She had taken out of
storage the furniture OF her mother,
who, being passed into the big black
ness had no mood for f,,rn;+,,,o 49,, g.
anything else material. 1t was only
that morning Joe Carton entreated his
wife to get rid of 1t.
II know there are people who like
old trash," Joe had said 1t may have
been lack of mutual opinion on such
matters which made these diverse
natures so attractive to each other.
Il like the new furniture-the kind you
can smell the varnish on. Let an auc-
ton man take the truck. Sell them
for whatever they will bring"
The varnish! Marcia had suppressed
a groan. Varnish! The deep, reddish
CLEAN of that old black mahogany
flickered before her eyes. And the
golden gloss of the hand-polished
birdseye maple! And the dusky glim-
mer of rare butternut wood!
II know" said she. But I'd like to
reserve the brass-clamped desk, Joe."
Reserve nothing!" Joe had decid-
ed. He was dictatorial-like Matilda.
"Tell the Wabash avenue people to
take the lott"
Marcia had early learned the Carton
virtue of smiling submission. So, with
many an inward pang and innumerable
suppressed protests, she saw her an
cestral treasures carried from her door.
It was only when Matilda had talked
of the value Of hereditary possessions
she had faltered fora, moment. Her
resolution to be present at the auction
sale on the following day was one not
to be contested. 1t was with some mis-
giving, though, that she entered the
great, dreary room. Men walked
around, their hats on and cigars
gripped diagonally between their teeth.
Women-chief1y Jewesses-the proud
proprietors Of South State street stores
rubbed elbows with each other in
frenzy of bargain getting. The old
auctioneer, white haired and white
bearded, aristocratic of aspect as the
Earl of fiction. called out the wares
placed before him with fine air of
contempt for the crowd of second
hand dealers, with the idiosyncrasies
OF whom he was familiar Catching the
eye of the newcomer-an auction ten