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

Half hidden by a monstrous folding bed
that boosted the bold front of a cot
tage piano. young Mrs Carton watch
ed the sale of her maternal possessions.
1--WE have here" called the sonorous
voice of the auctioneer. "a valuable o d
mahogany desk. l would beg your at
tention to the fact that this is old
not new mahogany, and consequently
more desirable. 1t is in good condition.
It's brass clamps are OF charming de-
sign. Give ne a bid. Five dollars? That
is absurd. It is worth a hundred dol
lars if it is worth one cent. Fifty We?
You, sir! I am astonisned. Six-six
only bid for this antique treasure! Seven
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS it eight, Eight-go-
ing for eight-going-goin
A woman waved an umbrella al him.
''Eight-ten!' she screamed.
"Eight-ten! Going at eight-tenl Going
gone,
The man beside the auctioneer held out
his hand for the customary deposit, ard
pocketed the same while he wrote down
the name and address of the purchaser.
An hour later an express wagon b re-
from the rear of the auction roo e
desk at which Marcia Cartons J.
mother had written her acceptan OF
one marriage proposal. And the same
afternoon saw the desk in question duly
delivered at Marcia Cartons home With
it came a note written on the free sta
tionary OF a downtown dry goods house
Dearest Marcia: In remembrance Of
the anniversary Of your marriage 10 our
beloved brother, to whom 1 am sure
YOU will never fail in wifely duty ard
obedience. I send you both. with my dear
cts love and congratulations, this an
cient mahogany desk. II has no duplI-
cate in this country. I have had an
agent Of one OF the best firms in the
city looking for something OF the sort
the last three months l know that you
with your aesthetic tastes. will prize f.
as beauty deserves. 1 make no refer
ence TO the commercial value of the gift
That speaks for itself, as inquiry VII
prove. Your affecdonate sister.
MATILDA CARTON DOBBS."
With a slow head-shske and long
drawn breath. Mrs Carton laid down the
note Not one OF the Nrishts could
have written such note OF presenta-
ton as that
Thank God they couldn't" she said
And then, Come i'm
Matilda Do5bs, radiant in fall fnery
rustIed into the room.
You have received It safeIy,'' shz
cried and clasped her fat hands Isn't
It elegant"
Indeed it is,' returned Marcia feryent-
~ and honestly.
Just then fate which viii have a fin
ger in every pis-roor mortsls concoct.
played Mrs. Matilda Carton D1bbs 4
scurvy trick II reminded Narcfa's
young brother. who happened 70 b. pass
ing tina, he had forgotten his foot5sU
4. his sisters the previous dag. He
went in TO get g.
"Cricky"' ne yelled, and capered IKE
enc possessed. IF Won amt ct grand
mas old desk, I learned my letters o.
that Marcia. see here's where Z cut
ny initials. I thought you sad ice Car
ton vas going 70 make you sell AL her
old fu-niture,"
Marcia looked up. she was pretty
white.
X was s5ld At the auction-roons on
wabash avenue totay was thsrs."
An II it," Re was staring a; her
81 bewilderment Hos have you got
this. them"
That's xhat I'd Ike 20 know" s,id
Joe Carton. Who had come in uncb-
served
Marcia handed him The note TT. A
anniversary git fran Hsuisa' she ex-
p,alu-6 Il ar dsUzrteS 20 have i
Tae-e vas frseztuE silence. Malta
Dobas ress.
Marcia. Her voice was xs7z;csra1
.'ToE, s1oUid tezcs yrar-yoslF relative
testsr manners II IRE Carton fzu1ils
srsseEuig csTduct r. taa rrsssaes 0.
guests bzs nsVeg aesz permitted yoaaz
ns-pI. Ard she csrrl.s hrr ed facs
ara pa-tfy person lofgiiT ava
.-IerusaleTrs" exclzsr Z c-rrnn -
was cooking from ths ncss to she 49,
azs eaek again- Marcia hErEes h an
tf-ere treasure Sc tzuzneE fEf9 -