West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-07-11

III
g1I and paperhangers were in the Bowser
- parlors Mr. Bowser happened to be
50 very busy at the office ,ha, he left every
thing at home to Mrs. Bowser She selected
the paper for the walls and the tints Tor the
ceilings, and he scarcely looked into the
rooms. In dim way he realized that new
carpets and new portieres were to be bought,
and he heard talk of harmony Of colors
without paying much attention. lie was TO
take day off and go dowr town with Mrs.
Bowser to select the goods, and the day had
been set when one of those many good
things bobbed up. An acquaintance who
was abou, to attend an auction sale of rare
aud rich furniture entered the office and
mentioned the fact and Mr.. Bowser was
instantly alert.
''By John, but that reminds me :" he
exclaimed, "We've been Sticking up the
parlors over home and are ready for new
carpets and portieres. may strike Just
what we want at this sale and hit
bargain"
millionaire family which had suddenly been
reduced from the top notch to the bottom
one. Furniture, carpets and curtains hadn'
been in the house long enough for the flies
10 light on them. There were Louis XVI
chairs, Marie Antoineite carpets, King
George portieres aud Queen Anne curtain
poles, and ns Mr.. Bowser gazed around him
he felt that he should make the ten strike
OF his life. As near as he could remember,
five porlieres were wanted for his parlors 10
cover the openings, and the auctioneer had
no sooner put up "a rare lot" than Mr.
Bowser became a bidder. Three or four
other people wanted them badly, but he
walked over them in tn. bidding and
chuckled in triumph. lie had never
measured the length and breadth Of the
rooms, but as he shut one eye and scratched
his head he decided that they we're about so
long and so broad lie might be 4 foot
over or under, but that didn't count. There
were a couple Of carpets under his feet which
would be about a 6t and the patterns
pleased him.
lie heard the aueiioncer talking about
Royal Wiltons, Queen Anne, Administer and
the seventeeth century, but before he had
time TO post himself the bidding began.
This time he had to down dozen other
bidders. bu, he did it in good shape, and
the carpets were his. Then he picked up
music box at price never before heard of,
bid on rug going for song and started
out after an express wagon with such glow
of satisfaction in his heart that the flush on
cheeks might have been laid to brandy.
Mr.. Bowser was in luck in getting his
purchases home. Mrs. Bowser was down
town, and the glad surprise had been waiting
her for an hour when she reached home.
Mr.. Bowser stood in the hall to welcome
her, and it was proud moment of his life
when he said
"My dear woman, please step into the
parlor with me-"
"Is--is mother here ?" She queried,
with laugh.
al am happy TO say that my esteemed
mother-in.law has not arrived up to the
present hour. Step right in, however.
Perhaps you will be even more pleased than
if your respected mother awaited you"
AS Mrs. Bowser entered the front parlor
she beheld the heap on the floor, and the
family cat had made her way to the top of
1t and was surveying the country around
her. The heap was composed of carpets,
poriieres, music box and rug, and as she
gazed at it Mr.. Bowser stood by with folded
arms and smile on his face.
"What--what have you done ?" she
finally gasped as she turned pale and leaned
against the wall
'Done Why, have secured what we
wanted for those rooms and saved us hun
dreds Of dollars" he replied. 'Mrs.
Bowser, have got carpets and porleires ht
for the palace of king, and got them for
mere song. As soon as we have had
dinner / will make your heart throb with
joy. What in thunder is the matter with
you ?''
The tears were falling, and it was a minute
or two before she could brace up and climb
the stairs to take off her hat. As he watched
her go up Mr.. Bowser felt chill creep over
him and scented coming disaster, but he
shook it off and was trying to whistle as she
came down again He couldn't get back
his exaltation, however, and she had nothing
to say sbou, his purchases, and dinner was
a dreary affair. When il was over at last.
he said
"We will now view my purchases. Isnp-
pose you are somewhat disappointed at being
knocked out Of your shopping, but had to
grab the bargains when did. Let me haul
out these carpets for your inspection. This
one is for this room, and II you can find any
fault with il 60 ahead don remember nov
whether it's a Royal Worcester or a Dsgestan.
but"
Mrs Bowser sat down and began 10 cry.
and IL was a long minute before she could
say
But it's blue, Mr. Bowsef q"
"Of course IT'S blue You don't sap
pose I'm color blind. do you ?"
'TBui look al the paper and the ceiling
and see what an awful misn,atch 90
"What has the paper and the ceiling to
do with the carpet ? It's a regular Jim
dandy, and the richest we ever had. and
any other woman than you
lie was spreading the carpet ont as he
talked. and be found il four feet too short
and three feet too narrow lie was taken
aback for a minute and then rolled il Up
and spread the other one out and said
"And this is for the back parlor don't
rc,,er,,f,oy ,,.t,t f.,ra 10 d. t.., .ts Wv -.