The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1904-08-26
ed at it, hurt, for moment. Then 8
smile dimpled her face.

ed at it, hurt, for moment Then
smile dimpled her face.
"Drive to q E. Forty seventh
Street." she told the coachman. aban-
doning the pursuit Of lace which had
brought her down town that day.
"Really, ladies'" said Mr.. Carter,
rubbing his hands and smiling a great
deal, "there must be quite a run on
marble mantels. I don't know when
it happened before that two ladies
came at the same time trying to buy
anything from house we were dis
mantl,ng. Sorry can't cut it in two
for you-but l guess that wouldn't
do, hey? What l will do though
he turned toward Mrs. Blender-"is
this: I'll let you know when we find
another of that sort. This lady had
just concluded the purchase of that
one when you came in"
"Another will not do for me- said
Mrs, Blender. There are-scntimen-
tai considerations about this one which
1 don't believe that you''-she turned
with pretty appeal to the purchaser
of the mantel-''can have. Wouldn't
another like tt"
II am very sorry" said Molly Put
nam, crimsoning, "but-1 can't ex-
plain-but, really, no other mantel
will answer my purpose. 1t's-weil
1 suppose that you'd call it senti'
mental consideration, too"
"But l." said Mrs. Blender some
what coldly, in answer to this astound-
ing remark from the unknown young
woman, Il used to live
"Already sold?' interrogated loud
voice in the anteroom. "Nonsense, my
man. nonsense! Who would want to
buy a discolored, old-fashioned, over
decorated marble mantel like that ex-
cept man who had some associations
with it? Now, -
The speaker broke off abruptly. The
two women inside and Mr.. Carter had
been listening intently. Mrs. Blender
made an impulsive movement forward.
Then she stopped, for the clustering
voice had begun again.
"Well, sir, and so you're back! And
what are you doing here, if l may
ask?"
81 don't recognize any right you
have to ask" replied a voice, at the
sound of which the color ebbed from
Mollie's face, only to flow back again
in a flood of deeper carmine. "But l
have no objection to telling you. T.
l went by the old house this morning.
IL came to buy the marble mantel
from my mothers ROOM"
"Umph!" There was prodigious
clearing Of the throat on the part of
the first of the speakers. "Umph!
Well-confound you, you young pup
py! You can't have it!'
"What?" cried the other voice in a
rage. The two women moved toward
the door. Then they paused.
"No!" stormed the older voice. 81
Il came here to buy it myself. l
saw by this mornings papers you
were home again, and l had an idea
you might like to have that mantel!
So"
$50 you came to prevent my get
ting it'll"
$50 came to get it for you, you
ungrateful, unnatural young scoundel!
But some COMPOUNDED fool of a woman
has gotten here first AMI bonyht it,
perdition take her!'
Mrs. Blender looked apologetically
at Mollie Putnam.
"My husband is little-er-basty
in speech at times" she whispered.
"Your husband?" cried Mollie ooh,
Mrs. Blender! Listen! They're max
ing up!'
And certainly out of the hubbub in
the next room there were sounds of
afectionate protestation, in the old
mans lighter notes. Mrs. Blender
found herself holding Mollie's hands
in close clasp while she listened.
"Come to dinner tonight. Your
stepmother wants you!' commanded
the father.
Gail right! I'll have to leave early
call l want to make.
But now let's see about outwitting
this misguided woman who has bought
the mantel."
"She's inside, sir, announced the
clerk, returning to the world from a
safe that had tactfully seemed to alb
sorb him for few minutes. He op-
ened the swinging door to the inner
office, and the four confronted one an