The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-03-19

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process Of destruction. The front wall wa
already gone, and the wayfarers could lool
unhindered into its very center. She al
most blushed. To her sensitiveness there
was something as cruel about this expo
sure of home to careless gaze as ther,
would have been about the brutal showing
of heart. And yet there they all were
the rooms in which so much Of life haC
been lived.
Down stairs, everything had been dont
over for her coming. Upstairs, the room
of Fulton's mother had never been
changed. With the hiding wall gone, il
stood barred to the world-ugly, old fash
ioned, queer, ornate marble mantel and all.
A big sign dangled from its middle win
dow" Removal Work by Carter & Car
ter, % East Forty seventh Street. Ma
terials for Sale. Mrs. Blender stared at
it, hurt, for a moment. Then a smile
dimpled her face.
''Drive to p f. Forty seventh Street,
she told the coachman, abandoning the
pursuit of lace which had brought her down
town that day.
Really, ladies, said Mr.. Carter, rub
bing his hands and smiling a great deal,
there must be quite run on marble man
] tells. | don't know when it happened be-
l fore that two ladies came at the same time
trying to buy anything from house we
were dismantling. Sorry can't cut it in
two fer you-but | guess that wouldn' t
do, hey? What | will do, though =
he turned toward Mrs Blender-''is is this
| III let you know when we find another of
the same sort This lady had just con-
cluded the purchase of that one when you
| came in.
Another will not do for me, said
/ Mrs. Blender. There are-sentimental
considerations about this one which don t
believe that you she turned with pretty
appeal to the purchaser of the mantel--
.'can have Wouldn' another like it
II am very sorry, said Mollie Put
nam. crimsoning, but can explain
but really, no other mantel win answer
my purpose It's-well, | suppose that
YOU d call it a sentimental consideration,
too
But |, said Mrs Blender somewhat
coldly, in answer to this astounding remark
from the unknown young woman, 81 used
TO live
Already sold p interrogated loud
voice in the anteroom. Nonsense, my
man. nonsensel Who would want to buy
discolored, old fashioned, over-decorated
marble mantel like that except man who
had some associations with it? Now,
-
The speaker broke off abruptly. The
two women inside and Mr.. Carter had been
listening in,ently. Mrs. Blender made an
impulsiYe movement forward Then she
stopped. for the clustering voice had begun
again.
"Well, sir, aud So you re back And
what are you doing here, if may askY'
Il don recognize any right YOU have
to ask. replied voice, at the sound of
which the color ebbed from Mollie' face,
only to flow back again in food of deeper
earmine. But | have no objection to
telling YOU IL went BY the old house
this morning. IL came to buy the mar
ble mantel from my mother 5 room.
,'Umph! There was a prodigious
clearing of the throat on the part of the
first Of the speakers. "Umphl Well
confound YOU. you young puppy! You
can have il
WHAT cried the other voice in
rage. The two women moved toward the
door. Then they paused,
MOI stormed the older voice. IL
came here to buy it myself Isaw by this
morning papers you were home again,
aud | had an idea you might ike to have
that maniel So-
SO you came to prevent my getting
itr'
80 came to get it for you, you un-
grateful, unnatural young scoundrel! But
some coufounded fool of woman has got
ten here first aud bought it, perdition take
her.
Mrs. Blender looked apologetieally at
Nolie Putnam.
My husband is ittle-er-hasty in
speech at times, she whispered.
Your husband?' cried Mollie. "Oh,
Mrs Bleuder! Listen They re making
upr
And certainly out of the hubbub in the
next room there were sounds of affection
ate urotestation, iu the old mans gruf
voice aud the young mans lighter notes.
Mrs. Blender found herself holding Mol
lie hands in close clasp while she list
ened
Come to dinner tonight. Your step
mother wants you commanded the
father.
An right I'll have to leave early,
though-there's call | 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 safe
that had tactfully seemed to absorb him
for few minutes. He opened the swing
ing door to the inner office, and the four
confronted one another.
This, my dear, breathed Mrs. Blen-
der to her speechless spouse, 'is the con-
founded fool of woman who has already
bought the mantel.
She pointed to Molhe-Molhe oblivious
of all things but Fulton Blender' eyes
looking straight into hers, Adam Blender
blinked
Il should infer, he said "that she
has something to do with the call Fulton
has to make tonight-unless it's an orien-
tai custom to hold a lady's hand for five
consecutive minutes while your father
awaits an introduction to her. Perhaps
YOU d better ask her also to dinner tonight,
my dear.''
SO there isn't general run on mar
bic mantels, after all unused Mr.. Car
ter left again alone ''Only that one
and it's cracked with the heat And
am to store it until receive word where
to send it! Funny, by the way, how the
young fellow seemed to be giving orders
about that girls purchases
4 good way to keep cake-fruit cake or
any kind of cake-is to put it into a tin