Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-03-04


care of it,"
"Now what's the use of your talk
ing to me? You know 1 haven't got
any furniture fit to go with such rug
as that"
"What do you want Of lot OF fur
niture cluttering up such a beautiful
piece Of art work as that, Mis- Apple
bee? Why. all you need is few chairs
round the edge Of the room and some
lace curtains. A parlor with that rug
in 1t Is fit for king. BY the way, you
probably know all about that little af-
fair coming off Friday night 1 might
as we'll show you the elegant banquet
lamp I've ordered for the ladies as
present. Now amt that beautyT
Mrs. Applebee gasped. The wild
roses on the immense white globe were
Just the shade Of those in the rug
The fates decide for us. The volu-
BILE Richard sold Mrs. Applebee not
only the rug, but some lace curtains
and a small stand, just the right size
for the banquet lamp, the last two ar
ticles to be paid for in future butter
and eggs, at her convenience. Then
she got some bars Of chocolate, some
cheap lawn for RoSalines gown, and
climbed into the return stage, laden
with an extra large bag Of candy and
all the gratitude Dicks tongue could
express.
Thursday morning poor Rosaline was
driven hither and yOn, and nothing was
allowed to interrupt the belated pre-
parations except devoted attendance
on the friendly telephone. Yelled ref
erences were occasionally heard to the
Friday evening event, and Mrs. Apple
bee fell to work with renewed energy.
Thursday afternoon, as she was
hanging the new curtains and laying
the new rug, to Rosaline's speechless
amazement, she caught a glimpse Of
Mrs. Turner coming up the lane.
Run and lock the door quick, Rosa
line Draw all the blinds and keep as
still as death. She's coming to spy and
see il l suspect anything, and we just
won't be to home. Don't you dare
sneeze nor nothin'."
Stout Mrs. Turner creaked up the
front steps, raped repeatedly, tried
the door, and then placidly creaked
down again.
''There!" CALCULATED Mrs. Applebee,
getting her breath once more. 'Now
don't stand staring any longer, and
whatever you do, keep your feet off
that rug. It'll be a question who's
going to be the most surprised, me or
my nelghbors, tomorrow night, I'm
thinkin'! Now get the suds and be-
gin on the woodwork in the sitting
room. We've got to get all through
that room by night, for tomorrow I'm
going to make doughnuts and three
chocolate cakes, clean the cellar, the
attic and the wood house. Then they
may go all over the premises and I'll
feel safe"
1t was at three o'clock on Friday
afternoon, just as Mrs. Applebee was
putting the last layer of icing on the
third chocolate cake. that she was
startled by Mrs. Turner's voice at the
window.
"Oh, there you are! l thought
never would find you, and somebody's
got ahead of me and told you about the
surprise on Mrs. Squire Tilden tonight,
and you've got your cakes all done. Did
they tell you about the beautiful ban
quet lamp we're going to take her?
came here yesterday, and couldn't get
in; you seemed to be all locked up
Why, for land-a-massy Rosaline!
Come here quick and let me in! Your
aunt's had a fit or something, and fell
over and smashed her cake and every
thing! What is the matter? 1 was
lust telling her about that surprise
party on Mrs. Squire Tilden, and she
tumbled right over. Run for the doc
tor and I'll hold her head"
NO" said Mrs. Turner, to an inter-
ested group at the party that evening,
1.-THE Widow Applebee won't be able to
be out for a week. She was going on
dretful flighty to Rosaline when
came away, about being buried in the
front room rug 1 can't surmise what
sent her off the handle so, unless 1t
was our waiting till the last minute to
tell her about the surprise, SO she
wouldn't go and tell. She always was
excitable youths Companion.