The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1908-08-22
NO LONGER FOR SALE.

ton at staid mahogany book case.
II can't imagine she remarked
to her visitor why l ever thought 1
wanted to sell that 1t would be
hard to induce rue to part with it
now. I have the tender protecting
feeling toward that case that I'd
have toward crippled child It's
been browbeaten and snubbed and
shifted at ever since 1 put the notice
in the paper inviting an anxious pub
lie to come and purchase it. Ididn't
specify that it was mahogany. I just
said it was sectional.
"For days afterward I entertained
the populace. 1t began ringing the
bell while the newspapers were still
damp from the presses. 1t seemed
that most of the population of Chica-
go had been sitting up nights for ages
holding its head or wringing its hands
waiting for notice to appear saying
that some one had a bookcase for sale
and in its relief and Joy at the appear
ance of the notice it couldn't get to me
fast enough.
"a genia! gentleman aud his Sec
ond wife were the first. knew she
was his second, because she said it
was hard to keep furniture looking
decent with a boy rampaging about
about the house. If it had really
been her boy, you know, she would
have excused the scratches on the
ground that Willie had such high
spirits. They looked at the case and
read all the titles of the books. Then
1T won't do at all, she said. We
wanted an oak instead of mahoganyF
GAS they went downstairs woman
came up. She had sharp nose and
she eyed me most suspiciously. She
demanded if this was where book
case was for sale. Even when said
yes she still was doubtful. i don't
know she said. you can nevertell
these days. What's wrong with it?
I suppose you've rubbed over all the
scratches with kerosene so they don't
show?
"I assured her that had I known
that kerosene worked such magic
certainly should have done so and then
l ushered her in. She stared at the
case in a hostile manner.
"'H'm!' she communed with her
self. L believe it would just fit in
that recess-no, it wouldn't. Any
how, it's too low. That is, fit isn't
too high. In fact, I'm sure it's too
high. Thank goodness, have wits
enough to see when am about to be
taken in Then, of course don't
want it, any way, because I'm look
ing for an oak bookcase. You are
sure you haven't an oak onel'
"The next time l peered out over
the chain on the door distinguished.
looking young man dawned on my Vi
CaSc, 50 4 wSi1Oa,asUA .Iatss s~-N.A . ess<<~
smile. He seemed impressed. He
said he wanted bookcase the worst
way for his office. Of course, l add
ed, the price made no difference to
him, l knew, and he said no, indeed,
that it was just fad of his this pick
ing up second hand bookcases.
"He said it was lovely case and
lust his idea if the right thing. Then
Iregretted that I had not asked more
for it.
"Just as l had decided what I'd
get with the money he took on
panied look. Dear, mel he said.
Tt wouldn't do at all, would il? 7"
"'Why not?' I queried.
"'You see, I'm looking for oak,
he said, smiling brightly. All my
Office furniture is oak.
"That was hard blow.
1.-TWO women came soon afterward.
One of them wet her finger and rub
bed the wood and seemed hurt to find
that the color did not run. She asked
me if would please take all the
books out so she could see how deep
the case was. l nearly broke my
back doing so, while she and her
friend sat and rocked. They con-
versed in cheerful, leisurely tones
about cousin Sallie and her daughters
marriage and how hard it was to shop
nowadays. Occasionally they would
look at the book case and then break
out again into conversation.
Finally one said to the other:
Are you rested enough to go now,
Abbie2' Abbie said she was.
Gas they went out of the door one
of them said to me: 1T isn't oak.
We wanted oak.
''I can't clearly remember the 9TH
ers," finished the young mother.
"They are an undistinguished mass.
The only point about which I am
clear is that they all wanted oak and
none of them remembered to ask as
to the oakiness of the advertised ar
ticle until after he had almost decided
to take it.
$50 I'm waiting till some one with
mahogany virus in his blood comes
along Chicago Meas.
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