Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-11-06
The Argus Daily Short Story
The Magic Carpet-By Clarissa Mackie.
Copyrighted. 1909. by Associated Literary Press.

The committee on repairs walked
down the aisle and wagged dlsapprov-
al Mt each pew.
ut never struck me before how IN
tasteful 1t was to have every pew car
peted different" wheezed Miss Lee i'm
portantly. "They look just like folks
houses. jeremiah Titles is got piece
of his parlor carpet spread on it, and
all It needs is a basket of wax flowers
to make you think you're sitting in his
front room at funeral"
The other members of the committee
cast surreptitious glances at their sew
eral pews. each with it's gayly covered
floor and fat. carpeted hassocks. Then
they looked at Sarah Lees own pew.
with it's neat red floor covering that
exactly matched the carpet in the aisle
1--WE amt all agents for a carpet
store" remarked Hannah Smith dryly.
Miss Lee Redeemed. That's neither
here nor there she said hurriedly.
''The facts are these: Daniel Merton
has sent us $1,000 for the church re-
pairs. Or. Long says $500 will be
needed for repairs to the building and
belfry. The other $500 is TO be used
by the ladies of the committee to re-
decorate the inside and for a new car
pet to cover all the pews."
She looked narrowly at Serena Webb
in the background.
MY pew will remain as it is" said
Serena calmly.
The committee drew a unanimous
breath of dismay.
That's the old Merton pew" pro-
tested Miss Lee.
81 know it," replied Serena.
81 should think that when a man
cares enough for the old church he was
baptized in to send $1,000 for repairs
it would be delicate attention on the
part of the committee to refurnish his
old family pew" said DR.. Longs wife
bitterly.
Perhaps Mr.. Merton would prefer
to see the old church restored rather
than redecorated. He must have ten
der recollections Of the old pew with
his mothers carpet on the floor and
the same old hassocks he knelt on
when a boy. I am sure he would rath-
er see the chancel restored to its old
time beauty rather than done over in
the latest fashion," said Serena Webb
eagerly.
"Rubbishp' sneered Sarah Lee "a
man as smart as Dan Merton-a man
who left Redbush a poor young man
and is today a millionaire-must be up
to date. He amt no back number"
she ended, with a triumphant relapse
into slang. He'd admire to see his
moneys been put to some good pur-
pose"
The other ladies nodded approval of
this statement, all save Serena Webb.
who was gazing .wistfully at the dim
and faded frescoes In the chancel.
$50, you see, Miss Webb, Dan Mer-
ton would be pleased enough to have
his old family pew done over new.
We're planning to have it all done by
Thanksgiving and then invite him
down and have a regular thanksgiving
over the hull thing" said Miss Lee
persuasively.
my pew will remain as it is" said
Serena firmly as she turned toward the
door. II have paid for it."
VERY WELL" returned the other bit
ingly. II shall take care to let Dan
Merton know that a stranger has
come to Redbush who amt grateful
enough for his generosity to try to
please him. shall let him know"
Serena Webb merely bowed politely
and passed through the door. ?
Once within the gate of her quiet.
old fashioned garden her straight,
slim figure relaxed into rustic seat.
She clasped her white hands behind
her sunny brown head and surveyed
the low. Ivy covered house with con-
templative eyes.
'"The Merton homestead and the
Merton pew are the possessions of an
eccentric spinster," she unused whim-
sically. "First. Daniel Merton, presi-
dent of the cordage trust, writes and
commands that sell him his old
home for an absurdly high price.
which I refused because the house
just suits me. and 1 am tired of wan
dering. Again. he sends a gift TO his
church. and they demand that l tear
out the charming, old fashioned furni-
tan.0 OF the NAnt0H 1Aaz---..l, t-a----