The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1910-07-08
By CLARIssA C


BY GLARlSSA MACKIE /
q Copyright, 1910, by American Press :
Association. 3
When the last wagon load Of furni
ture had turned out Of the avenue into
the highroad and the auctioneer had
furled his red flag and driven away
from the old mansion set among tai
growing locusts Deborah Anes smiled
Quizzically at her niece.
II suppose you think my hearts
broken, Polly" she said quietly.
II saved what ! wanted. dear"
Polly Ames stared. You are trying
to be brave. you dear thing!." she cried
impulsively. If you had only listen
ed and had let me go to work you
could have saved all the things that
you have always had about you"
"And of which l am dreadfully
tired" %interposed her aunt. with sud
den energy. '"Larkin says the things
brought two hundred and fifty, and
that will keep us a year. Polly. You
see. father left the place free and clear
because he did 0 want his daughters
to work for a living. He said the in
come from the securities would be suf-
fcient to support us for life. But we
were never able to find any trace of
them. You remember how poor moth
er and l searched for the papers up to
the very day of her death. and I look
and look now. though l am very doubt
full whether father ever had them. and
yeti
II could teach music" said Polly
mutinously for the hundredth time in
the past year.
"My DEAR" cried Miss Deborah for
the hundredth time. your grandfather
Ames left an ample fortune-enough
to educate you and support us for the
e S Of u days"
"Where is it. then" Polly saw her
own flushed face in the long mirror
and beside it Aunt Deborah's tired
~countenance. and her tender heart
smote her. Don't let US talk about
1t any more tonight. Aunt Deb. You
will sleep on the davenport tonight?
You sold the very beds. you know"
suggested Polly gently.
"Come with me, my child. You
have not made n trip to the south gar
ret this many IL day. I'll warrant"
smiled Miss Deborah.
In this attic were many strangely
.sheeted forms that crowded the small
space.
Carefully Miss Deborah withdrew
the dusty sheets and. rolling them into
balls. disclosed a closely packed mass
of furniture.
Polly gazed open mouthed. "What
ls it. Aunt Deb? Where did you get
1t? Why-it's solid mahogany! Oh.
the dear tables-and the highboys:.
Chippendale-and Sheraton-and real
colonial" Her pretty nose was pol;rd
here and there among the treasures.
and her charming face was reflected
from a dozen dim mirrors.
Miss Deborah smiled sadly. ut is
my very own Polly. dear. 1t was left
to me by my g%reat-aunt Hester, and
1t has remained stored away here for
twenty-five years. I planned to give
this to you and Dick for a wedding
gift. but l shall need 1t for awhile.
After l nm gone"-
Polly stopped her sentence with a
kiss. after you are gone. tndeed!"
she cried Indignantly. You know that
you are to live with us as 500 us
ever Dick makes enough money to
start a home. What a beautiful house
we will have-eh. Aunt Deb?"
She waltzed the stiff backed spinster
about the limited space until Miss
Deborah's flying skirt caught in a pro-
jecting nail aud dragged Gathering to
the floor a tall screen whose frame
was of carved ebony paneled with
heavy Chinese embroidery. now faded
and dull.
Polly picked it up with a little ex-
.clamation of delight. what is this.
Aunt Deb? Why have you kept this
lovely screen hidden?"
"Great-aunt Hester left it to my
father, dear. He was very fond Of It.
: and for years 1t stood close to his desk.
When he was quite helpless we used 1t
: to encircle his chair and ward OF the
= drafts. 1t grew quite old and shaky
and needed mending. and as no one
but q skilled workman could mend the
. delicate carving 1t was placed up here
after fathers death. and Of course
nothing has been done to 1t since. All
the broken bits of carving are In that
little bag tied to the top" explained
Miss Deborah.
Cant I take 1t downstairs. Aunt
Deb2 I'm sure Dick can mend 1.-THE
10 90 clever. And l will mend the
broken embroidery"
Every well, dear. Tomorrow Norah's
husband will come and move this fur
initure downstairs: tonight, fear. we
must sleep on the davenport. 1t Is
growing late. Polly: let us get down.
stairs and see about supper"
Together they dragged the heavy
a---