The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1910-08-11

When the last wagon load or furni
ture had turned out OF the avenue into
the highroad aud the auctioncer had
furled his red tlag and driven away
from the old mansion set among tall
growing locusts Deborah Ames smiled
quizzically at her niece,
Il suppose you think my hearts
broken, Polly" she said quietly
Il saved what | wanted, dear"
Polly Ames stared. "you are trying
10 be brave. you dear thingv she cried
impulsiyely III you had only listen.
cd and had let me 20 to work you
could have saved all the things that
you have always had about you"
And Of which ! am dreadfully
tired" interposod 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 not want his daughters
TO work for living He said the In
come from the securities would be suf-
ticlent to support us for life. But we
were never able TO flnd any trace OF
them You remember how poor moth.
er and | searched for the papers up 10
the very day of her death and | look
and look now. though am very doubt
ful whether father ever had them. and
| yet
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 nm ample fortune enough
to educate you and support us for the
rest of our days.
"Where Is it. thenp' 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 trip to the south gar.
ret this many a day, III 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 closely packed mass
of furniture
Polly gazed open mouthed What
is IT, Aunt Deb? Where did you get
1t? Why--it's solid mahogany! Oh.
the dear tables-and the highboys!
Chippendale-a Sheraton-and real
colonialp' Her pretty nose was poked
here and there among the treasures
and her charming face was reflected
from a dozen dim mirrors
Miss Deborah smiled sadly 1T is
my very own, Polly, dear. 1t was left
to Inc by my great-aunt Hester, and
II has remained stored away here for |
twenty-five years. | planned to give |
this to you and Dick for wedding |
gift, but | shall need 1t for awhile. |
After | am gone"-
Polly stopped her sentence with a
kiss. after you are gone, indeedw
she cried Indignantly. "Yon know that
you are to live with us as soon as
ever Dick makes enough money to
start a home, What beautiful house
we will have-eh Aunt DebP
She waltzed the stiff backed spinster
about the limited space until Miss
Deborahs flying skirt caught in a pro-
jectlng nail and dragged gathering to
the floor tall screen whose frame
was of carved ebony paneled with
heavy Chinese embroidery, now faded
and dull
Polly picked 1t up with little ex-
clamation of delight what is this,
Aunt Deb? Why have you kept this
lovely screen hidden"
"Great-aunt Hester left il to my
father, dear He was very fond Of II,
and for years ii stood close TO his desk.
When he was quite helpless we used It
to encircle his chair and ward off the
drafts. II grew quite old and shaky
and needed mending, and as no one
but skilled workman could mend the
delicate carving it was placed up here
after fathers death, and OF course
nothing has been done 10 II since. All
the broken bits Of carving are In that
little bag tied TO the top" explained
Miss Deborah.
Cant ] take IL downstairs, Aunt |
Debf Pm sure Dick can mend 1.-THE
Is so clever And ! viii mend the /
broken embroidery"
VERY well, dear. Tomorrow Norah's !
win come and move this fur. '
niture downstairs; tonight fear, we
must sleep on the davenport II Is .
growing late, Polly; let us get down
stairs and see about supper"
Together they dragged the heavy
screen down to the parlor. where Polly
,nce more fell into ecstasies over It's
lelicate carving and fine Inlay Of ivory
md mother Of pearl
After supper came Dick Fraser, and
Polly waited for him In the deep We
anda and told him Of the sale Of Miss
Deborah's furniture.
Dick flushed hotly and sank into
low chair with quick gesture OF
mpatIence. Its a darned shame"
Ie cried angrily Here am I, a great,
trong husky chap. sitting around
Waiting for people 10 come and be /
ured of their Ills. while Miss Deborah
eeds man TO 60 10 work and pull r
er out Of her financial difficulties | /
Wish I'd never studied medicine. ! d
Wish I'd learned 10 be a carpenter {
r something else" {
''Fiddle-de. dee. Dr Trascr~ cried d
'olly impudenfly. If 1t were not for
gu what would become Of all the poor q
ick people In Little RiverY b
what has become Of them nowY Z
iqulred Or. Fraser "They don't oil b
~ waiting room. They don't jingle q
~ telephone bell. nor do they call me a
. in the dead Of night ] wish they /
'ould I" be ended yiciously )