Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1912-02-28
THE LAST
LETITIA
By JEAN FOSTER

much Aunt Letitia added hastily
But I must say l love it, and beings
as you're my god-child, Lefty, you've
got right to it"
Lefty laughed, and tried to settle her
pretty head more comfortably into the
new style goose-girl bonnet she had
just bought in town. 1t was a most
becoming bonnet, with it's soft double
ruffle of lace and silk framing Letty's
brown curls, and young face, and it's
close-ftting, coquettish crown.
why, I don't want it, Auntie," she
said positively Where would Jack
and l put the old desk? It's SO big
and clumsy, and we're only taking
ive-rOom apartment to start house
keeping with. What is it-mahog-
any?"
NO. answered Aunt Letitia, cheer
fully ''It's cherry, l guess. They
used cherry good deal back up coun-
try when great-grandfather was boy.
He made it himself, Lefty. 1 always
heard grandmother tell what natural
born cabinet maker he was
L0ICy SdlU uO IuOI0. mere Was
nothing to say. But she made up her
mind that just as soon as she was mar
ried, and that old desk had made it's
appearance in Manhattan, via New
Devon, Vermont, she would sell it to
the first secondhand man who could
appreciate cherry.
1t arrived the first week after the
wedding. They studied it together,
Jack and Letitia, when he came home
at night. 1t stood in the little front
room of the ive-room apartment, and
completely took away the effect of
Letty's new three-piece mission set,
bookcase and new rug. 1t was just
an old-fashioned cherry desk, with a
bookcase that nearly reached to the
ceiling. and a roll top, and drawers on
each side.
eve mustn't sell it, sweetheart"
Jack exclaimed positively. eff you
can't find any other corner, stick it in
my den. wouldn't hurt the old lady's
feelings by selling it, don't you know ?"
And again Lefty said nothing. 1t
was one of her very wisest character
istics, the gift of being able to hold
her peace, and not argue when she
saw which way the wind was blowing
The desk was moved into Jacks den,
The little front bedroom that had been
turned into his sanctum. 1t took up
nearly all one side of the wall space,
and the Morris chair had to come out
into the dining-room, but still Lefty
said nothing
1t was along in early summer when
the first streak of i'll luck came to the
honeymoon apartment Jack had his
ankle crushed in an elevator down
town, and was at home for weeks.
When he was on his feet and fit again,
he found his substitute had stepped in
to his shoes. He was an architect by
profession, bat a very young one, and
the spring rush was already over in
the building line. There came a day
in July when the last five had been
drawn from the bank, and the rent
was due, and the gas bill, and the ice
bill, and the telephone BILL and all the
other interesting bills.
/ 1 II 5OC CuS OuACdn Jul lie uISI VI
August, all right" Jack said, as he lay
stretched out on the Morris chair.
He's accepted my plans, and even if
it is only small two family place, it's
ready money, pet, don't you know?"
eve need ready money now" Lefty
responded, smiling bravely. 81 wish I
could help out
II suppose Aunt Lefty would let us
come out and stay on the farm dur
ng July, if we asked her," Jack went
on, but at his first word, Lefty forgot
all else. That was the solution, Of
course. She would sell the antique
desk at once.
I'm going out, dear, for just lit
tie WHILE" she told Jack.
Business, I suppose?" he asked,
with mock severity, when she leaned
over to kiss him. And Lefty said
nothing.
But she brought back the dealer in
antiques with her. She knew where to
find him by telephone. Had she not
looked in every antique shop she came
to, ever since they had moved to New
York, trying to find out the value Of an
old cherry desk that had been made
before Washington even cut down his
! famous tree.
please don't scold her, dear,
please" she whispered, as she went
by the Morris chair, after confronting
the old German dealer with the desk.
1--WE need the money so, and it really
is a genuine antique, you know"
And they both had to laugh, in
sheer desperation. So many times,
they had excused all other deficiencies
in the old desk by assuring them
/ selves it was a genuine antique.
''It is over one hundred and seven
! ty years DID, said Lefty.
made by my great-great-great
grandfather" Jack put in. You can
see the date and his initials carved
in the wood on the back. It's all
hand carved, and put together by