The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1912-11-15

!: THE MAGIC CARPET J
! A Thanksgiving Story.
Il ,Ao,eoa a.A~x,e
BY cLARlssA mAcklE.

~ C1AntSoA MAVNtes %
The committee on repairs walked
down the aisle and wagged dfsappr0v
al at each pew.
ut never struck me before how III
tasteful it was to have every pew car
peted different" wheezed Miss Lee i'm
portantly. They look just like folks
houses. Jeremiah Little's is got a piece
Of his parlor carpet spread on 1t, anc
all it needs Is a basket Of wax flowers
to make you think you're sitting in his
front room at u funeral"
The other members of the COMMITTEES
cast surreptitious glances ut their sew
eral pews. each with its gayly covered
floor and fat, carpeted hassocks. Their
they looked at Sarah Lees own pew
with its neat red floor covering that
exactly matched the carpet in the aisle
I'VE amt all agents for a carpe,
store" remarked Hannah Smith dryly.
Miss Lee Redeemed. That's neither
here nor there" she said hurriedly
1.-THE facts are these: Daniel Mertol
has sent lis 81 900 for the church re.
pairs. DR.. Long says $500 will l.
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.
not tO cover all fine news"
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.
Il 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 re
pairs it would be a delicate attention
on the part of the committee to re
furnish 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 will
his mothers carpet on the floor and
the same old hassocks he knelt on
when a boy. l am sure he would
rather see the chancel restored to its
oldtime beauty rather than lone ovel
in the latest fashion," said Serena
Webb eagerly.
"Rubbish!" sneered Sarah Lee. "a
nan as smart as Dan Merton-a mar
who left Redbush a poor young mar
and is today a millionaire-must be W
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 saw 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 yer new
We're planning to have it all done by
Thanksgiving and then invite him
down and have a regular thanksgiv'
ing over the hull thing" said Miss Lee
persuasively.
"My pew will remain as it u.s." said
Serena firmly as she turned toward
the door. II have paid for it,"
every well,'' returned the other bit
ingly. 81 shall take care to let Dan
Merton know that u stranger has come
to Redbush who amt grateful enough
for his generosity to try to please him.
l 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 a rustic seat. She
clasped her white hands behind her
sunny brown head and surveyed the
low, ivy covered house with contempla:
tive eyes.
''The. Merton homestead and the Mer
ton pew are the possessions Of an &C.
centric spinster," she unused whimsi-
cally. First. Daniel Merton, president
Of the corlage trust, writes and com
mands that / sell him his old home for
an absurdly high price, which I refused
because the house just isuits me, and
EN- tired Of wandering. Again, he
sends a gift to his church. and they
demand that l tear out the charming,
old fashioned furniture Of the Merton
pew-and transform It for him! l am
selfish enough to like it us it Island to
believe he will like It best too! But l
am afraid Of that Daniel Merton, Il
man who has risen to such eminence,
as he must possess a strength Of pur-
pose that will at last prevail upon me