The Red Cloud chief., 1912-04-04
Something Had to
Happen

1t was an ideal fiat for family that
was short on furniture and bric-a.
brac, but 1t was trial to people on
whom their well meaning friends and
relatives had showcred ten times as
much stun as they could use up in tho
course OF normal lifetime. After
nearly acquiring brain fever trying to
dispose their possessions about the
place without having their home look
as though It was about to choke to
death on supernuity OF furniture and
miscellaneous wares they gave up and
put three-quarters of their wedding
gifts in the basement storeroom. Then
their troubles began.
Mercy" Mrs. Windler cried ona
evening Just before her aunt and uncle
were due for dinner Jimmy, well
nave to get that carved oak hall chest
UP here before Aunt Cornelia arrives
or she'll never forgive us! 1t cost a
small fortune and she won't under.
stand why"
The rest Of Mrs. Windler's remarks
were irrevocably lost in the tumultu.
Gus rush Of the Windlers to the base
ment
Mrs. Windler's pale rose gown was
soon hopelessly soiled and Windler's
temper was ruined for the whole even.
ing. to say nothing Of his cuffs. Tho
hall chest was barely thumped into
place with the help of the subsidized
1anitor and the Windlers were still
breathing hard when Aunt Cornelia
and Uncle Jabez arrived. The former
peered sharply at her gift.
Seems to me you don't do much
busting OF your things" she said, rub.
ring finger across the chest and leay.
Ing a deep depression in the CRIME
that had settled on 1t in the store.
room. Seems to me you don't care
much about my gift. Louise." When
Aunt Cornelia rebuked one in that
tone the situation was serious.
After the visitors had departed the
chest had to be lugged down to the
basement again, because there was no
other place for the bookcase.
The two large paintings were the
worst. When Cousin Johns folks were
coming the Windlers hung up the pic.
ture Of the Lombardy poplars and the
sheep. Then they took 1t down when
the Phillipsons were due and put in
Its place the picture presented by tho
Phillipsons showing the garden scene.
This worked all right until Sue San.
ders. who could always be depended
upon to say the wrong thing, burst out
III the presence Of all the Phillipsons:
'Oh, you've changed your pictures!
Why, you have q new one! What did
you do with the cute one Of the sheep
and poplars that has always hung
right here till now?"
Ihat threw a coldness upon the Phil.
lipsons that never was eradicated.
"They acted" stormed Mrs. Windler
heiplessly after they were gone, "as
though 1t was our fault that we didn't
have i've walls in this room instead of
four! I hate their old picture, any.
howl"
The silver. however. created the
most trouble. because there was SO
much OF It.
However. they knew they were us.
Ing the wrong teaspoons the night the
Smiths dined with them by the pecul.
iarly cold manner in which Mrs. Smith
regarded the ones at her plate.
They realized that they had made
the wrong selection in silver bread
plates when Uncle Hiram pointedly
inquired who had given them the plate
that they preferred to his gift. He
said he had hoped when he devoted n
week to selecting 1t that he had picked
out something they really would like.
Altogether, the Windlers had a terri.
BILE time smoothing down Uncle Hiram.
They thought 1t odd that the more
money relative had the more easily
and deeply his feelings were in, ed.
when any Of the girls gathered at
her house In the afternoon for cards !
Mrs. Windler nearly lost her mind IL
she used Sadie's tea cloth instead of
Amy's when Amy was present the lat.
Ter was so hurt that 1t was painful,
ana II Angelne didn't see her cut
glass vase anywhere about her eve.
brows speedily announced the fact.
1T isn't home" Mrs. Windler
"''~N WV IL tNe inside or |
a kaleidoscope! I'm so nervous for
fear I'll get the wrong thing out when
the right person comes--or for fear :
TWO or emil land here together and
pun each others hair because ones
gift Is on view and the others isn't
that I'm a total wreck. Jimmy"
"Cheer up" said the haggard Jim.
my. who was hastily changing a
bronze head for a Barge lion, the Get.
Tiers being due that evening. "It 4
can't go on ethingM hap.
pen!"
1t did. The building burned down
while the Windlers were at the the.
lter and they returned to ashes, glow.
ng embers and complete desolation.
"All your lovely things. Mrs. Wind.
err" one Of the neighbors mourned. A
All your perfectly loO.oyely wedding