Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-03-06


one would think 1t was some Lewis
Quincy folderol like what Judge Fol
som sets such store by"
II like that there chair for the same
reason that you want it, Maria" re-
turned Peleg with irritating slowness of
speech. General Putnam sat in that
chair"
That fact-if it should be true, and
I don't believe Putnam was ever in
these parts-don't make the chair any
moro desirable" argued Maria. Il
want that chair because it's a real
Windsor and exactly matches my otH-
er one. You don't need it, Peleg Morse.
1 should think you'd be glad to let me
have it."
My sister Sarah thinks it ought to
go direct to her." said Peleg with
heavy hnality. IN thank you for an
other biscuit, Maria"
Once a month Peleg Morse came and
had supper with the Widow Weed.
And as the two sat there on either
side Of the daintily laid round table
this matter Of the ancient Windsor
chair owned by Peleg Morse invaria-
bly, came up for argument.
Maria Weed had a mania for collect
ing old furniture. She bought and
sold and traded back and forth until
she had become a shrewd bargainer.
She always gained something by every
transaction, and in that manner the
method OF livelihood solved itself
through Maria's fad.
II shall never be happy till get it,
Peleg," began Maria once more as she
! poured out another cup of tea from
the britannia teapot.
Get what, Maria ?" asked Peleg alb
sently. He was watching Marias
| perfectly the little woman filed that
place at the head of the table.
The chair, Peleg, of course"
Bother the old chair" grunted Pc
leg, aroused to anger at last Maria
Weed, you've nagged me about that
chair for the last five years"
What If l haveW retorted Maria
good naturally. II want it,
I'D like to have that britannia tea
pot of your grandmother's," said Pc
leg, with happy inspiration. but
wouldn't think OF asking you to par
with it."
so you like this teapot" unused Ma
ria, looking 1t over and CAREFUL!
weighing its attractions against thu
Windsor chair Of Peleg. II recOllec
now that you always did admire
D. ID oh nd
suddenly.
Trade what?"
"Your chair for my teapot"
you wouldn't do 1t, Maria? Tha
teapot belonged to your mother an
your grandmother before her"
II want the chair, Peleg."
Peleg threw up despairing hand:
Very well, Maria Weed You ma
have the chair, and you can keep tn
teapot too. l don't want 1t. I'll sen
the chair over in the morning, and nov
] although l amt usually the unsociabl
kind that eats and runs away, / CUES
, I'll have to go along. l just recolleC
. some important business matters tina
: I've got to attend to tonight. | than
you for a very tine supper, MARIAN
, good night"
And all in one breath, as it were, P'
leg Morse, usually slow and ditticu
Of speech, uttered these remarks to h
{ astonished hostess, pushed back froI
= the table, took his hat and overcOG
? from the hall rack and creaked out {
4 the side door and down the path, viii
8 Maria stared, aghast at the suddennes
of his going.
Maria knitted alone by the fire whe
the dishes were done that night TT
checkerboard remained undisturbed c
its shelf in the walnut bookcase. tt
pitcher of sweet cider that was to a
, company crisp doughnuts later {
1 would not be needed.
q "Fiddlesticks" cried Maria irritab
and knitted faster than ever. 81
g willing to pay the man for the chair
% trade it out. / might as well have it
for the dust to accumulate on it
his garrett AS for Sarah Penny wan
7 ing it, everybody knows she never S
any store by old fashioned things. al
=, If | wait till Peleg Morse dies and S
# rah inherits it. why, l might have
wait years.
The next morning small boy tru
died a large wheelbarrOw unsteadi
q into Maria's yard, and from it he u
loaded the Windsor chair that trat
s ton said had once been sat upon
General Putnam of Revolutiona
fame
Maria was out on the porch instaI
T. ly, eager and excited. $50 Mr.. Nor
d sent it over. did he?" she needless
asked
"Yes'm." said the boy as he pocket
the nickel she gave him.
What did Mr.. Morse say when
sent it?' pursued Maria curiously.
The boy looked embarrassed. 81 do
know Just what he said. Miss Wee
re only it was swearing of some kind"
Swearing? Why. Leander Pla
amt you ashamed to say such a thi
about Peleg Morse? Him a deacon
I'd the church too. | don't believe itv'
Its So" insisted Leander, growi
is very red in the face. II heard b
Is with nv ears"
They must be bad ears to ht
fhfp1a UEa that Iaandari I'll con rr