The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-03-29
She Had Her Way
FAIR EXCHANGE:
by CLARIssA MACKIE.

good man"
MA heard him too. said Leander
stolidly
''Humph" shifted Maria incredu-
! lousy
she said she was scandalized," add.
| ed I.eander ms he picked up the han
dies of the wheelbarrow and departed.
Maria pushed the chair through the
/ kitchen and dining room and straight
| 10 the place she had prepared for IL OPP
posite her own Windsor chair.
Standing on either side OF the wide
hearth. they looked very comfortable
ana inviting. and. together with the
shining andirons on the hearth, the
tall clock In the corner and Maria's
mahogany sewing stand. they were in
harmony aud satisfied Maria's soul
Later In The morning she spied Lean
der Plat strolling past and called him
within. Into his hands she gave the
britannia teapot carefully wrapped In
tissue paper.
Take that 10 Mr. Peleg Morse" she
said. land then come back, and ] will
pay you for the erTand."
Leander hung back. 1T amt no use
for me 10 go down there" he protest
ed Mr.. Morse. he went away this
morning.
Went away? Where did he go?"
He went down 10 the city 10 visit
his sister, Mrs Penny. | saw him get
on the stage. and he told ma he was
going"
We'll never" declared Maria
breathlessly. and she hastily bestowed
a doughnut on Leander and sent him
on his way
I'D like 10 know what he means by
that" puzzled Maria as she carefully
set the teapot away I'm The parlOr cup
board. Its the first time he's been
away from home in five years. and it's
queer he never said word TO me
about II last night. Maybe he'll send
me a postal card"
But Peleg Morse did not send Maria
a picture postal nor any other message,
although she heard rather indirectly
from him through Leander Plat, who
had charge OF Peleg's flock Of chickens
during the deacons absence.
IL guess he's having a good time"
said Leander one day. He wrote ma
he'd been 10 the moving picture show
fifteen times already
Good land" commented Maria UNI
easily. That's kind OF unbecoming In
a deacon
"I'l bet It's fun" retorted Leander
enviously.
So Maria had the Windsor chair. but
she was deprived OF Peleg Morse's
company on those festal evenings for
he remained in the city all winter
Maria had plenty OF time in which to
reflect upon her selfishness in depriy-
ing Peleg OF the ancient chair which
was the pride OF his scanty collection,
for his sister Sarah had had her choice
OF furniture when she married and the
elderly bachelor had TO be content with
what was left and what he could buy.
II don't know" reflected Maria one
spring afternoon, but somehow II
seems as II I'd rather see Peleg Morse
sitting here IT, the old willow rocker
than to see that empty Windsor chair
over there" And that was n strange
declaration for Maria Weed to make.
But she was subdued in many ways,
and one Of the ways was that she rath-
er lost her greediness for old furniture,
and another was that she learned that
human companionship was more to her
than empty polished wood and that
the society OF Peleg Morse WAS most
desirable Of all.
What a ninny ! was!" snaA;Ad Ma
ria at her reflection I'm the mirror that
evening.
A half hour later knock came upon
the side door. and when Maria threw IL
open who should enter but Peleg
Morse himself. looking very fresh and
rather danditied as To clothes, for he
his lapel, and In his hand he carried Il
gray felt hat.
well. Maria. 1T seems good TO get
back again." he said after they had
exchanged a few commonplace con
corning his return.
"Indeed:" asked Maria tartly. 81 en-
joyed those postal cards you sent. Pc
leg!'
Peles blushed uncomfortaby. You
know ! didn't send any. Maria Weed"
why didn't you?"
"Oh--l guess | was some put out
about that chair" hesitated Peleg, ey-
ing the Windsor chair unfavOrably.
We'll, you can take it home-Tm
tired and sick OF the thing-l hate itr
Quavered Maria, dabbing her knitting
work into her eyes.
80. So" breathed Peleg. astonished.
81 thought you wanted the chair. Ma
ria?''
IL debut thought maybe you'd
come and sit In it sometimes" retorted
Maria, knitting furiously.
Hum For few seconds the room
was very still. Then somehow Peleg
Morse found courage TO tiptoe over to
Maria and place timid hand under
her round chin. See here. Maria" he
said awkwardly. IL been staying away
on purpose. was mad about that
chair. knew you wanted IL, and
had Ii slowed away because ] wanted
to give IL to you for wedding present
provided you'd marry me- But. concern
it all, couldn't get my dander up to