The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1913-03-10

ma and tell her what stories you make A
up scolded Maria. 'Peleg Morse is a .
good man.
Ma heard him too. said Leander
stolidly.
"Humphr' shifted Maria fncredu-
lousy.
"She said she was scandalized." add .
ed Lender as he picked up the han
dies of the wheelbarrow and departed /
Maria pushed the chair through the
kitchen and dining room and straight
to the place she had prepared for it OPP
posite her own Windsor chair
Standing on either side Of the wide
hearth, they looked very comfortable
and 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 and satisfied Maria's soul
Later in the morning she spied Lean
der Platt strolling past and called him
within. Into his hands she gave the
britannia teapot carefully wrapped in
tissue paper.
Take that to Mr.. Peleg Morse" she
said, land then come back, and / will
pay you for the Grand"
1 Leander hung back. 1T amt no use
i for me to go down there" he protest
\ ed. mfr. Morse, he went away this
I morningr'
went away? Where did he go?'
He went down to the city to visit
his sister, Mrs. Penny. / saw him get
on the stage, and he told ma he was
going"
well, l neverr' declared Maria
breathlessIy, and she hastily bestowed
a doughnut on Leander and sent him
I-on his way.
I'D like to know what he means by
that" puzzled Maria as she carefully
set the teapot away in the parlor cup
board Its the first time he's been
away from home in five years, and it's
queer he never said a word to me
about it last night. Maybe he'll send
me a postal card"
But Peleg Morse did not send Maria
picture postal nor any other message,
although she heard rather indirectly
! from him through Leander Platt, who
had charge of Peleg's flock of chickens
during the deacon's absence.
81 guess he's having a good time, -
! he'd been to the moving picture show
fifteen times already"
"Good landr' commented Maria IN.
; easily. That's kind of unbecoming in
' a deacon"
I "rn bet it's fun" retorted Leander
enviously.
SO Maria had the Windsor chair, but
r she was deprived of Peleg Morse's
4 company on those festal evenings, fol
t he remained in the city all winter
Maria had plenty of time in which Il
a reflect upon her selfshness 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 thu
I elderly bachelor had to be content witt
what was left and what he could buy.
l. 81 don't know" reflected Maria ont
V spring afternoon, but somehow i
e seems as If I'd rather see Peleg Mors
It sitting here In the old willow rookie
It than to see that empty Windsor chat
d over therer' And that was a strang
declaration for Maria Weed to make
But she was subdued in many ways
and one of the ways was that she rath
It er lost her greediness for old furniture
d and another was that she learned tina
human companionship was more to he
than empty polished wood. and tina
g. the society of Peleg Morse was mos
Y desirable Of all.
le what a ninny | was!" snapped Ma
d ria at her reflection in the mirror tina
', evening.
lie A half hour later a knock came upo
IS the side door, and when Maria threw
&c open who should enter but Pele
at Morse himself, looking very fresh an
TX rather dandified as to clothes, for b
ID wore a new gray suit with a pink i
his lapel, and in his hand he carried
E. gray felt hat.
1t We'll, Maria, 1t seems good to &c
is back again." he said after they ha
M exchanged a few commonplace col
at corning his return.
Of 'Indeed?' asked Maria tartly. 81 eI
lie joyed those postal cards you sent, 2,
IS Iegr'
Peleg blushed uncomfortably. "Yo
en- know l didn't send any, Maria Weed
be 'Why didn't your"
On "0h-I guess | was some put OF
be about that chair" hesitated Peleg, e.
&C. ing the Windsor chair unfavorably.
on well, you can take 1t home-Tl
tired and sick of the thing-I hate 1t
ly quayered Maria. dabbing her knittir
m work into her eyes.
or so, sop breathed Peleg, astonishe
as 81 thought you wanted the chair. NJ
in ria 2"
ut Il debut | thought maybe you
set come and sit In it sometimes" retort,
nd Maria. knitting furiously.
ia HUM For few seconds the roo
to was very still. Then somehow Pei
Morse found courage to tiptoe over
In Maria and place tmtd hand und
liz her round chin. See here. Maria =