Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1913-05-23
Fair
EXCHANGE
She Had Her
Way
BY cLARIssA MACKIE


Il can't understand why you hang
on to that old chair, Peleg Morsep ex-
claimed Mrs Weed pettishly. "Any
one would think 1t was some Lewis
Quincy folderol like what Judge Fol
som sets such store by"
Il like that there chair for the same
reason that you want 1t, Maria," re-
turned Peleg with irritating slowness of
speech. General Putnam sat in that
chair"
That fact-if 1t should be true, and
! don't believe Putnam was ever In
these pnrts-don't make the chair any
more desirable" argued Maria. IL
want that chair because it's real
Windsor and exactly matches my 9TH
er one. You don't need 1t, Peleg Morse.
should think you'd be glad to let me
have It,"
My sister Sarah thinks 1t ought to
go direct to her." said Peleg with
henvy llnality. I'm thank you for an
other biscuit, Maria"
Once month Peleg Morse came and
had supper with the Widow Weed.
And ms the two sat there on either
side of the dalntily laid round table
this matter Of the ancient Windsor
chair owned by Peleg Morse invaria-
bly, came up for argument.
Maria Weed had 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 Marlas fad.
II shall never be happy till l get 1t,
Peleg," began Maria once more us she
poured out another cup Of tea from
the britannia teapot.
Get what, Maria2" asked Peleg alb
sently. He was watching Maria'f
fresh, comedy face and thinking how
perfectly the little woman filed that
place at the head Of the table
THE chair, Peleg, of course"
Bother the old chairW grunted Pc
leg, aroused to anger at last maria
Weed, you've nagged me about that
chair for the last five years."
what If | have" retorted Marin
good naturedly. II want It."
I'D like to have that britannia tea
pot of your grandmother's," said Pc
leg. with a happy inspiration, "but
wouldn't think Of asking you to part
with IT,"
so you like this teapot" unused Ma
ria. looking Il over and carefully
weighing its attractions against the
Windsor chair Of Peleg. 81 recollect
now that you always did admire II
some. Want TO trader" she ended
suddenly.
Trade whatf"
"Your chair for my teapot"
you wouldn't do 1t. Maria? That
teapot belonged to your mother and
your grandmother before her"
81 want the chair, Peleg"
Peleg threw up despairing hands
Every well, Maria Weed. You may
have the chair, and you can keep tn,
teapot too. don't want It. I'll send
the chair over IN the morning, and now
although | amt usually the unsociablC
kind that eats and runs away, guess
I'll have to go along. just recollect
some important business matters that
I've got TO attend to tonight. | thank
you for very fine supper, Maria-and
good nlghtr'
And all In one breath, as Il were, Pc
leg Morse. usually slow and difficult
OF speech, uttered these remarks to his
astOnlshed hostess, pushed back from
the table. took his hat and overcoat
from the hall rack and creaked out Of
the side door and down the path, while
Maria stared. aghast at the suddenness
OF his going.
Maria knitted alone by the fire when
the dishes were done that night. The
checkerboard remained undisturbed on
It's shelf In the walnut bookcase The
pitcher OF sweet cider that was to &c
company crisp doughnuts later on
would not be needed.
"Fiddlesticksw cried Marin irritably
and knitted faster than ever. "Tm
willing to pay the man for the chair or
trade II out. might as well have it as
for the dust to accumulate on It in
his garnet. As for Sarnh Penny want
Ing 1t. everybody knows she never set
any store by old fashioned things, and
II ] wait till Peleg Morse dies and Sa-
rah inherits It, why. might have to
walt yearsp'
The next morning a small boy trun-
died a large wheelbarrow unsteadily
into Marla's yard, and from II no I'M
londed the Windsor chair that tradi-
ton said had once been sat upon by
General Putnam Of Revolutionary
fame.
Maria was out on tho porch instant
ly, eager and excited. $50 Mr.. Morse
sent 1t over. did he" she needlessly
asked
"Yes'm." said the boy as no pocketed
the nickel she gave him.
what did Mr.. Morse say when he
sent III" pursued Maria curiously.
The boy looked embarrassed. IT don't
know just what he said, Miss Weed,
only II was swearing Of some kind"
"Swearing2 Why, Leander Plat,
amt you ashamed to say such n thing
about Peleg Morse7 Him n deacon in
the church too. I don't believe itr'
TITS So" insisted Leander, growing
very red in the face. II heard him
with my enrs."