Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-03-06
The Daily Story
FAIR EXCHANGE-BY CLARISSA MACKIE
copyrighted. 1918 by Associated Literary

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 to Mr.. Peleg Morse" she
said, and then come back, and l will
pay you for the GRAND"
Leander hung back. 1T amt no use
for me to go down there" he protest
ed. Mr. Morse. he went away this
morning"
Went away? Where did he goa"
He went down to the city to visit
his sister. Mrs. Penny. l saw him get
on the stage, and he told ma he was
going"
We'll. I never" declared Maria
breathlessly, and she hastily bestowed
a doughnut on Leander and sent him
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. It's 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 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 deacon's absence.
81 guess he's having a good time"
said Leander one day. "He wrote ma
he'd been TO the moving picture show
fifteen times already"
Good landw commented Maria IN
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 selfshness in depriv-
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.
uOh hllO"p lchON ASN SAS
spring afternoon, but somehow II
seems as if I'd rather see Peleg Morse
sitting here in the old willow rocker
than to see that empty Windsor chair
over there!" And that was a 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!" snapped Ma
ria Mt her reflection in the mirror that
evening.
A half hour later a knock came upon
I the side door. and when Maria threw II
open who should enter but Peleg
] Morse himself, looking very fresh and
! rather dandifed as to clothes, for he
wore new gray suit with n pink in
his lapel. and in his hand he carried a
gray felt hat.
We'll. Maria, it seems good to get
back again." he said after they had
tAcHduSttl d lew COllluuipiuNto NOh-
corning his return.
"Indeed:" asked Maria tartly. 81 en-
joyed those postal cards you sent, Pc
legw
Peeg blushed uncomfortably. "You
know | didn't send any, Maria Weed"
why didn't YOU"
"Oh-I 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-I hate it,
quavered Maria, dabbing her knitting
work into her eyes.
80 sou breathed Peleg, astonished.
81 thought you wanted the chair. Ma
ria:'
Il dld-but | thought maybe you'd
come and sit in il sometimes" retorted
Maria. knitting furiousy.
/ Hum For few seconds the room
was very still Then somehow Peleg
Morse found courage to tiptoe over to
} Maria and place Il tim!d hand under
her round chin See here Maria" he
said awlwardly. II been staying away
: on purpose | was mad about that
chair. ! knew you wanted 1t, and
had it slowed away because | wanted
to give It Ia you for Il wedding present
, provided yond marry me. But, coEcerI
it ali. | couldn't get my dander up tC
ask you 10 have me, and / declare il
2 you didn't nag 1t out Of me before
? could propose to you. Honest, that's
: the truth, Now. what would you have
! said if had asked YOU to marry meT'
Il might have said yes" said Maria
E happily, only you went off and left ms
and didn't say word"
[ We'll. guess must have gone t.
!, pick ont good place 10 spend a honey
moon" explained Peleg glibly, ''anC
|, I've got 1t, too. Maria! Well go t.
g New York and 20 to the moving picture
n show every night in the week. VIVA
say?"
2 Yes" said Maria.
r March g in American