The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1913-03-10
Fair
Exchange
She Had Her
Way
BY CLARISSA nACKIE

on TO that old chair, Peleg MorSe!' eX-
claimed Mrs. Weed pettishly. Amy
one would think it was some Lewis
Quincy foIderol 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
| | don't believe Putnam was ever in
these parts-don't make the chair any
more desirable" argued Maria. II
want that chair because it's a real
Windsor and exactly matches my 9th
er one. You don't need it, Peleg Morse.
I 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 fnaIity. 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 inyaria-
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.
Il 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 p asked Peleg alb
sently. He was watching Marias
fresh. comely 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 chairr' 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 Maria
good naturally. Il want it."
: I'D like to have that britannia tea
Q pot Of your grandmother's,'.' said Pc
r leg, with happy inspiration, but
/, wouldn't think of asking you to par
/, with it,
+ so you like this teapot" unused Ma
u ria, looking It over and CAREFUL.
: weighing its attractions against TIT
! Windsor chair OF Peleg. Il recolIec
= now that you always did admire i
some. Want to trader she ende'
suddenly.
Trade what?"
e ''Your chair for my teapot
You wouldn't do it, Maria? Tha
/ teapot belonged to your mother ant
=, your grandmother before her."
=. 81 want the chair, Peleg."
= Peleg threw up despairing hands
,e VERY well, Maria Weed. You ma
:, have the chair, and you can keep tn
n teapot too. l don't want it. I'll SEN
IS the chair over in the morning, and now
1t although / amt usually the unsociabl
" kind that eats and runs away, / CUES
I'll have to go along. just recolec
some important business matters tha
= I've got to attend to tonight. l than
re you for very fine supper, MARKHAM
$, good night!'
er And all in one breath, as 1t were, P'
ty leg Morse. usually slow and dificu
er of speech, uttered these remarks to hi
IN astonished hostess, pushed back frol
e the table, took his hat and overcof
Ct from the hall rack and creaked out {
- the side door and down the path, viii
- =, Maria stared. aghast at the suddennes
~ of his going.
- Maria knitted alone by the fire whe
l. the dishes We're done that night I'll
as checkerboard remained undisturbed G
he its shelf in the walnut bookcase I'll
pitcher of sweet cider that was to a
company crisp doughnuts later {
. would not be needed.
"Fiddlesticksr' cried Maria irritab
and knitted faster than ever. 81
; willing to pay the man for the chair
= trade it out. | might as well have it
) for the dust to accumulate on 1t
his garrett As for Sarah Penny war
: ing it, everybody knows she never S
: any store by old fashioned things, al
: if / wait till Peleg Morse dies and $
: rah inherits it. why. | might have
wait yearsr'
! The next morning small boy tru
? died a large wheelbarrow unsteadi
) into Maria's yard, and from 1t he
: loaded the Windsor chair that tra'
: ton said had once been sat upon
: General Putnam of Revolutiona
! fame.
: Maria was out on the porch instal
; ly, eager and excited. $50 Mr.. Nor
!. sent it over. did he?" she needless
asked.
sYes'm . said fha how as he uocket
; the nickel she gave him.
What did Mr.. Morse say when
: sent it?' pursued Maria curiously.
The boy looked embarrassed II do
= know just what he said. Miss We
: only it was swearing of some kind"
Swearing? Why, Leander Pla