South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-05-12
Their Married
Life.
THE THIRD YEAR.

charge Of a dollar. which she thought
exorbitant. and which aided that much
more 10 the cost Of the articles.
Hardly had the door closed after
the expressman. before Helen was
down on her knees examining the chair.
Was il really an antique was IL
worth what she had paid2
Then she tried 20 see il II was COM
Portable. But was il strong? Had
mat arm been repaired? She exam
ined il more closely. 1t looked as
though il had been broken and mend
ed there She would have 10 put IL in
the bedroom where II would not get
much use.
There was a number Of scars and
scratches on the carved legs. She
must rub these up before Warren saw
them.
Then she turned TO the brass jar.
II was really a very quaint old piece
with its curious iron feet and bulglng
sides But Helen could not see that IL
was useless. She had bid on IL, think
ing IL could be used as clothes nam
per and had found only when II had
been Knocked down TO her that what
had seemed TO be a lid was not one
and that the only opening was small
hole on top.
Planning It's Use.
II only she had had the courage to
sneak I'D at the time-to have told the
auctiOneer OF her mistake and~~ask
him 20 resell IL.
She had lain awake last night.
thinking of what she could do with IL,
what she could use IL for. Should the
top be cut of and made into a M
Put that would probably cost more
than the jar was worth.
Would IL do for an umbrella hOlder2
She ran TO the closet for couple or
umbrellas Yes, the opening on top
g. Int II on
she put IL in the narrow hall TO see
how il would ioOk, she found that the
lar itself was much too big. II hard
" left space enough TO pass. Then
she tried IL in the library by TIE gas
logs OF course a great many psOple
did have old brass and copper pieces
sitting around and thought them very
decorative but this one was so big
and clumsy. And, besides. Helen had
always been opposed to anything that
vas not useful. She hated a room
filled with a lot OF trip-traps that
served no purpose except 10 be in the
way and catch dust. Warren, too,
was strong on this. He always said
For heavens sake. let's not clutter
up the place with a lot of useless
trumpery."
She felt that she would not have the
courage to tell him about the jar, at
least not for a while. She might give
il TO some one for Christmas; il would
look like an expensive present. Mrs.
stevens would love IL, for she had a
lot OF antique brass.
Finally Helen hid the jar in the
back Of her closet, and again turned
her attention 30 the chair.
Maggie, where did you put that
furniture pOlish2'
Isn't IL there on that top pantry
shelf. ma'au1 ?"
Helen got the polish and soft fan
mel cloth and went to work. The back
OF the chair was veEeered and the
grain OF the wood came out beauti-
fully as she rubbed It up.
Pussy Purrmew. who always
thought that when Helen got down
on the iloOr. II was to play with her.
came purring around. shifting inquisi-
lively at the furniture polish.
Helen had put on a large bib apron
in which she always worked, and now
as she got up TO stand back and view
the chair. Pussy Purrmew made leap
after one of the apron strings and
overturned a bottle of polish. Before
Helen could catch IL up there was a
little pool OF brown liquid on the Per
sian rug.
The kitten scampered away with
arched tail. while Helen ran out 10 the
Kitchen.
ooh, Maggie. Pussy Purrmew's over
turned the furniture polish Get some
warm water and soap-quick."
They washed IL in several waters
but there was still a faint brown stain
THAT won't show much when it's
dry. ma'am," said Maggie cOnsOlngly
But Helen knew that II would show
and it only added 20 the string OF mis-
fortunes which seemed 10 have fol
lowed her auction purchases.
"Phew! Smells strong enough in
here" was Warren's first comment
when he came home that evening.
Yes. It's furniture polish Pussy
Purr1new overturned the bottle"
Hello, Pussums! Did you d,
that" as the kitten. aroused by nj
entrance, jumped down from the win
dow, yawned and stretched sleepily.
Instantly Helen knew that Warner
was in en- unusually good humor. II,
would never notice the kitten. mucl
less call her "PuSsums', If ne Wert
not particularly genial.
"Oh, saw. IS this the new chair I?
Glad for him 20 see II first when n
was in so favorable a mood she drew
II out and turned on another light
why, that's mighty good lookin
chair. Lines are good, and that's
good piece OF mahogany too. What
You say YOU paid for it,"
Twelve dollars"
Cheap. all right. Couldn't sc
that chair in the shops for less tina
twenty-five, could yOu2"
Helen knew that the chair could b
bought almost anywhere for ffteer
herself TO say SO But II ne though
this was worth much more than sh
had paid. she might venture 20 &c
him about the jar.
Yes. that chairs all right" declare
Warren And it's an OLD one to-
That's no reproduction. Can't max
'em like that now
Helen was almost sure that il We
a reprO0uCtiOn. But IL was so rarel
that Warren approved OF anything ST
~. 10 rrnf.a IN, a
senting eagerly.
"Oh. yes. dear. I'm almost sure th'
it's old"
well. I know it's old. That's
genuine chair and it's mighty chea
for twelve dollars. What else did yC
get2''
Nothing else" heSitatngly. excel
"a brass jar
Lets see IT, Trot IL out"
II was so heavy that Helen cou