The Ocala evening star., 1915-08-10

thought was needed The parlOr car
pet had been down for three years.
but had been taken care OF SO well
that IL looked almost new. Still. there
were roses in the Tattern. and he had
heard Mrs. Bowser say that people OF
refined taste avoided rose carpets he
would get sunflowers IL he could: if
not he would get violets-
The sitting room carpet had several
holes burned In II. and there was a
threadbare place or two. The holes
had been burned as he carelessly threw
away his cigar stub and the spots had
been worn by his feet, as he sat rock
ing to and fro. He had laid the dam
age to the cat when Mrs. Bowser com
planned, but he knew II was his own
work He would buy another He .
wasn't sure yet what pattern he would 1
get but IL would be something lively. !
He wasn't always lively when seated \
I'm that room OF an evening. but lively 4
carpet might help his spirits
There We're the upholstered chairs /
The cat had slept on every one OF them !
and wear and dust had given them a I
somewhat dingy look. They must be
reupholstered and the colors must be
bright and lively.
The most OF the pictures on the walls
had been in the Bowser family for a
good many years There was one OF
| a widow weeping over her husbands
| tombstone; another of an angel how
ering over a dying infant; another Of
| Niagara Falls I'm winter. and yet an
| other OF a river flowing past an old
! barn on its way to the sea. What was
! I'm that old barn no one could ever
! make out and why the river flowed
to the north instead OF the south was
/ another vexed question There were
three pictures among the lot that could
be saved The rest must go. There
should be nothing on the walls to
bring grief to the heart or tears TO the
eyes. Mr.. Bowser had always been
fond OF British hunting scenes and he
would hang up half a dozen IL he could
find them. The piano was a square,
with four legs. He could not see his
way to improve 1t any unless he re-
moved two Of the legs, and he decided
to meddle with them
Ten years before he had disposed OF
the wooden bedsteads In the bedrooms
and had bought those OF brass and iron
He would now make a new purchase
of ash and walnut ones. They would
be no better but they would help make
q change When Mr.. Bowser had made
a note Of what was needed he began
the active work OF refurnishing. He
sent away the chairs to the upholster-
er's and the bedsteads to a second hand
store. He was lucky enough to find a
purchaser for the carpets on the floor,
and thus the house was cleared for
what was to come.
Mrs. Bowser wrote that her mother
was much better and that she could be
home the next week. and Mr. Bowser
wrote her I'm reply; go .grr
do not think OF coming home fol-
the next three or four weeks. Your
dear mother is liable to have relapse
T and IL she does 1t will be the grave fol
her. Things are running happily and
e smoothly. Your affectionate husband
etc.
The cook was not taken along wheI
Mr.. Bowser selected the covering 10
II the chairs and the new carpets Sh
c kindly offered to go. but was purpose
Iy left behind. If the above said sc
II Iections were not bowling successes
'e was not the fault OF q devoted bus
e. band The salesman In the carpe
g store started In to tell Mr.. Bowse
u what the latest thing I'm carpets was
but was met with the reply:
"Sir, was selling carpets before 20
were out OF your cradle. and 1 think
know what l want"
This settled the salesman and ais
le sold some fifty yards OF carpedn
which had been I'm the store for th
past twenty years
All things have an end. and Mr.. Bow
sers refurnishing had one two weeh
al later. He hustled He made other
u hustle. He used the telephone and b
u legs unsparingly. He coa1ed and I
threatened, and at length all II
no changes were made and the houi
awaited Mrs. Bowser's homecoming
10 she came. The cook had been throue
the house several times and shook h'
head at every change and said to he
40 self:
~ Harmony! Wait till Mrs Bows
gets home and see IL there'll be ha
mony. Red. green, blue, brown. 9
mixed together. It's no wonder Il
i'e cat shows signs OF going insane"
Riding home from the depot.
-. Bowser was very enthusiastic. but
did not even hint at what had be-
done at the house He let Mrs Bows
=. find out for herself. She found OF
Before she had taken of her hat $
"a had. gone through every room al
- noted every change. and just as 2
- smiling Mr.. Bowser looked for her
,ho break forth I'm words or praise al
o-r gratitude she fell full length ON {
g. floor I'm a dead faint and did not rect
- er from il till three or four ol {
ro- neighboring women had rushed la a
Re worked over her a quarter Of an ho'
me The harmony WIS foo much.
She was a brave. strong woman. /
nto she could not stand H.
oln AS for Mr. Bowser-but he had do
to his hest