Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-18
This bed OF mothers Is. as said.
! hand carved and hardwood

This bed OF mothers Is. as I said
hand-carved and hardwood
Constance looked relieved. ooh
we'll" she said. III It's really fine ma !.
hoEany. perhaps 1t will do very well
after all"
When it came to furniture for the liv-
inS-rooni. we FLASHED again. She wanted
some wicker chairs. | reminded her
that We had several comfortable arm
chairs In storage.
They will havo to be reupholstered.'
l added. but leave that to mo. please
was sure TINT when she saw how
nice the chairs were che would DO
pleased. And as she let me have my
own way about this plan, / did not
protest when she selected ecru lace
curtains and n golden brown plush
for the portieres OF tho living room.
They will go we'll with tho white
enamel paint and tho paie yellow
walls she told me.
ON tho very day on which VIC So
iected the dining room furnituro-a
plain mission made set that l did not
really like-a telegram came from
Constance's homo saying that her
mother. who was an invalid, was
worse. and asking her TO come on and
spend fortnight with her If possible
Works to PlcnSc Her.
II will have the apartment In com
YOU return I said as | took her to
tho train.
You'd better wait to choose the rugs
until l come back" she suggested.
l did not promise. but she thought
that my silence meant consent. and
she went away satisfied.
| had good time getting the flat
ready for her. and | planned it all
rs a pleasant surprise for my dear
wife. l had the armchairs for the
living room recovered, as they had
been in my childhood. with n stun
ming peacock blue brocade. 1t was cX-
pcnsive. but l wanted it. The black
walnut sofa I had covered with Il
crimson satin.
colors. | did not like tho porticres
for they looked very dull beside the
warm blues and reds | had selected.
I was sure than Constance would think
so, too, and ! resolved not TO call her
attention to the mistake she had made
In selecting brown hanglngs.
The carved bed was polished and
set in place. and | chose Il pretty
blue rug for the bedroom floor.
He Gets Jnr.
! shall never forget the day when
Constance arrived in town. I took her
right up to our now home. She gasped
as her eyes fell on the living room fur
niture.
Good heavens" she cXcla lined. What
colcrs! Dear, can't we have these things
recovered at once"
Then. when she saw that the up
holstery entirely new, she sank
down and cried.
That was perhaps, the bittcrest mo-
ment OF my life.
When she became calmer I led her
into our room, but at sight OF the
handcarved bedstead she stopped
aghast.
"Black walnut! she exclaimed. II
thought IL was mahogany"
This angcred me. ITS very hand
somc. | rctorted. "1t cost father n
pretty penny"
We'll, | wish he'd kept it" she burst
forth. MY dear Robert. you've ruined
tho place! How could YOU"
Something snapped in my head and
I saw mSon--crimson was deep as
the color of the livinG-room sofa.
Because" ] said. "as my money pays
for the furniture. my taste is to be CON
suited. Such being the case. ! think
ordinary gratitude might make YOU less
prejudiced and unkind in your judg-
ment."
II shall never say another word in
criticism of the atrocious combina tom
she flashed back. 81 suppose since YOU
have selected the furniture and paid
for it. ] shall have to sit in II and lie
on it,"
We have never since then referred TO
that quarrel. But although this is the
case. know that home has never
seemed like home TO either of us be-
cause Of that day when my wife's harsh
judgment and lack of taste crushed my
hopes and plans OF pleasing her.