The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-01-05
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
The Little Luster-Ware
Pitcher.
3v BARBARA KERR

Z stIOpyEBnL, l3GU, Oy the MCCLURE
Newspaper Syndicate.)
4 Trained, not gentle, misty, in
grating rain, but cold. hard
driving rain. "As If papa told /,
tco.H gumbled Renie Martin, whose
paramount interest in life Just now
was the quest OF walnut chair to
match suite that had bee lei
grandmother's. Judge Martin g. ot
sympathize. But nothing would i.e.t
kept Renie home after Mr.. Berry, tic
second-hand man, had autographed
her and told her Of a country sale
where some solid walnut furniture
was to be sold. He said:
They're rich carved, were in the
Hollister family back East for nc
listers family here for half con-
tury." Mr.. Sam HOLSTER was having
z the sale,
ut looks as IL the quest was over
motheri" cried Renie; that is. II
you can stand the drive, for well take
a jHney and go out to that sale
Mrs. Martin had been on n milk
diet till her strength was rather OF
that variety and she knew the trir
would lay her up, but she reflected
what mattered 1t IL she were sick fol
one, day, IL her husband did not know
the cause of her Illness? :
They bundled themselves into rub
bers and mackintoshes, drank some
hot milk, climbed into the jitney anG
were off.
When they reached the little coun.
try place the sale goods had been al
ranged for the widower by neighbor
women whose hearts were warm an6
in the right place, but whose dish
water had gone stone cold. The
dishes washed first showed their pat
terms somewhat, but all smelled loud
ly of their bath. However, Renie and
her mother did not come to buy
dishes, so they picked their way
through the tumble in the yard and or
the proches and went inside.
There they were! The old walnut
chairs with their hnircloth upholster-
ing, arranged in company order. The
sofa was flocked on ono side by the
8 rocker, on the other by the armchair
six small chairs sitting expectantly
and decorously in front. You have it.
There were too many OF them, toe
good to be true! They were carved
and recsfted, but not 'our chaste de-
sign" groaned Mrs. Martin.
They went out a side door upon q
small stoop, where was a table Of
dishes. Mr.. HOLSTER explained tina,
the five white bows with the blue
land escapes on them, and the bits OF
straw and paper inside, were new
He had bought them last April, was
going TO have an oyster supper on his
birthday, but as his wife had died be-
fore that time, they'd never been used
Never even been unpacked," vol
unteered the hushed and solemn voice
OF the dishwasher at Mrs. Martins
I elbow.
There were two large glass coal oil
lamps One was very beautiful, with
q pink bowl, so you did not have to
fill 1t with eoiored cotton or tissue
paper to make it look pretty. There
were all varieties OF gorgeously flow
erred dishes. representing the various
city firms who gave away dishes with
that kind c. baking powder. Also
there wos & large glass dish, standing
high In the center OF the table, sup
planted by a stack OF glass fruit
saucers.
Mrs. Martin and Renie after the
annef of true connoisseurs, noted
all this. then they looked at each
other. The. initiated could not mistake
the look. They saw a find!
In the middle of that table was a
genuine luster-ware pitcher. Peeping
from out Of the CRIME was the beau
tiful pink Lavender house with birds
OF the same hue, and about the same
size, lowering over It!
Mrs. Martin carelessly picked Ut
the pitcher, sat it in the tall glass
dish and remarked that, as the furni.
ture did not suit her, she would give
him dollar for the two and return tt
town.
The woman who had washed the
dishes heard the extravagant Offer
and gasped. 1t affected HOLSTER
Taking the articles ont OF Mrs. Mar
tins hands he resolutely Put then
back on the table, and said:
No, ma-ami advertised my flood;
for sale. Mebbe there might be one
of my neighbors come just for that
dish. It's meant to hold oranges. Il
sold it private, they'd say, Hollis
ter never give us, no chance on that
dish. You kin bid it in And he
went to inform his stool bidder.
He was thinking only of the dish
Mrs. Martin and Renie held a little
council Mrs. Martin took the j!tncy
back to town, Renie took up the jot
of watchful waiting. She noticed
among the crowd of bidders and on
lockers a young man whose dress and
manners were most engaging. She
caught his appraising eyes several
times, but mindful that she was un-
chaperoned and with only one object
Ia yiew-to get that luster- ware
pitcher-she looked coldly away.
However, that did not prevent his
gradually edging his way into nea
vicinity.
Near by, upon a paper-covored
trunk, was another stack of dishes;
among these was another little brown
pitcher. It would hold three times as
much as the luster-ware, also 1t haC
the advantage of belonging to class
OF pitchers, the process of making
which is not lost, so IL anything hap.
pens TO it, or any of its parts-why the
factory is still running. AT least thai
was the argument that sold the now
ing machine.
The erier leaned over the dishes tc
pick up a lot. A country whispe,
reached the ears OF the young man:
Aain't that the little brown pitcne,
"A a knr.