The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-05-20
THE
NEW PARLOR
SUITE
&c by d. J. Walsh.)

that afternoon. Tod Billings, who
had been warned to look out for
1t, brought 1t from the station in
his truck and Mrs. June with her own
hands had unpacked 1t. 1t was la
borious work and she hurt her fingers
considerably, but she simply could not
wait for Mr.. June to come home.
"Well, 1t has comet" was her greet
Ing as he appeared. She led him to
the parlor and pulled up the shades a
little higher in order to let more day
light In on the new possession.
"Unpacked it yourself, Ell? Couldn't
wait for me?" Mr.. June grinned. His
wife pleased him very much no matter
what she did. And, indeed, she was a
dear little woman with her gentle,
anxious face and grazing hair. When
you saw the grazing hair you realized
that Mrs. June had had to wait long
time for her parlor suite, and even
now she had only achieved it at the
cost of much planning and saving and
doing without this or that. Even at
the last she had taken a chance and
sent for 1t rather than pay more and
buy 1t off Mr.. Snyder, who kept the
only furniture store in town.
what do you think of it, Henry"
she asked eagerly.
"Suits me-" answered Mr.. June. He
passed a hand over plump arm.
"LOoks like comfort. You're a great
little hOmemaker, Floss"
Then they kissed and tried the dav-
export and each chair in turn until
the burning potatoes sent Mrs. June
scurrying to the kitchen.
She was very happy, especially
when Henry said, over the rhubarb
pie: -..
IF you want some new curtains for
that room, Floss, guess I can steal
out enough from my months wages
so that you can get them"
"Oh, Henryl You old darling!" She
extended her hand to him and he
clasped it, while he went on eating pie
with the other.
II guess" Mrs. June said, 81 will go
in to see my new parlor suite"
"Why Mrs. Crabbe?" Henry in
quired.
WE'LL I will tell you. She has so
much and she is always glorying over
me so that want to show her that
for once 1 have got something as nice
as she has. Henry, just know she
will envy me that parlor suite"
"And that will tickle you'll Well,
the parlor suite is all right, Floss.
You made good selection, I'll tell the
world"
Mrs. June arose and went to the
telephone.
"Can you come over a minute? I've
got something to show you," she told
Mrs. Crabbe.
II will be right over in about half
an hour" promised the neighbor.
"Floss, can't you forget that parlor
suite long enough to come out and
show me where you want your gladioli
planted? I am going after the garden
tonight" Mr.. June said.
Mrs. June left dishes and went with
him out Of doors. And it only seemed
a minute until she saw Mrs. Crabbe
coming toward her.
Mrs. Crabbe was slim, light wom-
an, with eyes like skim milk, a droop-
ing tip to her nose and a slightly
sneering expression. She wore a beau
tiful gown of heliotrope cotton, which
she had put on obviously for the pur-
pose Of displaying 1t to Mrs. June.
"Now what have you to show me"
she inquired, smiling loftily. "Any-
thing out here? Your flower beds look
terribly skinny, don't theyT
"Come into the house." Mrs. June
led the way with sense of anticipa-
ton. "I've got a new parlor suite"
she explained, as they approached the
parlor. "Wait till turn on the lights"
She snapped switch and the three
lights of the chandelier Illuminated
the twilight room.
At that instant she felt clutching
sense of defeat and chagrin. Mrs.
Crabbe gave little scornful laugh.
swell, forever morew she ejacu.
lated. "If that isn't the most bizarre
thing I ever saw. Why, the figures
jump right at you'll"
Mrs. June stood dumb, her small pa
tient face frozen into an awful stare.
The lights had done horrible thing
to her new parlor suite; the figures
did jump at you, many of them, great
bright spots of them, yet by daylight
they had not been noticeable at all.
She caught her breath YEARLY.
"Colors seen by candelight," quoted
Mrs. Crabbe lightly. "Well, maybe
you will get used to it. l never should.
Where did you get such odd-looking
stuff|
Mrs. June was in control again.
81 sent for It," she acknowledged.
81 selected my sample very carefully.
And, of course, II like 1t or
shouldn't have got it."
Mrs. Crabbe shrugged her shoulders.
"You won't like 1t so we'll after you