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Show ' Very wealth y.answered the husband, sharing lur perplexity, k and very whimsical. If she likes any one,any thing they do wil suit her.Bnt the can dislike as weil, and then nothing )s right. I always was one of her favorites when I was a Lo v, but -" "But vou don't know as yonr wife will be, in that it, Tm?" asked Carrie timidly. "She must like you, dearest," answeed Tcin,. with a fond look he had not been a husband long euough to be a lover. "But wbero on we put her, we must furnish the pare room. I see no other way. 1 will stop at Brysona' and Bee if I ca et the furniture on credit, wo- must do it, Ctvrrie. It. would never do to send Aunt Nebi1 word thai we had no place lor her." "Xou will do ueitht r one thing northe othT, husband hus-band mine,1' said Carrie, with a negative shake of her head, as she knitted her brows thoughtfully. "I think that with a vary little help and at a very plight expense. 1 can furnisi that chamber truthfully, truth-fully, and when we can afford it we can re-furnish it. "You remember that old furniture which Aunt Jane ltt me, and which we stored in theatticaa worthless. Old things are very fashionable now, and a little varnish will brighten it up wonder-fu.ly." wonder-fu.ly." , But a few old i ider-legged chaite, a table,, and an ancifitt chest of drawers, wi l never furnish fur-nish a room fiftern feet square," objected Tom, still unconvinced. "To be sure it is nicely papered that pearl paper, with the reen vine oorder is just perfect but the floor we must have a carpet, Carrie." "Obey order, sir, and astc no questions," cried C-irrie, brightly, "when you come home tomorrow to-morrow niRht bring enough pearl paint lo give the floor two thick coats and also a can of green. Take a large piece piece of tin and make a pretty blaster t f. oak leaves upon it and get tha tinman to cut them out as stencil plates are made. You know that we cannot afford a carpet, Tom, unless we break our pule, never to get into debt. I will look over Aunt ane's things and see what nfrxt must be done." "what a manager you are. my dear," laughed Tbra. -I realy believe that my AnntNesbit will take you, to her heart the Instant she views that wonderful chamber.'1 "Don't laush at me. please, Tom,"" and there were tears in the pretty blue eye'. "I do want to make her like mer but we cannot furnish thn room on credit,. now can we, Tom?" "We ought not," auwered Tom, hesitatingly. "And we will not,." added Carrie positively. All. the next day the bnsy little housewife'flitted from the spare room to the attic, from the attic to the spare room, measuring spaces and dustin"-the dustin"-the old1 furniture, and,, when Tom came home at night, her plans were completed to her own satisfaction, satis-faction, but, womanlike, she delighted in a mystery mys-tery and would not reveal ihem. "We can manage it nicely. Tom. but you are not to ask troublesome questions. I can do the most of it myself, and I will hire Jim Bardon to help me a little. When you come home to-morrow bring me fifty yards, at least, of pearl cretune ornamented with a pretty vine, or graceful branches bran-ches of plain, greeh leavesno flowers, remember.. Bring also a bunch of green picture cord rather large -and a can of white varnish' 'Then you won't admit me to your 'Bluebeard's chamber?' "questioned Tom, laughingly. "Not until it is all completed," answered Carrie mysteriously"! want your candid judgement upon tows Wife. 4 BT FBANGIS B. HOWLAWD. "My dear Tom." so the letter ran t I shall be with you to spead Christmas, and, if I find things to my liking, I may stay until spring." Thomas Caton read it aloud as he sat at the cozy tea-tabjewith his young wife, one evening in late NovefXy "&nd glanced across it in evident per-plexiflTf per-plexiflTf - His Aunt Nesbit, who" wrote that letter, was very wealthy, very old, and very eccentric. She had visited each one of hor nephews and nieces in turn, openly declaring her intention to select one among them all to inherit her wealth, and it was no wonder that lorn was anxious for. the result re-sult of thia, Christmas visit,- for Tom's relation8,one and all had long since decided that Tom' wife was "odd," and just because she independently held to what they both considered1 right-rAe habit of strictly living within their income. "And where shall we put her?-; asked Carrie, with consternation written in every line of her fair face. i - x - -' kWe "cannot furnish the spare room before spring that is entirely out of the question She a twty rich, Is'nt she. Tom?" folks out in their true colors, eh, Tom? And so . this i8 your wife?" she asked abruptly, wit a keen glance at Cairie, who was helping remove her wraps. "Whero are your servants?" and the gray t. eyes restlessly searched the room and took in every detail of the plainT yet cozy apartment. ' viehavn't any; Aunt Nesbit, except the woman who co i.es twke a week to do the heavy work," faltered Carrie, wih crimson cheeks. "Tom and I well, the truth is, Aunt Neshit, we ean't afford servants, and we are resolved to live within our income." "Quite right, my dearsoid the strange old lady in warm approval, as she seated herueU beside the bright open fire. "I think I shall like . you after all. They told me you were 'odd I think it would be a gord thinj: it more of our folks were odd, Tom. l don't mind telling you both that I have been fearfully jealous oi 'Tom's wife'-he wife'-he was a good boy, Tom was but I will confess that I should be a bit surprised if it was Tom's turn to be jealous of you, my dear' before long." kl am quite willing, unt Nesbit," said Tom, with a r. lieved laugh, while Carrie went to get tea ready. "Sweet shortcake 1" exclaimed Aunt "Nesbit, as she took her seat at the tiny table. "How did you know what I lib ed, my dear?" "Tom likes it, answered Carrie quickly. "We think it is more healthy than rich cake, and be sides cake is costly." "Quite right, my dear. I am certain that I now forgive Tom ireely for marrying such an odd person as Tom's wife is. In tact I shouldn't wonder if I thanked him for dcin so yet," and Aunt Nesbit's gray eyes twinkled as she nodded vehemently at both husband arid wife. it when it is dose, and yon would not be a competent compe-tent Judge if you helped 10 do it. Jim and I can manage it perfctly, m certain.'' Day after day the air of mysUry deepened" in the caton household. The smell of paint increase Toms' curiosity, but he was forced toret content, for Carrie's bright face told him that the work was successful, and besides, she carried the key of the spare room in her p cket. "At last, oh, most august judge, the auspicious moment has arrived! Your opinion, free and iiubiased, is required 1" said Carrie dramatically a- she met her husband in the hall and helped him off with his overcoat. At the door of the room he paused in astonishment. astonish-ment. What 'airy had beau at work there? The floor, paiutod a pretty color, was ornamented by a border of green leav. s, aud a graceful group was painted in the center of Ibe room; the large windows were hung with cretonne shades, over which were looped white scrim eurtains, held in pla c by bands of thecrctonne; antique lurniture, shining fr m a lavish coat of varnish, gave the room aquaiut appearance; the heavy br- ss knobs on the old cuest of drawers were polished to the highe-t degree of brightnes ; an open wardrobe with lull cretonne curtains, a lomemade work-table, toilet-stand, ottoman. a sofa with cretonne curtains with two or three bright rugs .completed the furnishings. "Ard how did you d it all?" questioned Tom, incredulously, "Yon have not asked for money," "Because I had ten dollars in my purse, and th.it more tnan covered the cost I have doue it all with the aid of sundry flour barrels and packing bexes. and the cretonne," laughed Carrie merrily. - 1 Will it do dear?" But the most critical point was yet to be decided would she like her chamber? It was with many inward misgivings that Carrie arose when the evening was well spent, and lighting light-ing a lamp said quietly: "I know you must be tired, Aunt Nesbit. Shall I show you to your chamber?" Certainyrmy dear. Tom. bring up my satchel," and she folll&wed Carrie briskly up the narrow stairway, while Tom loitered in evident anxiety. "We we couldn't buy iurnitur for the room, just now, Aunt Nesbit,' faltered Carrie, as she threw open the door. "That is, unless we did it on credit, and you know a rule once broken is more easily broken a second time.' I did it all with a little help on the heaviest parts. I I hope you will like it." "Like ii, my dear!" and the old lady glanced admiringly around th pretty, quaint room, warm- fd by the cheerful open wood fire, then clasped Carrie's hands and kissed her warmly. "It is fust perfect, my dear. I don't mind idling you, Tom, that I think your wile an angel, and wish this world held more such sensible womeu. I did not expect anything like this, or I should surely have come here sooner. I was terribly afraid your spare room was furn shed in the stiff, usual way, and J that I would get the rheumatism from damp ' sheets. But this wny, Tom, I could live here always and Ithxn I will!1' 80 Tom's wife won him a fortune, for Aunt Nesbit's Christmas gift to her nephew was a sum of money sufficient to admit him to a partnership in the large firm where ha was cashier. And she ftill enjoys her "home-made" room, for she will not allow the introduction of other furniture, while 'lom's disappointed relatives,, persecuted by unpaid bills, cannot but acknowledge acknowl-edge that it paid to be "odd" after all. 1 f course it will. Why it's it's too sweet for anything," answered Tom mischeviously. "ut wbere will Aunt N bit sleep?" , "Here ."cried Carrie, as she laid- her hand upon the cur ained sofa. "This is the packing box that your bookcase came in. See, I have put the cover on with hinges and tacked the cushion to itr In the day she can have a nice sofa by stowing the pillows, sheets, and blankets away in this box, and at niaht a comfortable bed can very easily be-made. be-made. Now isn't that a brilliant idea, Tom?" "Quite, my dear, and I realy think that this is the prettiest room in the house. What a pity that we 'expended so much, money in furnishir g our home nest, isnTt it?" answered Tom, gravely. 'Now you are laughing at me," pouted the young wife a? she closed the door. "But the room is finished aad it was the best I could do." "No.uo," cried Tom:. "I was wondering by what elfin rower so much had been accomplished. I am only afraid that my home fairy will find her wings some day and fly away. But here comes-Aunt comes-Aunt Nesbit now," "I hope you have something' nice for tea, Carrie," dded the husband, a little auxiousb, as the rumble or wheels stopped at their door. "Butter toast and apple marmalade, and not a hit of cake except some of the sweet shortcake you like so weir. I didn't expect her so soon. But I can't change it now,"' whispered Carrie desperately. There was no time for further conversation. Carrie answared the quick ring at the door, and Tom received a hearty welcome from the little, old woman his wife ushered in. "Didn't expect me so soou did you ? I fancy not, hut 1 have a no'ion to take people unawares sometimes.. Nothing like a surprise to bring |