COPYRIGHT—1926—BY
D. APPLETON & COMPANY
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

TO
MY SISTERS
Barbara and Jane

CONTENTS

CHAPTERPAGE
I. Glenwood Darrow, looking only atthe eyes, overlooks the chin, anda rarely beautiful Persian rug isovershadowed by golden oak[ 1]
II. Mrs. Darrow seeks further for gentility,and her daughter has herhair pulled and doesn’t mind it[ 16]
III. Miss Ada Tenafee is faithful to ancestorworship, while the Darrowsweave a golden legend abouta golden lad[ 27]
IV. Granny Mander’s curse is potent:the hawk comes down to feed inthe barnyard[ 37]
V. Dr. Darrow damns the first familieswith his last breath, and littleMiss Nancy Carey meets theyoung mountaineer[ 47]
VI. Mr. ’Gene Carey finds a right-handman for the Altonia, and Glenjoins the noble army of labor[ 60]
VII. Luke Manders agrees with her entirely,and Southern Europe contributessome of its culls to themill, notably one Black Orlo,whose vitriolic utterances the doctor’sdaughter finds nourishing[ 72]
VIII. Miss Ada Tenafee rejoices to haveher young protégée receive twocallers in one afternoon, and MissNancy sees Luke Manders again[ 87]
IX. Glen Darrow dines for the first timein her life, and tells her hostessesher opinion of Peter Parker ofPasadena; later confides to hersleepless pillow that she doesn’tlike being touched[ 101]
X. Glen trusts to time to correct herpeculiarities, and occupies herselfwith transforming her house toharmonize with her WishingCarpet[ 110]
XI. Glen sets the day for her twentiethbirthday, and grieves because hersuitor is too busy to help herbetter conditions, while Mr. ’GeneCarey is crushed by the perfidy ofOld Ben[ 125]
XII. Mrs. Eugenia Parker, President ofthe Federated Women’s Clubs,bitterly shares Black Orlo’s opinionthat her son does not amountto much, in which young Petercordially concurs[ 139]
XIII. Mr. Peter Parker of Pasadena,visiting his mill for the first time,is given the right hand of fellowshipand the cold shoulder in thespace of an hour[ 149]
XIV. Peter soaks up impressions andrather fancies himself as a comedian,but neither Glen Darrownor Henry Clay Bean find himfunny[ 166]
XV. Mrs. Eugenia Parker receives thatlowest form of human expression,an anonymous letter and pays thedoctor’s daughter a call[ 183]
XVI. Gloriana-Virginia proves that it wasreally a Wishing Carpet afterall![ 198]
XVII. Young Peter sees something he neversaw before, and Glen finds thather theory about herself waswrong[ 211]
XVIII. Mrs. Eugenia Parker has the doubtfulsatisfaction of seeing her triflingson in action for the firsttime[ 220]
XIX. Glen Darrow, being her father’sdaughter, decides that promisesare made to be kept[ 234]
XX. Peter Parker of Pasadena is less ofa fool than has been popularlysupposed, and the golden legendis discovered to be tarnished brass[ 245]
XXI. Once more, the Wishing Carpet justifiesitself, and Henry Clay Bean,breaks the solemnity of a lifetime[ 255]

The
WISHING CARPET

CHAPTER I
Glenwood Darrow, looking only at the eyes, overlooks the chin, and a rarely beautiful Persian rug is overshadowed by golden oak.

ONCE, when Glen Darrow was six years old, she put a hand on her mother’s thin knee and halted the reading of a fairy tale.

“Mummie,” she whispered, “is that one?”

She was pointing at a small and very beautiful Oriental rug which seemed singularly out of place in the ugly and characterless sitting room. Color, design, and texture were exquisite. A fanciful person, contrasting it with the strident carpet, the atrocious vases and pictures, the glistening golden oak furniture, might have thought it was like a nobleman, briefly taking refuge in the mean hut of a peasant.