Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1855-06-30
Written for the Thbodaux Minerva.
The Baby that didn't Cry.

Ill 100 siSnof fefsCO, was cHnSiuefeu o1ie "
the largest silk merchats in Naples. His store was
situated i'll NCastcl Square" and to the stranger
passing, there was nothing in the outward appear
ance to attract attention. Signor P. and his silks
were too well known to require outward show OF
blazing signboards he principally dealt with the
resident nobility.
One morning at the usual shopping hour 6
splendid carriage drove up to the store. The
coronet at the pannel-door, and the Everied ser
wants and coachman, told at once that the inmates
of the vehicle were not of vulgar blood. Ssnol
Persico himself was doing the honors to assist fine
looking and magnifciently dressed lady, with her
nurse and baby to descend from the carriage. A
gentleman, of noble bearing and mien, apparently
| the husband of the lady, and dressed in sporting
| habit, followed leading beautiful setter" on a
delicate silver chain. All enteredthe store. "Signor
p" said the gentleman, "my duchess would let me
have no peace this morning, but she must come
and look at some of your silks though | am in a
great hurry for my friends the prince of Pignatei
and the duke of Mirandola are awaiting my arrival
to have a little sport among the kings phesants
and quails at sCaserta."' Like mechanism touched
by the acting spring, sundry clerks flew to do the
behests of the noble lady, and ransacked shelf
after shelf endeavoring to suit the fastidious taste
of the duchess.
The store gradually filed up with customers, but
the lady seemed to be in hurry and made her pur-
chasses cautiously and with most consumate judy
J,,I,o ,taI TO hnp,, ,xr,l,n
he considered cher mad career" protesting that
he was not prepared to pay for one half what
she already had purchased, not dreaming when he
left home to furnish himself with SO much money
especially as he was going only hunting frolick
any dear duke" she said in her blandest manner,
sit is not often indulge in shopping Sgnor
Persico well knows" (P. had never seen the lady
before) "and as | think his present stock superior
to anything have seen in toledo (the principal
street in Naples,) 1 might just as well patronize
Signor Persco, and make all my purchases at once.
Look at these lovely prints! Do, my dear, in
dulge this time, it certainly will bring you good
luck in hunting" Persico took side with the lady,
what could the duke do but comply? More pur
GLASSES were made of the choicest and costliest
articles until the bill amounted to $500! His
Lordship had exactly SO in ready cash in his
pocket which he handed to the merchant ON ac-
count of bill, remarkng at the same time that he
would just drive home and bring the balance OF
Sl435 Immediately. To hull suspicion, if Persico
might have had any, the duke handed him his
card, and the nurse and baby, were left at the
store until the carriage should return The duke
was in a great hurry of course, off went the
equipage and the silks. There were too many
people in the store just at that time to take any
particular notice of the nurse, who had seated her
self in a remote corner with the baby in her arms,
and rocking the same with great assiduity. Per-
haps furtive glance now and then might escape
Signor Persco just to see that the nurse and baby
were all right"
In course of time the crowd in the store dis
persed and the silk merchant began to think that
it was time for the carriage to return with the nice
balance of Sl435. But no carriage ever made its
appearance On further investigation the nurse
also had disappeared. Not so the baby. The little
dear was found laying chair in the same re-
mote corner without making the least noise Or
sgn Cor the treacherous abandonment of the |
nurse On examination the beautiful thing turned |
out to be nothing but pasteboard! Neither Sgnor |
Persico nor the police, ever got the least clue of
he duke and duchess. j. I.