The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-07-19
''' And keep it secret q

For the whole of that fortnight I
never went near the club; that was
probably the reason why my appear
ance at the club-dinner was greeted
with such lively sallies about Bakers
Paste. One wOuld-be wag recOmmen-
ded me, whilst helping tart, to keep
my fingers out of the pastry Believ-
ing him to intend some obscure allusiOn
to the gems on my little finger, thought
it time to open fire.
Gentlemen said |, for some weeks
have listened to casual observations
in which the name of Baker has been
unworthy associated with paste and
pastry, but have refrained from making
any remark, having been firmly per-
suaded they cOnld only apply to indus
facture of Ome-baked bread (O!-
OD 1T now occurs to me that such re-
marks were intended in allusiOn to the
ring wear-a ring, [ take this OppOr-
tunity of informing you, which, unlike
the wits who have amused themselves
at its expense, is indebted for it's bril-
liancy to nature
"They hoOted me; they heaped op-
prObriOus epithets on the name of
Baker; they laughed and talked me
down.
..;1 %,d'll aIa bet him five pounds it's PASTE
1850 will T. said another. And T.
So said eleren of them.
"' Really, gentlemen said I, L am
sorry you should take the matter so
much in earnest. All | can tell you is
believe my ring to be a diamond ring,
and this, Notwithstanding [ will freely
admit only paid very small sum for
"They laughed and hooted me still
more at this admission. They said that
settled the question, and that it was
paste.
4 told them I didn't think it was.
"Well, would | betP
81 would rather not
"MOOre hOoting.'
At length, very reluctantly, I over
came my scruples. The name of Baker
is q name too closely allied to the
gentle breed to allow it to be wantonly
sullied. bet.
1--WE adjourned to the jewelers.
"' Without question, they were dia-
mOnds," the jeweler decided, and some
of the finest he had ever SEEM Gle
ought to know, as they were his proper
| ty, hired by me for the Occasion.)
Eleven fives is fifty-fve, gentle
men,
"Having g established the value of my
ring, and freed the name of Baker from
suspicion, paid for the hire of the real
gems, and had the paste stones reset in
their places, believing, after all, the
reputation for diamonds to be as good
as the possession of them, and free from
the anxiety.
"It was talked about, and noised
abroad it even reached the little back
street where the pawnbroker lived
You should have seen him.
g" Real shtones! 0, my heart! She
clean gone. o, my bOotshe and bones
not to know that fOlkshe do shOmetimes
come and pawn real diamonish fol
pashte, shO as to have less interesh tC
pay for taking care of their ringsh. O
my blessed heart, only think of iti"
He came to me. He grovelled, and
wriggled, and twisted himself before
me. He prayed me to sell him his ring
again. o, my tere Mishter Baker, yoI
mustn't shell it to me, or I shall be {
ruined old manshe. The time wash no
out, and Mishter Smit has come to re
deem it, and he shays that it wosh a leg
acy, and if he dOesh not get it by Shat
urday next he will ruin me-sh-hell
him, he will. O., Mishter Baker, thinl
of it; twenty pOundsh-all in gold
Isholid money. Now, my tere, what d.
you shay? t6ersh a good mansh.'
"What did I say? Gould I turn &;
deaf ear to the distress Of the old man
There are people who might do it, gen
tlemen, but not people Of the name 0
Baker-not W. H. Baker. certainl!
did ask him for more money, We com
promised it at last at twenty-five ten
which he paid, part in six-pences ant
coppers, and owes me four-pence half
penny to this day.
"Twenty-two, nine and seven hal
pence half penny, and fifty pounds
seventy seven, nine, seven and a halt
It just paid for the real diamonds; for
had previously hired of the jewelel
and had them set in a ring the fac
smile Of Mr.. Blocks, except that th
initials inside are William Henry Baker
"That was the only time I was eve
swindled, gentlemen" Mr.. Baker con
) cluded.