Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-07-30

DUO, pOOr,JO ~
after all, they we're under no obliga
ton to their wood-sawyer," she said il
the next breath, with a little air of indig
nation, as if Joe himself had ventured th.
remonstrance. "Mrs. Garnet was right
people must be economical, or they really
couldn't live in a city. They couldn't af
ford to give away so many things thai
could be turned to account"
And the bronze nymph, holding dain
ty oil-vessel on her head, stared back 8
placid acQuiescence in this statement from
her new stand on the little marble table
and Mrs. Aladdin grew better satisfied
every time she glanced in that direction
during the afternoon. She had Nancy
/ take it out, after an hour or two, to be
fitted up and filled !; and, when evening
came, and it's soft light filled the room
she was fully persuaded of it's being a
thing of beauty, and joy forever, and
was only impatient that Aladdin should
come to commend her wisdom, and enjoy
it's fruits with her. tg n
He was late after the manner of people
who are anxiously watched for; and when
he came, at last, walked straight to the
CHEEKY, open fire. .''7A
1.-The lamplight from the table trim 2 -
Was common lamplight unto him,
And it was nothing more.''
until the difference was pointed out But
then he grew appreciative at one-what
else could he be, standing there in the
comfortable glow, with SO pretty a white
hand to direct his attention, and the OBJ
ject to which it was directed so attrac-
tive? He called it dainty unique, vast
| improvement upon the old one and
laughed at her explanation Of having
given in exchange for it variety of anti
quated articles. Rv
''Just like you. It's a fortunate thing
the pyramids are not in your keeping ;you
would trade them off for fresh Bunker
Hill monuments in less than week. Oh.
little woman" with q sudden flash, of
recollcctlon-"your new for old played the
mischief with me today Cousin George
lett me five hundred dollars yesterday to
buy some government bonds for him, be-
cause he couldn't come in this afternoon
until after banking hours I got them
this morning, and brought them home, so
carefully slowed away in an inside pocket
that | forgot to take them out, and only
| remembered that they were at home in
my old coat when he called for them So
now | shall have to send them out. All
your fault, you see.''
She did see something That made her
heart sink suddenly, while sickening
chill of apprehension and dismay swept
+ over her '.s... :.
"I'd better get them now while 1 think
about it. Where did you hang that coat :?
Never mind, I'll find it." .,
ooh, my dear, you can't! It's gonep'
she fairly gasped. lit was one of the
things sold to buy the lamp" ..u. n
Aladdin's hand dropped from the door
knob He turned toward her, and leaned
back against the wall, looking not less
aghast and bewildered than did his great
namesake when his beautiful palace van
lshed from sight as the result of his
wife's good bargain. This cozy little
nest OF house was no palace, but it was
their own, and their all;s and this mis-
fortune might mean something too nearly
allied to losing ito be viewed with eoua-
nimity
"And you never looked in the pockets ?
But, of course, you didn't suppose / had
left anything
The sentence fell unfinished, and two
pair of troubled eyes surveyed each other
in silence for few moments before they
| could arouse any discussion of possibili-
| ties and probabilities Then the chances
of recovery were spoken of, and they tried
to consider the matter in its most hopeful
aspect; but it was not very cheering at
| best. The night was long, disturbed,
anxious one, and, hours before the dawn,
Mrs. Aladdin's wakeful eyes turned to-
| ward the east, watching for the morning
that should bring, at least, the relief of
effort to take the place of this weary wait
| ing.
| After all, there was little that could be
done. The aid of the police was secured,
but the morning wore away without
| tidings Mrs. Aladdin started at every
football and every touch of the bell and
each shadow of passing figure drew her
| to the window in forlorn hope of discov
erlng the image vender.
She could not interest herself in ordi-
nary avocations; the quietness grew in
| tolerable, and in the afternoon she donned
her wrappings and went out, turning her
steps almost unconsciously into the mar
row and less frequented streets, and walk
ing on and on IN vague expectation of
meeting somewhere the swarthy face and
dropping eyes she remembered so well
Peddlers, organ grinders, beggars and
vagabonds appeared in abundance but
they bore no resemblance to the one she
sought; and the early fading of the winter
oU10IiIiO, Will o1lO OCCpC1lIS SudOOWS Vi
the gray twilight, warned her home to
! give and receive the same brief answer to
eager questioning.
Nothing"
| And that was all that ever came of the
searching. The man and his wares had
disappeared from the city, leaving no clue
by which he would be traced
ooh, if [ hadn't been so selfish? Poor
honest Joe! There would have been no
trouble if it had fallen into his hand,'
Mrs. Aladdin said to herself again and
again.
But regrets were unavailing. After a
week or two the little home was mort
gagged to replace the money-there was no
other way of doing it-and the sense of
entire happy ownership was gone. That
winter was a nearer approach to poverty
that Mrs. Aladdin had ever known.
There was real necessity for economy, the
abstaining from many accustomed com
forts and luxuries, and close and careful
management Of expenditures. She learned,
more clearly in those days., what life
might be like in the city's attics and
cellars, and if her heart was more anxious
than of old, it grew more tender too.