Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-08-12
A rAwNBRoKINa INCIDENT.

to see painful, and sometimes not u
pleasing phases of society. Just
| give an idea Of what occasionally com,
under the notice of persons in man
profession, shall describe a little il
cident and its consequences. On
evening | stepped to the door for
little fresh air, and to look about for
moment. While I was gazing up an
down the road, saw tidily dresse
young person step up to our side dool
She walked like lady-and let m
tell you that in nine cases out of tie
it's the walk, and not the dress, whic
distinguishes the lady from the servan
girl-and first she looked about, an,
then she seemed to make up her min
in a Hurried sort of way, and in
moment more was standing at on
counter, holding out glittering sea
in little trembling hand covered witt
worn kid glove.
My assistant, Isaacs, was stepping
forward to take the seal, when I came
in and interposed. The poor young
thing was SO nervous and shy, an6
altogether so unused to this work, that
/ felt for her as if she had been my
own daughter almost. She could n,
have been more than eighteen years
old; too frail and gentle a creature.
eff You please, will you tell me,
she sand timidly, in very sweet, low
voice, trembling with nervousness,
"what is the value of this seal?"
"Well, miss, taking the seal into my
hand and looking at tit was an old
fashioned seal, such as country gentle
men used to wear, with coat of arms
cut upon it-'that depends upon
whether you want to pledge it, or to
sell it out right"
81 am married, sir" and she said the
words proudly, and with dignity.
though still so shy and seeming ready
to burst out crying; "and my husband
is very ili-and-and-"
And then the tears wouldn't be kept
back any longer, and she sobbed as if
her poor little heart would break.
''There, there, my DEAR" I said to
her; ''don't cry; it will come all right
in .ime;" and | tried to comfort her as
well as l could in my own highland
ready way. 81 will lend you, ma'am,"
| said to to her at last, ga sovereign
upon this seal; and if you wish to sell
it, perhaps may be able to sell it for
you to advantage
And so l gave her pound; it was
more than the thing was worth as a
pledge; and she tripped away with a
lighter heart, and many thanks to me,
and l thought no more of the matter at
the time.
The very next day, the day before
Christmas, there came into our place of
business a very eccentric gentleman
who had called upon us pretty often
before, not for the sake of pawning
anything, though he was generally
dressed shabby enough, too. But he
was collector, one of those men who
are mad upon old china and curiosities
of all sorts. "
"Anything in my way, to<day, Mr..
Davis?' he said, in his quick, energetic
manner, with jolly smile upon his
face, and putting down the cigarette he
was smoking upon the edge of the
counter.
The Rev. Mr.. Broadman is collec
tor of gems, and rings and seals, and
in fact Of any stones that have heads OF
figures engraved upon them, and 1 had
been in the habit of putting aside fol
him whatever in this way passed
through my hands, for he gave us 9
better price than we should get fol
them at the quarterly sales.
"The fact is, Davis" he used to say
to me, these things are invaluable
Many of them are as beautiful, on a
small scale, as the old Greek sculptures
and some OF them even by the same
artists, and they are made no longer
you see, for in this busy ninetee ntl
century, our time and brains are toe
precious to be spent on these laboriou'
trifes.
Now, although had no stones o
the kind he waited just then, it entere'
into my head that I would tell hin
about the seal which had come into m
possession the evening before.
told him the story somewhat as
have just told 1t tt, you. He listene'
attentively to all l said. When / ha
done, he looked at the seal and said:
81 observe that it has the herald
emblem of baronet"
He then congratulated me upon tn
way in which had acted. lie asked
too, for this young lady's address
which she had given me quite correct
and then he left the shop wlthou
another word.
| You must give me leave to tell tn
rest Of the story in my own way
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