Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-10-01
TOO LATE!

AS pawnbroker in a populous suburb
in London, have had occasion to see
painful and sometimes not unpleasing
phases of society. Just to give an idea of
what occasionally comes under the observa-
tions of persons in my profession, shall de-
scribe little incident and its conse-
quences.
One evening stepped to the door for 4
moment. While WAS gazing up and down
the road l saw tidy dressed young person
step up to our side door. She walked like
lady-and let me tell you that i'll nine
cases out of ten it's the walk and not the
dress that distinguishes che lady from the
servant girl-at first she looked around,
and then seemed to make up her mind in q
Hurried sort Of manner, and in Il moment
more was standing at the counter, holding
out a gittering something in Il little trem
bling hand covered with a worn kid glove.
Ny assistant, Isaacs, was stepping for
ward to take the seal, when 1 came in and
interposed. The poor young thing was
SO nervous and shy. and altogether SO I'M
used to the work that I felt for her as if
she had been my daughter almost. She
couldn't have been above eighteen years
old-too fragile and delicatea creature.
eff you please, will you tell me-" she
said timidly, in a very sweet, low voice,
trembling with nervousness, ''what is the
value of this seal?"
"Well, miss" said. taking the seal in
to 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 sell it outright
81 am married, sir" and she said the
words proudly and with dignity, though
still SO shy, and seeming ready to burst out
crying all the time, "and my husband is
very ill-and- and'--and then the tears
wouldn't be kept back any longer, and she
sobbed as if her poor heart would break.
'.There, there, my dear,'' said to her,
''don't cry. II will come out all right in
time,'' and tried to comfort her as well as
[ could in my own rough and ready way.
II will lend you, ma'am," said to her at
last, a sovereign upon this seal, and if
you wish to sell it perhaps L may be able
to sell it for you to advantage" And so
[ gave her pound. 1t was more than the
thing was worth as a pledge, and she trip
ped away with q lighter heart and many
thanks to me, and | thought no more OF
the matter at the time.
The very 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 a collector, one of those who are
mad upon old china and curiosities of al
sorts.
Anything in my way, to-day, Mr.. Da
Wis ?'' he said, in his quick, energetic man
ner, with jolly smile upon his face, and
putting down the cigarette he was. smo
king upon the edge of the counter.
The Rev. Mr.. Boardman is collector O
gems. and rings, and seals, and, in fact, O.
any stones that have heads and figures en-
graved upon them. And 1 have been il
the habit of putting aside for him whatev
er in this way passed through our hands
for he gave us better price than we SHOULD
have got for them at the quarterly sales
ssIhe fact is, Davis" he used to say to me
''These things are invaluable-many o
them are as beautiful, On small scale, a
the old Greek sculptures and some Of then
even by the same artists. And they ar
made no longer, you see for in this bus
nineteenth century Of ours, time AM
brains are too precious tC be spent Of
these laborious trifes." Now, although
g had no stones of the kind he wanted Jus
then, it entered into my head thatI woul
tell him about the seal which had com
I, into my possession the evening before.
told him the story somewhat as I hav
+ just told it to you. He listened attentive
ly to all I said, When I had done, he look
u ed at the seal and said; II observe that
is the heraldic emblem of baronet.'' H