The weekly Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1872-1887, 1875-07-03
4 Pawnbr0king Incident.

As PawnbrOkcr in Eopulous suburb
Of London, | have had occasion to see
painful, and sometimes not unpleasing
plIascs Of society. Just to give you an
idea Of what occasionally comes under
The notice Of persons in my profession,
shall describe n little incident and its
consequences. One evening stepped to
the door for n little fresh air, and To look
about me for II moment. Whilst was
gazing up and down the road, saw II
tIdily-drcsscd young person step up to
our sidc-door. She walked like Il lady
and let he tell you that in nine cases out
Of ten its the walk, and not the dress,
which distinguishes the lady from the
Scrvant-girl-and first she looked about,
and then she seemed to make. up her
mind i'll II Hurried sort of way, and in II
moment more WAS standing ut our coun-
ter, holding out glittcring something in
d little trembling hand, covered with
worn kid glove.
My assistant, lsaacS, was stepping for
ward To take the seal, when ramc in and
intcrInscd. The poor young thing WAS
~ nervous and shy, and altogether so un-
used to this work, that felt for her rs if
she had been my own daughter almost.
She couldn't have been above eighteen
years old: too irail and gentle creature.
"lf you please, will you tell me-" she
said timidly, in Il very sweet, low voice,
trembling with nervousness, "what is the
value of this sealf"
"Wcll, miss" said, taking the seal
into my hand and looking at tit was
an old-fashioncd seal, such as country gen
IIDmnp t-nI f, II, a ~
cut upon it-"that depends npon whether
you want to pledge it, OF to sell it out
right"
II am married, SIR" and she said the
words proudly, and with dignity, though
still so shy, md seeming really To burst
out crying; "and my husband is very i'll
-and-and - And then the tears
wouldn't he kept back any longer, and
she sobbcd nsifhcrpoor little heart would
break.
"Thcrc, there, my dear" said to her; /;
don't cry; twill all come right in time"
and tried to comfort her as well us
could in my own rough-and-rc way.
81 will lend you, ma'um," said to her
ut last, "n sovereign upon this seal and
If you wish To sell il, perhaps | may he
able to sell il for you tO advantage" And
so gave her pound: it WIS more than
the thing was worth ns Il pledge; and she
trippcd AWAY with lighter heart aud
many thanks to Inc, and ! thUugat no
more Of il at the time.
The very next day, the day before
Christmas, there came into our place of
business very eccentric gentleman, who
had called upon Ms pretty often before.
not for the sake u! pawning anything,
though hc was generally dressed shabby
enough too. But lie WIS II collector, one
Of those men who arc mad upon old china
and Curiosiiics of Nil sorts.
"Anything in my way, to - day, Mr..
Davisf" he said. in his quick, energetic
manner, with jolly smile upon his face,
and putting down the cigarette hc was
smoking upon the edge OF the counter.
Tho Rev. Mr.. I'r0a,lman Is n collector
Of gems, and rings and seals, und, in fact,
uf any stones that have heads or figures
engraved upon them. Aud had been In
the habit Of putting aside for him what.
ever IN this way passed through our
hands; for lac gave us u better price for
them than We could have got nj the quar-
tcrly sales. "'rhc fact IL, Davis" hc used
TO say to me, "thcsc things are Invaluable
many of them are ~ beautiful, on Il small
scale, as tho old Greek sculptures; aud
some Of them even by the sumo artists
And they nrc made no longer, you see
for, in this busy nineteenth century o
ours, time and brains arc too precious t'
bc spent on these lnboriOus trllcs." Now
although ] had no stones Of the kind III
wanted just then, IL entered into my hcat
TINT would tell him about the seal whicl
had come into my possession the evening
before.
told him tho story somcwllatn ns hav
just told il tO you. IIu listened attcn
lively t0 all said. When I had done
he looked Mt the seal and snid:"I obscrv
that II has the hcraldiC emblem Of bar
unct." lie then congratulated INC upo
the way Ia which lnd acted. lie asked
too, for this young Indy's address. whic
she had given me quite correct; and the
he left The shop without another word.