Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-01-21

pecially, although it still adhered to TIN
Puritan belief that New Years Day shoult
be sanctioned rather than the Catholic
Christmas. On the hill, the young ladie
appeared in pretty dresses Of blue ant
pink, and there was cake and wine on thu
sldeboard, should the young men call. The
shops were open. At ten O'Clock MAI
passed along the main street, paused before
Mrs. Bamber's show, shaded his eyes q
moment, and walked on. Mrs. Bambei
observed him with the h:bitush curiosity
OF resident of 8 small place. He was IN
insignificant looking person in a gray coat
with red whiskers, and "a round face. That
was all. Pale and anxious after Il sleepless
night, she stood with her eyes fixed appre-
long before Hiram Drugs would do his
worst. The shop bell rang sharply.
'What do you ask for your pictures,
madam?''
| Five thousand dollars" muttered Mrs.
Bamber, abs tractedly, still staring at the
clock.
What was that? The Insignificant strang-
er Ii the gray coat had reached for the
pictures, and was dnceremoniously strik-
ing off the splendid gilt frames with his
stout cane.
"Mercy! Stop! What are you doing?''
said Mrs. Bamber running nimbly to his
side and arresting his hand.
| II don't want these frames," said the
stranger, contemptuousy. ~ GU set your
own price, and I will give you five thous
and dollars''
| Mrs. Bamber sank down on stool in
! speeches. establishment. How unreal
everything had become-the snow, street,
the shop, the man ina gray coat! Surely
Nanny would soon tap on her bed room
door and tell Der it was time to get up
Then, bya sudden and unnatural transi-
ton of awakening, she became suspicious
and vigilant. Her visitor used no super
tluous words; ais broad ruddy face betrayed
not Il trace of emotion us produced IL crisp
bit OF paper, dipped Il pen into Mrs. Bam-
ber's ink, and began to write.
eff you are not cheating me, let me see
the money!" interposed Mrs. B;smber sharp
ly.
He wiped the pen, restored it to a silver
sheath in his pocket and took up the draft.
every good, was his sole comment, and
he went out
Mrs. Bamber laughed Historically
Would he ever return ? Perhaps he was Il
maniac. 1t seemed an hour before he re-
turned, and counted out a pile of broad
shining gold pieces that made a pleasant
blinking noise as they fell in glittering
heap. Five thousand dollars
Still phlegmatlc, and apparently I'M
moved, the purchaser folded the pictures
beneath his ample coat and returned to
the Stoneport Hotel, where lie was the SOL
itary guest. Once in his chamber his re-
serve melted; he beamed in broad smiles,
and rubbed his hands with subdued
chuckle of triumph.
'sDirt cheapn' he said to himself. and
fell 10 studying the dim canvass with the
aspect of {. connoisseur. He then wrote
the following letter:
"Io the Right Honorable the Earl of Fl.
My LORD Il have the satisfaction Of
informing you that have found the three
pictures, after two years. search in the
States. They were in the possession of an
ignorant woman, keeping shop in an OBJ
scure town of the New England coast,
who sold them to me for FL 900. The pic
lures are undoubtedly ihe missing origi-
nails of Rafraelle Sanzio, and will complete
your lordship's collection. I tracked the
Italian Luigi Ca1nee, to the haunts Of his
race in the city Of New York, and was OBJ
liged to proceed with greater caution from
the fact that he appears to have been ac-
tuated by revenge in the theft of the pic
lures. Yonr lordship will be better able to
determine than [ ann whether this was a
loyal attachment to the palace of his mas
ter, the duke, and consequent rage at the
dispersion of its works of art to foreign
lands, or d more strictly personal motive.
He made no effort to sell the pictures here
as originals to dealers or private individ-
uals, and after Il quarrel with some of his
countrymen he disappeared, in company
with another italian. Pursuit led me
across the plains to the Pacific, where
found the second Italian, wandering mu-
sician, only to learn that he had parted
with Luigi Carnole six months before, in
the city of New Haven. In the latter
place he lived in poverty and bad health
and [ was able to follow his steps to my
present locality, where he died. I return
to England by the next mail have the
honor to subscribe myself,
"Your lordship's most obedient and
! humble servant,
ALGERNON SMITH,
| Mrs. Platt sat in her best parlor, heI
eyes swollen with weeping, and the cur.
tains drawn to exclude the curious chances
of Stoneport. She held fast the hands OF
| her son and Charlotte Eaton, aud treml,led
at the stroke of the clock. The young peo-
pie gazed sadly at each other across the
black figure of the mother who was at
tired as if for a funeral. Would Hiram
briggs relent, and give them more time
| Was it not probable that he would appear
and claim all The young man could only
chafe at his own helplessness in the emer-
geney and inability to protect his own.
The sound of flying feet made them all
listen. Mrs. Bamber, breathlessly and
without bonnet, rushed into the parlor
and cast leather purse down into Mrs.
Platt's lap.
"Oh, you needn't count it ! I've done so
dozen times already. Here's five thous-
and dollars, and the house is saved"
Between laughter and tears she explain
ed her unexpected wealth, and restored it
to the wife OF her benefactor of years ago.
Then shadow crossed her face, dimming
it's brightness for a moment. Much could
have been done to advance the interest of
Bamber's Drops, and place the remedy
properly before an enlightened public. with