Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1876-01-08

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through the heart. IIalfont went
home and tried to keep his wife frou
hearing about the crash. 1t was :
vain attempt, and when she knew, tc
MS surprise she comforted him. ant
seemed to need nc comfort herself.
I'VE are young, Charlie" she said
"We'll fight out of it and rve vol
and baby and, for my part, won
| fret If you Won't.'
So he bore it better to see the hand
some furniture, and the splendid
mirrors, and the costly pictures sold
under the cruel shadow of the auc
tioneer's red flag, and the costly pic
lures sold under the cruel shadow o.
the suctioneer's red flag, and TO leave
the fine house, and 90 away to a flool
in plain little side street, and to
look forward to clerking it for years
to come, than he could If the little
woman who loved him so, and who
was so dear to himi,t IA cria.i for hel
elrxuries, cpd si.ount.' h. prospect
OF plain living W. ssei,oiJt ,.rn.i.,-
cry. Still it was I'D at best, and
when Christmas tins came, and lie
sat before his grate-fre, and lit Il lit
tie brown pipe that had taken the
place of his cigars, you will not
wonder, if you know anything about
smokers, that he gave heavier sigh
for his absent Havanas than he had
given when his most precious Meyer
Won Bremen was trundled away in a
barrow on the day of the auction.
"Heigh-Oh ~ he said. "Do you re-
member the day you paid the blue
dragon for my cigars, sis? Things
looked brighter then, didn't they?
never thought my Christmas present
to you would be nothing but cheap
little bunch of violets ~
The wife took the violcts from her
bosom and kissed them.
"Its the love that goes with n gift
that NAL kes it precious, not the money
value of it," she said. "But speak
ing of the dragon, do believe he
really is quite valuable beast by
this time, Charlie. Let's break him
tonight and see, my dear. | paid
him for great many cigars, Know"
"lt's pity to break HIM for IL few
shillings," said Charlie.
81 think il will pay" said Lydia.
"Do it delicately, and perhaps we
can mend him.
Then she brought the blue dragon
to her husband, and looked IN a closet
for tiny hammer, and then, OH their
humble hearth, the blue dragon was
and from his breast gush-
Ell out his life-blood in the form of
paper money, a few pennies, and two
tiny bits of silver-and Lydia, taking
it into her lap, began to count it,
Charlie, almost incredulously, look
ing on.
The sum total was three hundred
dollars and fifteen cents.
"And did you really play fair ?"
'aid Charlie. "Hasn't the dragon
had interestsas well as principal 2"
''No," said Lydia. "And really,
lear, you know | only paid him for
what sdao you smoke -
"And that wasn't half" said Char
lie, Except Oh Sunday. What an
odd idea, Lydia, and how lucky? Ii
value three hundred dollars now.
But did L really snokeso much. You
1eserVe new dress if ever woman
lid"
But Lydia did not buya new dress.
She, too, had learned the value of |
money; but Charlie had some bust
less talent and bitter experience to
lelp him. That little hoard turned !
he tide of fortune. 1t was the warm
lest for the golden egg, and Mr.. and
irs. Halfont are really rich people
o-day- And when one morning
ONE of those students or neraldry,
Vho live by tickling the pride Of
amily which is not yet dead III this
epublican country, desired to cn-
rave the Halfont coat of arms, that
might atorn their note.paper.
ocket-handkerchiefs, and carriage
anels, Mrs. Halfont declared that
here was no need of research; that
ne Haltont arms exhibited a blue
ragon, couchant, nothing else.
1t pleased the younger Halfonts
cry much to hear that was SO, and
ley are proud to show it on envelope
nd handkerchief; and why mamma
nd papa laugh about it so much
ley cannot understand. 1t is stylish
have ones coat of arms, and they
enerate the blue dragon couchaut, as
ldeed they ought.