The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-04-20
from Harper's Weekly.l
GrandmOther's Gold
Buckle.
la GREEN DOOR OPENS

an Italian summer, the sun poured down
rays of intense white light on the marble
facade of the Church of Santa Croce in Flor
ence, and on the open square in front, where
the statue of Dante seemed carved out of
snow. 10 the shadow of the pavement,
where the morning had not yet devoured all
darkness, few cafe loiterers occupied tables,
or an occasional pedestrian passed, hat in
hand. The houses surrounding the square
had lifeless, closed aspect; few pale chill
dren glanced out of doorways; even horses
and donkeys dropped their heads beneath
sheltering walls, as if awaiting the fiery Or
deal OF MONDAY.
Henry Toppingham, emerging from the
cool darkness of the church, where he had
spent an hour with the conscientious zeal of
a tourist, felt all his senses smitten by the
dazzling light and sitting atmosphere of the
day. However, he braved sun-stroke to
cross the square and admire the statue of
Dante. Few obstacles daunted him in travel,
and he liked TO believe that few obstacles
would check him in life if courage and
prompt action could overcome them. He
was good looking young man, with faxen
hair and moustache and sanguine blue eyes.
Having surveyed the statue, he retreated to
the curb stone, and consulted the map of his
guide book in order to discover the ne Arrest
route back to the Arno. He asked no direc-
ton of any one, although those languid fire.
quenters of the cafe would have courteousy
aided him. Several streets converge toward
the Duomo and river from this square !;
Henry Toppingham gladly sought the shelter
of the nearest one which led to his destina-
ton.
The street was narrow, gloomy and silent
The young man paused to survey a massive
palazzo with grated windows and great closed
gates surmounted by coronet, and as be did
so he observed the Green Door beyond. 1t
w AM nd
Door, with sly and mysterious aspect about
it, as If it had been opened in blank wall of
aristocratic lineage, which occasioned an
apologetic settling toward the corner of the
next street, that Henry Toppingham was i'm
mediately attracted. Add to this that it
stood invitingly open, revealing a glimpse
beyond, with the proprietor on the very
threshold, and it may be naturally inferred
that the fly was not slow in approaching the
spiders web, with curiosity and interest
manifest on his countenance. The Green
Door evidently guarded shop, and the pro-
prietor. lean, dry man, with yellow skin,
and vulpine nose pended over black NOUS
tache, surveyed the stranger with one sweep
ing, rapid glance, and led the way to his
treasure chambers, first closing the portal.
Henry TOppingham smiled and glanced
about him. He delighted in curiosity shops
at home in America; the very name pos
sessed charm to his ear. Here was rare
one in the city of Florence, without name
or number, and reached only through
Green Door! 1t was still early in the morn
ing and he intended to enjoy himself
At first survey this bric-a-brac magazine
presented many attractions over those rich
establishments where every article possesses
intrinsic value, as set forth by supercilious
shopman. Here were mounds of rubbish
from which to sift a gem at leisure in dusty
corners or dark cabinets, a mysterious twi-
light penetrating the lofty dingy rooms from
a single high window. The collector, in
shabby coat with elbows frayed, was good
humored, patient, and exercised no surveil-
lance other than to select such trinkets as
might suit the customer.
Pictures, empty frames and broken statues
Uttered the floor; open shelves lined the
walls, containing enamels, snuff-boxes, cru
cihxes, paste jewels and furnished silver fill
gree work. Henry Toppingham was fasci-
mated to explore the depths of inner cham
bers hung with bits of tapestry and damask,
to raise the lids of battered strong-boxes, to
open old parchment volumes, like dried au-
tumn leaves. A superb Florentine cat, large,
plump and serene, had stretched herself on
fragment of purple satin in cracked porce-
lain punch-bowl, and blinked at him. Twin
dragon heads of brass grinned at him from
either side of an ancient bureau, which
brimmed with costly articles; piles of filmy
lace OF cobweb texture; china cups; amber
chains, like globes of sunshine; an agate
casket filled with canoes and pearl rosaries
Above his head lowered one of those quaint
groups from sequestered monasteries-a
black Madonna and Child wearing gilded
crowns. panel of stained glass, robbed
from its place in chapel or church, rested be-
tween an ebony cabinet and embroidered
armchair, and the colored robes of mitred
saint in the centre glowed with the richness
nf q INV ir,f hat or1x 81,
treasures were abundant behind the Green
Door, yet the net despised no trife, as
wretched pictures, mended vases, and a
debris of broken marble evinced The sharp
glance of the customer noticed through an
open door an assortment of humber wares
household utensils, crockery, fire-shoves and
tongs, and even piles of shabby garments.
This must be sort Of pawnbroker's estab-
lishment.
The collector, lean, dry and patient, piled
Henry Toppingham with many tempting
bats. What articles of personal adornment
are more seductive to young man than
than studs and sleeve-buttons? Stern fate
DEGREES that he decorates only his linen,
while his sisters may accumulate scores of
tinkling ornaments, pendants, earrings, Brace
lets, twinkling rings, and chains innumera-
BILE. The magician's cave now seemed filled
with studs and sleeve buttons. Etruscan,
onyx, crystal, intaglios ratified out of drawers
boxes, the collectors own pockets, while
studs of every imaginable variety, from
sparkling diamond drops to flies and bugs of
coral, were presented to our hero, and he
was not proof against their attractions. Then
his prudence was literally stormed, dazzled
and bewildered with Roman and Greek coins
of massive gold and silver, by necklaces of
Egyptian workmanship, by antique bronze
gods. The young stranger, fearing 70 be en-
quilted in such extravaganza as would leave him
bankrupt, sought any means OF escape, and
his eye caught the glitter of the gold buckle.
Had not Henry Toppingham seen the buckle
in the bric-a-brac on that sultry Jnly morn.
ing the course of his life would have been
changed. Providence gives us nuts, but ex-
poets us to crack them, says the proVerb.
The buckle was Henry Toppingham's nut in
life. He failed to recognize it as such fruit.
Still it interested him, and the dealer observ-
ing this, took lthe ornament from the paper
wrapper, polished the metal on his sleeve
and presented it for closer inspection. 1t
was large heavy shoe buckle of ancient
Workmanship in gold, suggestive of having
spanned slender instep in quaint high
heeled slipper.
Zones grandmother might have worn it."
thought the young man, weighing it in his
hand. LID
Only fifty francs! He shook his head. maid
for the sleeve buttons and studs which his
soul coveted, and prepared to depart, I'm
pulse led him to turn back and take nm the
buckle again. He would give forty francs
for it. The dealer shook his head in turn.
Fifty francs was the last price.
Henry went away and spent the remainder
of the day in the galleries. When he re-
turned to his hotel and dined, he did not re-
tire to his room before nine O'Clock. A small
package lay on the table. He opened it and
the gold shoe-buckle fell out. A. card at
tached bore the printed name Cesare Bor-
ghetti, and the price below was written
forty francs. The magician dwelling behind
tne Green Door had decided to accept the
price offered for the article.
Inc young man smiled, and held the
buckle nearer the candle. How had the
magician OF the morning traced him out?
Then ne remembered having mentioned an
other bric-a-brac shop, located under his his
hotel, in conversation and on this clew the
shrewd collector had found him. Did he
wish to buy the buckle, after all? The gold
glittered in the light from careful polishing:
on the under side he read the two letters IT,