The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-07-11

hastily, in dread of vertigo. He sue
ceeded in rousing several residents, who
stared blankly, and stated that the priest
had gone away. Where? They did not
know.
Mr.. Culworthy re-appeared in the
street, flushed, fatigued, and somewhat
dusty.
There sat the old woman beneath the
arch, knitting busily, and watching
him. Oh yes, she had known the priest.
He had gone to Florence, where he gave
lessons. What would you have? One
must live.
Mr.. Culworthy moved away. The
old woman followed him. Did the gen.
tleman wish to buy any thing? Her
son had a very rare and curious article
for sale. He found it himself! Oh no,
the gentleman did not desire to make
purchases; but what had her son found,
all the same? All, the neighbors must
not learn about it; Giovanni had his own
secret. If the gentleman would only
look at the article now!
What is it, then nf' demanded Mr..
Culworthy, with suitable indifference.
GA bottle-a JAR" said the old wo-
man, eagerly. /" Hist! he found it
buried in the earth near the Etruscan
tombs."
Mr.. Culworthy opened his eyes. Is
this bottle of glass or metal?
e" All no, signore; it is of ware
porcelain"
Mr.. Culworthy pricked up his ears.
What is the color?"
Blue, signore. Blue, with picture,
yellow and white, and letters one can
not read. Oh, if the signore could but
see itl'
Giovanni had gone to Poggibonzi; he
alone knew where the treasure was hid
den.. He would surely return in the
evening. Mr.. Culworthy decided to wait (;
the old woman went back to her brazier
radiant with satisfaction. 5 :
Giovanni did not return that evening
nor the next day. Mr.. Culworthy waited
without complaint. His meaitations,
his fancies, tantalizing hopes and fears
which beset him, can only be realized
by the amateur collector. A blue jar,
with picture and letters on it un-
decipherable TO the ignorant contadini--
this was the fabric of his reveries. Who
knows? Then the suspicious of Giovanni,
who told no one of his discovery, await
ing purchaser in some rich Forestiero
All these dazzling and alluring pos
sibilities gave him sufficient food for re-
| fection.
The second day found him restless,
however. The old woman cajoled and
| fattered him. One must have a little
patience!
81 leave Volterra tomorrow" he
said, pettishly, and with sudden
reaction of doubt.
In the evening the shuffling of heavy
feet was audible outside his door at the
hotel, and the waiter ushered in the old
woman, beaming with smiles, accom-
panied by shock-headed and swarthy
| youth. This person was the returned
Giovanni, who eyed Mr. Culworthy sus-
piciously. No, he had not brought the
jar: it was still at his house. The
signor could see it in the morning.
Show it to me nowl" cried Mr.. Gull
worthy, and seized his hat.
There ensued walk along one dimly
lighted street after another, cropping
| oihOhS INV OA-Wayo, q opuuDiihS OfOA
unseen steps. At any other time Mr..
Culwerthy would have feared murder
and robbery in the darkness of night
which rendered the old city most somber
and uncanny; now he thought only OF
| GiOvanni's treasure, unearthed near the
Etruscan tombs. Finally they paused
beside table in cold, bare chamber,
where the oil lamp threw fantastic rehec.
thomson wall and ceiling. Giovanni un-
rolled first an outer wrapping of news
paper, then an inner one of rags, and gave
the jar to Mr.. Culworthy in silence.
The latter adjusted his eyeglass with
tremulous haste. Yes, it was q jar OF
ware, blue in color. On one side was a
vivid picture of green mountains against
a dappled sky, and an azure harbor
with feet of fishing smacks in the fore
ground. On. the other side Mr.. Cul
worthy read:
\ P0TTED YARMOUTH HERRINGS,
30 celebrated for Sandwiches, Toast Biscuits etc.
| and most wholesome Relish for
| Breakfast, Lunch, etc.
h "a. Prepared only by f5f .r3
CROSSE & BLACKWELL,
| Purveyors to her Majesty,
4 .r.F Soho Square, London.