The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1879-05-14
AN OLD PLATE.

"There, that's likely looking house."
cried Mrs. Hunter. Il would almost
be willing to bet that we shall find and
irons there Please stop the horses, Mr..
Freke. Lmust go i'm
Mr.. Freke obediently drew rein, and
the glossy bays arrested their trot before
the whitewashed gate, Which hung. he
noticed, by single hinge. The house,
shabby and defaced rs it looked, was
evidently no common farmstead. 1t had
been somebody's " residence once, and
still wore that look ofbetter days gone by
which, to the experienced bric-a-brac
hunter, suggests cobwebbed cupboards
and low-raftered garrets full of cherished
odds and ends Mrs. Hunter tapped
smartly once or twice, then turned with
a laugh to Mr.. Freke, who, having tied
his horses, had followed up the walk.
at is no use,n she said; these
country people never use the front rooms
of their houses. shall go round to the
kitchen door. | always try to make an
excuse for getting into the kitchen, and
this time we have legitimate one, as
nobody answers us here"
So round the house she went, over
weeds and grass tussocks, and low-grow-
ing briers which caught at her silken
skirts us she passed, and knocked at the
kitchen door, which was fastened only by
a heavy iron latch. Once, twice; then
boldly lifting the latch, she went di-
rectly into the kitchen-a large square
room, with windows on two sides, and
floor of worn, uneven boards, which
sloped in unexpected rises and descents,
and made walking uncertain pastime to
unaccustomed feet. A fireless stove oc-
cupied the deep chimney, on one side OF
which stood wooden settle cushioned
with faded calico. Rows of milkpans
tilted on their sides stood on the window
sills; there was a sink painted red, q
table, two or three cane chairs, and IN
the wall fly-specked certificate of mem
bership in the Bible Society, bearing
date many years back. Over these arti
cles Mrs. Hunters experienced eye darteC
in a seconds space; then only pausing tC
say, in whisper, "That's rather a nice
old settle, isn't itp" she walked rapidly
across the room to a cupboard, who's
halfopen door showed a glAm of creek
cry inside, and presently exclaimed
"There, didn't l tell you so, Mr.. Freke
Here is find! Do you see that larg
plate on the upper sheltP' Old burn
china, as / am alive, of the finest kind
and a real beauty Who would eve
have expected such a thing in a hous
like thisP All dusty, too; / don't sup
pose they use it, or care for it in tn
least. People of this sort never dc
Well, l call this luck"
She had the plate in her hands by thi
time, and was turning it over to examin
the marks on the bottom. 1t was rathe
a dish than plate, being large enoug
almost to merit the high-soundin
"plaque" of the modern jargOn. II
pattern of blue, pale crimson, black an
gold had grounding of blue so light
TO be almost white. A tiny herald
shield, inserted into the design on OF
side, bore a twisted monogram
faint lines . of black, blue and gol
and altogether, despite a crack al
more than one nick on its rim, the o
plate was uncommon enough to excu
Mrs Hunters excitement. She was ST
examining it, regardless of dust
gloved fingers, when a clear young vol
from doorway uttered these words:
beg your pardon, but did you want an
thingPn
Mrs. Hunter jumped. Mr.. Ere
jumped also. His feeling" for chi
was feeble; certainly it would never ha
led HIM to enter a strangers house u
hidden and rifle its cupboards, and
sudden sense of guilt sent the blood flu
usly into his ace. In the doorway
hind them stood a girl in a ginghi
dress, with a white apron tied abou
very slender waist and thick rolls
bright hazel hair twisted round pre-
head, out of which looked a pair of grs