Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-06-11

very picturesque it looked with the
strange, dark people fitting about,
with much effective display OF red and
yellow in their dress, and the bright
fires over which savory stews were
cooking. The children and dogs were
playing noisily, and very few of the
company seemed to take any notice OF
the numbers of visitors who were
! making tho most OF their opportunl-
ties for Investigation.
But before one of the tents sat
woman with large basket at her side,
| and as Mrs. Stone and Aunt Maria APP
preached, she Irew from it q piece of
what seemed to be very fine, beautiful
lace, which she held up for their ill.,
spection, with the words:
Its pure linen. handmade lace,
every thread, ladies, and will last a
lifetime. We makes it all ourselves in
the winters. when we stops in houses,
so much less than you'd have to give
in the shops. We learned to make it
IN the shops. We learned to make
it in hold Hengland, where there's a
many as works at it; but there's few in
this country as can equal us, and
there's lots Of ladies as knows it, and
gets their lace of us. There's Mrs.
Stauleigh, and Mrs. Pope, and Mrs.
Gen. Devens, in the town dozen
miles back; they all buys Of us when
we pass through there every year.
We're sort O. off our regular track
now, lady, and you mayn't have
another such a chance. Only two dol.
lars for this, and you'd have to pay
four in the shops"
"Ah, indeed /" said Aunt Maria,
with sudden interest. "It must be u
genuine article if Cousin Frances
Devens would buy it, and l really
think must have little. I've always
wanted some nice lace, and, as the
woman says, may not have another
such a chance"
Don't you feel as if it is rather ex.
travagant?' Mrs. Stone veutured to
ask.
well, rather Aunt Maria replied,
"but then you know it will last SO
long"
The gypsy woman saw her advantage,
and the result was that instead OF the
yard Aunt Maria intended to buy, she
went away with two and half yards.
and the woman was to call ut the
house that evening for five dollars,
which she accordingly did.
The next morning Aunt Maria missed
something; there was no Pedro to eat
the cold potato, and investigation
revealed the fact that several of his
family had accompanied him to parts
unknown. But Aunt Maria had her
lace and was consoled. The gypsies
had folded their tents, also pair of
sheets and shirt from Mrs. Deacon
Prices clOthes-line and had vanished.
Not mary weeks after these occur
rences came the time for Aunt Maria 8
yearly visit to Cousin Frances Dsvens.
The lace was arranged in the neck and
sleeves of her best black silk, and
Aunt Maria put it on the first after.
noon of her stay, feeling remarkably
we'll dressed. But Cousin Frances cast
queer looks at the lace, and hoped it
might disappear in day or two; but
as 1t did not, she hit upon an expedient
20 get rid of it before Sunday, when
the black silk would probably go to
church. She looked over her own
stock Of rich laces, and, selecting
therefrom neat set, presented it to
Aunt Maria, saying, as she did so:
This is real lace, cousin, and will
last almo forever; SO pat it right on,
and get all the good you Can out of it.
~ suppose you bought it Of the
gypsy woman got mine Of" said Aunt
Maria, after thanking hec. She flushed
little, fearing that Cousin Frances
had failed to notice her investment in
the lace line, and she added, 1.-THE
woman told me you bought all your
lace of her."
Mrs. Devens opened her eyes in as
constituent, and answered.:
Why, Cousin Maria, 1 never bought
an inch of lace of gypsy in my lifel
l know tribe of them comes through
here every year, but have never even
seen them, and I'm very much afraid
you've been vjctimized." Then, seeing
that Cousin Maria looked some " hat
| mystitied and iucredulous, she said,
But perhaps you'd like to take piece
of your lace down to Wholesalers, and
see what they say about it. They keep
all kinds of lace there, and will know
all about it, of course"
So the lace was ripped from one of
the sleeves of the black silk, carefully
wrapped in piece of paper, carried to
the store and handed to spruce young
clerk with the inquiry from Aunt
Maria:
How much do you ask for lace like
this?"
The clerk gave it quick glance, and
answered, in brisk tone:
Twelve cents a yard, ma'am, or per-
haps ten if you took q quantity. We
sold lot to gypsy for that this sum-
mer, and I've heard she sold it out
again around the country for two or
three dollars yard, as real hand made
linen lace-he! he! he'll"
ooh! All! indeed! said Aunt Ma
ria, with very red face, and she walked
out of the store sadder, but O wiser
| woman.
For years the beauties of Deacon
Prices grove suggested to her only
recollections Of two and a.half yards
Uf cotton lace, Pedro and his compaa-
ions, and much-lamented fve-dollar
bill.-WaUsrley Magazine.
I