The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-03-10

Anu seeing t0at ne had WOrn IL now lOI U,'uS
second hand, his reflections upon the subject
are not surprising. Anyhow, the following
morning, as he gszed from his window at the
undated inclemency of the weather, and
turned bis eyes upon the dilapidated garment,
hanging from . nail in his bedroom door. he
settled It definitely in his mind when he mutt
tered: THAT'S what I'll do; I'll have coat
made a-purpose." So he went to tailor's,
and overhauled his entire stock OF piece goods
before he finally hit upon . cloth to his taste.
1t was heavy, closely, woven, waterproOfed,
drab-colored texture, of the best quality; simi-
Lar to that worn BY gr0oms in livery In first
class establishments. Then he gave minute
instructions as to the shape, the size, the pOck-
cts, the buttons, all according to his own no
tons OF what a coat ought to be, without any
regard to the prevailing fashions" which
the tailor vainly sought to bring under his no
tice.
When the coat was finished and sent home,
he took it back to have aninner lining stitched
in, because it was not warm enough; and after
ward he took 1t back again to get another lin
ing added, because the first was not strong
enough. Pm not a-going to pay for con-
Germ that'N wear out in q month" he ex-
planned.
By this time, the tailor and his journeymen
were thoroughly sick of that coat, and dis
timely refused to make any further additions
or alterations whatever.
James Gelsworthy was extremely proud Of
this new item to his limited wardrobe. He
wore it on every possible opportunity. He
turned it to account by knocking of fires in
February, and keeping it on in the house, for
the sake OF its more economical warmth. He
used it as Q second counterpart thrown over
his bed at night. This last fact was discov,
cred in March by his landlady, who, not hav-
ing seen anything Of him for two days, became
alarmed on the third, aQd caused the door of
his room to be burst open. They found him
lying upon his bed, still and peaceful and cold,
James Gelsworthy was dead.
Over the mantelshelf was bit Of paper, fas-
tened with pins; and upon it few words writ
ten in q shaky but legible hand: "1n case OF
my death, the furniture and other things be-
longing to me in my two rooms, l give to my
End. There amt no money, Only just enough
to bury me. drawed it all out and disposed
of it months ago. Signed by me, James Gels
worthy
The "furn ture and things" were q real god
send to Mark and Pattie.
s!rll tell YOU what we'll do" said the hus-
band "We II sell the lot. III give over look
ing after odd jobs, and we'll get an assisted
passage to Melbourne. I've heard as how
there's heaps more chance for poor man in
Australy."
"I'm willing to go anywhere" answered
-Pattie, $50 long as we can only manage to
stick together"
The real and personal estate Of old Gels
worthy produced about twenty-five pounds in
cash-truly blessing to the extremely impe
cunious, as any one will know who ever had
the bad fortune to stand in urgent want of Q
similar amount, and the good fortune to come
into it Unexpectedly just in the hour of need.
The last thing disposed of was the heavy drab
overcoat, by private treaty with Mr.. Isaac
Solomons, dealer in anything.
swell, what do you want for it!" inquired
Mr.. Solomons, after having turned it over sew
eral times and regarded It suspiciOusly, as
though it were an infected garment.
Suppose we say thirty bObs" suggested
Mark, tentatively.
''There's NJ harm in saying thirty quid, so
long as nobody parts with the coin. No, my
man; that there coat amt no use to me-it's
too ugly; and my customersi is mostly fashion
able inclined.'
''But it's worth something. Look at the
quality!'
equality! What's quality nowadays! Moth
ing. It's cut that's wanted; and there amt no
cut about that there: not haporth."
"What will you give! Comet"
eff were to speculate fifteen bob on it I
should lose. Shtrike me! should lose. No;
'pon my honor, can't do It'll" ;.
don't fit.''
sIt amt much good to anybody, as I can
see," grumbled the Jew. But for all that he
''forked overn the fifteen shillings Immediately
and the coat became the property of Mr.. Solo
mons.
".
If you had watched Mr.. Solomons transact.
ing business in his own shop, you would have
wondered how, in the name Of all the common
laws of finance, he contrived to keep clear OF
the bankruptcy court. Continually to be sell
ing goods without profit is orally suppos.
ed to bring about very unsatisfactory results
But to part with them at an appalling loss-to
have them literally wrenched from you by a
greedy public, heartlessly taking advantage OF
the perpetual slackness Of trade-ought to cul
inmate in disaster, speedy and complete. And
yet Mr.. Solomons was not submerged He con-
trived in some fashion to keep his head above
water, and his shoulders, too, in spite of the
terrible sacrifices he solemnly professed to make
every hour of the day. Perhaps it was but a
grim joke, melancholy satire, when he tick.
eted the coat acquired from Mark for fifteen
shillings as tremendous bargain-only two
pounds ten shillings."
never speak another world" he exclaimed to
the pale and patient-faced young woman who
stopped to inspect it.
s'It would just fit father nicely" she said,
more to herself than to the Jew. "And very
warm and comfortable; but rather a funny
shape. isn't it!"
Funny shape! Why, it's one of Poole's
latest styles, made expressly for Markiss,
who only wore it three times, and then got tired
of it,
'sWhat is the lowest you will takes''
'Lowest! Well, if I'll touch farden les.
than two-ten; not if the Prince of Wales was
to go down on his Bonded knees! Ten bob il
enough to drop over one article-ratherr'
81 am unable to spare more than two pounds
in fact, l have no more with me. Ii you can
not accept that, must go Without
''Lose q pound! lose whole pound! O.
shtrike me, can't, can't. What with one
and ano her of you, l shall be driven to the
workhouse," cried Mr.. Solomons, pathetical
ly.
swell, then, good day, sir. must try and
find something that will do elsewhere"
Don't go. Say two-fve-make it as light as
you can for me-say two-five" he pleaded
seizing her by the hem of her mantle.
Impossible! l tell you have only two
pounds"
Solomons groaned, as in anguish of spirit
"Give US your money!" he said, desperately
81 must try to make it up some other way,
suppose"
SO the young woman carried away her "tre.
vv,av hap In -