The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1882-10-05

kitchen when Prof. Eldred and his tw
daughters-maiden ladies of an mn
chronlcled age-alighted from their one,
oox wagon and stopped in for drink q
There was the well, under the bow
cry apple-blossoms at the back; AN,
mere was the gourd-sheil, lying in tn,
grass beside the sweep; and the cleanl,
scrubbed kitchen floor, with its rao ruc
at the doors; and the ancient clock. tick
ing away in its corner; and the ol1
chest OF drawers, between the two win,
"a" cried Miss Etheldreda Eldred
Putnng up her eyeglasses, s.what !
lovely piece of workmanshipr'
''Quite medieval!' sighed Miss FIR
mengarde. .'We must have this old
par' 'oo'i''
The Professor stared around him.
There's nobody to ask the price of.
my dear, said he. s7Saas e =
That's just like par said Miss Ethel.
dreda. "Don't you hear somebody ham.
mering somewhere? There's a carmen.
ter shop just down the lane. Go and
lnquire-dor'
Abel Jones was working diligently
away at a step-ladder, when the Pro-
1essor's bald head was thrust into his
shop. - ~ -iiS
"Eh?" said Abel, looking very hand
some, in his shirtsleeves and scarlet
necktie. v5H .sssl., = .''A ~ NV
- wish you very good morning, STRIP
SAID the Professor, politely.
Same to you, sir!' said Abel.
II wish," said the Professor, "to in
qulre the price of that beautiful old
brass-mounted chest of drawers in the
Kitchen of the house yonder. Nv
daughters err
mo price at all, sir: y said Abel. .It
amt for sale.''
III a liberal remuneration, sir, would
be any inducement to you-''
'Not for sale," good-humoredly re-
peated Abel. Nothing would induce
my mother-in-law to part with it.psIG /
AN old family relic, ehP'' remarked
the Professor. =
Exactly" said Abel. s. tFE
And he went on hammering, and
whistling the tune of :. Robin ,Adair.n
while the Professor made his wav back
through the prickly hedge of goose
berry-bushes and black ellrrants.
Halt an hour afterward, Mary. the,
pretty first cause of all Abel Jones' ro-
mantle adventures, ran into the shop.
Ihey had been married for over three
months. now, but Abers smile of well
come was no less bright than it had been
IN the days of the honeymoon.
GO Bless me, Pollym said he. "What
is the matter? You look half scared to
deathr' ''S' = - @- II N
"And no wonder, y said Mary. "There
have been burglars at the house. Moth
er's chest of drawers is gomez , ss
&c Whatr' shouted Abel.
Sand these were ftunder one of the
volumes of Barnes Notes on the Cos.
pei on the kitchen -tabler' breathlesSysI
added Mary, displaying five ten-dollar
bills in the palm of her hand. 4
"Upon-my-wordn' said Abel. It's
the old fellow with the bald head. Polly, |
and the spectacles, you may depend upon |
it. | thought he looked like an old |
furniture dealer.'n,
Alas, poor Abel! not to be able to dis
,riminate between secondhand store
keeper and the Professor of Esthetics
md Bellies Lettres in Higley University!
But such is life! j"
srs But it's stealingi'' cried Mary.
oreathlessly.,r ve -s.
"Well, not exactly said Abel, laugh
ng. "The old thing in itself wasn't
worth ten dollars. If they choose to
7alue it at fifty, why it amt bad for us
n the light OF pecuniary transaction,
h, Pollyp"
/" But what will mother say?" pleaded
Nary. j 81 ts:ss
I've got another one nearly finished"
aid Abel. 81 was meaning to sell it
o Mrs. Harrington. But I'll just set it
Ip in the old place, and mother will
ever care whether it's number one or
lumber two that is there"
So that when Mrs. Bubble came home
rom the sewing society, Abel was just
citing up anew chest of drawers, and
larry eagerly related to her the tale of ,
ne burglary, for SO she still persisted in ,
alling it. =
"Well, I neyerr' said Mrs. Bubble. {
Fifty and twenty-five makes seventy |
We. I'm glad didn't take the Death ,
Jonathanr II
" This means business" said Abel to i
imself.
And he set diligently to work to man '
facture still other duplicates of the 5
chist O. draws staining them a 4
ark, rich brown, and beating out odd, 5
decorations to complete the a
lusion. And when the curiosity hunter t
lme up the solitary road, embowered +
elms, where. it required considerable t
lginee1ing for one load of hay TO pass h
lother, Abel sat whistling on his door, a
ep, ready to drive bargain. II Il
stAny old furniture or antiques to S
ll?" the hunter would blandly inquire a
"Not stick!'' said Abel; and then, A
ter minutes blank silence on the b
lrt of the pioneers of the aesthetic, he fl
ould add: s.Unless you'd like to look h
this ere chist o. draws as I've just 81
lkered up. / can't say, up and down, O
VI know, as it's DID,; but then it is. tt
,u can look for yourselves. There I
Mt no date on it. I don't care whether d
ell it or not. Nor yet don't t put no N
ice on it. 1 amt none of your bargain "
xyo,x El~o xxrLof r,o,, |