Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-11-13
The Three Greens.

the proprietor of which was James
Green. The stranger had that In his
appearance generally styled distingue
his carriage and garb revealed the
military veteran, and his manners
the finished gentleman. At the door
halted an elegant cabriolet, and the
good taste Of it's owner was made ap-
parent by the neat livery of the
groom and the choice trappings of
the handsome blooded horses.
The stranger stated that he was
desirous of procuring a complete sill
yer table service, rich, solid and ele-
giant, with but little ornamentation
Could Mr.. Green prepare one fo1
him. The goldsmith answered, of
course, in the affirmative, and show
ed several patterns to his visiter, who
then described very minutely the
style in which he wished the articles
to be made, and asked by what time
they could be got ready. At the
same time he insisted on punctuality,
saying he must use the set at a 1e-
ception he would soon give at his
new residence in Leicester square.
Green promised to have it done in
three weeks, and then the two par
ties discussed the terms.
The jeweler very carefully made
all his calculations and demanded
fl 200. The stranger reflected a
few moments, then said he had de-
termined upon getting service at a
cost of fl, 800, and requested Mr..
Green to add as many more pieces
to the set as would fix the price at
that sum. Mr.. Green thanked the
gentleman for this mark of conf
dence, and inquired of him to whose
recommendation he owned his pat
ronage.
mo one has recommended you to
me-" replied the stranger.
The jeweler looked in surprise.
The stranger, who had hitherto worn
an air of dignity almost amounting
to austerity, now became more
friendly and continued:
Il am soldier. / have served
for years in India, and more recently
in the Crimea. At Balakava 1 re-
ceived a severe wound on my right
arm and hand, which will perhaps
disable the member for life. NV
patronage you owe to your parents,
grandparents, and, in fact, to the
whole line of your ancestors
The jeweler was amazed and be-
wildered. HIS parents and other an
cestors had long been dead, and
could not have referred the soldier to
him. The latter apparently enjoyed
Mr.. Green's perplexity, and smiling
ly continued:
Il will make myself clearer. In
consequence of this unfortunate
wound"-here a sudden twinge in
his arm made him start painfully
81 resolved to settle down in Lon
don. While riding out the other
day was attracted by the appear
ance of your spendidly furnished
shop, but more so by the name on
your sign, for mine is precisely the
same. To their simple reason you
owe the present visit of Col. James
Geern of the Grenadier guards
The jeweler expressed his delight
at the honor of being the namesake
of such a distinguished warrior, and
after few more phrases of the same
sort of conversation, reverted to the
business in hand.
''May | now inform you," said the
jeweler, with some hesitation, 'sof
the conditions which must generally
be complied with previous to making
sale?'
''No," said the colonel, sharply.
81 have my own way of doing bust
ness. You and | do not know each
other, and, although my order is not
an uncommonly large one, yet it
amounts to sum with which you
cannot credit a stranger. / will
therefore pay you f10O cash down
for surety, the remaining Fl, 400
when I call for the service
Mr.. Green accepted the proffer
with profuse thanks.
"You need not thank me-" the
officer interrupted. "As remarked,
| always have a way of my own,
from which | never like to deviate.
Now, do me the favor to take my
portemonnaie from my coat pocket ;
my unfortunate Balaklava wound"-
the colonel again WINGED with pain
"has lamed my right arm and hand
completely
Mr.. Green expressed his sympathy
in the warmest terms, carefully pull
ed the portemonnaie from the veter-
ans coat pocket, opened it at the
latter's desire and from four or five
new notes took one, which the colo
mel requested him to keep. Mr.
Green wrote off receipt and placed
it in the old pocketbook, which he
then very carefully restored to its
resting place. He then assisted the
colonel to enter the carriage, and The
groom-Col. Green could not drive
on account of his injured arm-rap
idly off in the direction of Leicestel
square. The jeweler, though mucl
oyerjoyed, was cautious business