South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1882-09-01

uoor. y pair OF real w edgewood
faciences. Oh, don't shake your, head
ma am; | shan't charge you anything
for looking, you know am certain
you're an artist--all the ladies are
born artists--and this is really some.
thing quite out OF the ordinary
Aud, with succession OF mods and
grins, he unwrapped u pair of really
pretty, dars-blue vases, nearly two
feet high, and ornamented with rails.
cd garlands in white.
only SO pair, ma'am' said he.
Dirt cteap. It's giving them away
at that price
Il have no So TO spare said l in
differently.
Its great bargain, ma'am,' he in.
sisted.
Il do not want them, said L.
I'm sorry, ma'am, said he. They
would be great decoration for II
house like this. But if you really
won't buy, it would be doing me II
great favor to allow them 10 stand
here until tomorrow. have Il long
tramp before me, and Pm not going
to any place where | think Fit be
likely to sell anything OF this sort.
III set 'enl back by tue chimney
piece, ma'am, where they won't be
IN any ones way. And I'm very tir-
cd with carrying en-
| felt sorry for the poor, faded
wretch, SO made no objection. And
when he was gone, the vases did
make the room look much prettier.
could not but wish they were mine.
Obadiah perceived them at once
! when he CAME home TO tea.
'lIelio! said he, what does this
mean 2
SO told him, adding.
! Il only wish that | could afford to
buy them-they are so handsone.'
Obadiah walked around and around
them, with his hands in his pockets
and his brows knit thoughtfully.
Yes, they're pretty said he, but
they're not perfect
Not perfect = | echoed.
Not by amy means. Don't you see
hat leng,hwise crack down one {?
And the end OF the little rosebud is
Clipped of the other. hope you
didn t do it, Josier with sudden
glance OF apprehension.
4? Certainly not !! cried. Nv by
have never SO much as touched the
things
Then l dare say its all right said
| Obadiah.
And he sat down to supper.
The next day, however my friend.
the c!ii.a veuder, came along, smil.,
ing and obsequious us ever.
There are your vases said I, 'iust
where you lett them =
] But all at once he broke out into Il
storm Of rcproach and obloquy.
They had been cracked and dam
aged in my care. They were perfect
absolutely pcrlect-when he left
them there the day before. / had
worked the mischief, and | was, of
course, responsible for the value of
/ the article.
or course | knew that the rascal
WAS telling INC falsehood but what
could do! was alone in the house
and fairly cowed by the fcrUcity of
! the man.
You must pay me for them he
reiterated again and again, cor L wi II
have you arrested at oncep
l burst into tears.
'llow can l pay you,' said I. THE
vases were damaged when you left
them here. and besides / have not s.
no, nor $ in the house.
(Which, alas was true enoueh.)
While spoke. he had been glancino
| furtively around.
/ don't want TO he ierl OH YOU.
m.'am.' said lie. 'Of course. n poor
man like me has got TO save himself
/ from loss, and, il you'Il let me have that
set Of blue and white India China i'm
the dresser in exchange, I'll leave the
vases and, wall say no more about it,
IL went to my beart to part with the
India ware, which had been q relic of
my mothers housekeeping days; bat (
was SO cowod and terrified Jy the mans
/ bullying manner that | believe | would
have given him the house from over my
head II be had asked for IL; and he
vent away. leaving the beautiful vases
/ on tie tOOr.
llo@ glad ] WAS 90 see Mrs. Meggs
1 come cLeCrfulIy in half an hour after
waTd-a good, mo.borly soul. with silver
| speclscles, and an elderly dimplc still
/ lingering on her cheek.
! And / told her all.
Why. my dear, said she. How
came ycu To bo 50 aiken IN? There was
an article ir the paper last week, warn
/ ing everybody against this very impJs.
I Tor. DIDN'T you see il? IL was called
The 'Vase SNindler.'
coiorca deeply, and hung down my
head
We have stopped taking th3 paper
said J. Obadiah thought wo couldn't
afford -
And your beautiful Oh china. TOO p
said Mrs Meggs. why lhere was half