The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-07-28

oh. hang artr' said M,. nopIrison.
"Now, don't look so scandalied, wifey,
like new. bright. pretty things, as we'll
US anybody. but can't understand this
paying fancy prices for old nttle-traps
that we used to sell to the secondhand
dealers"
Mabel laughed. Charley said she,
''yOu are an outer barbarian
Every likely. my love-" said Mr..
Robinson. And then they Stopped to
drink from crystal spring which bub-
BLEED out Of the recesses Of huge grey
rock. and forgot all about their little
differences of opinion.
The antiques" were duly delivered
at the hotel the next day. and q carpen-
ter, recommended by the lasdlord, ar
rived to soc about the boxing up of the
same. He was an honest, Heavy faced
young mar. who did the jolt thorough
ly. and spared neither nails nor screws
You're sure, now. that they'u on ali
right" said MIR. Robinson, when st los.
the packing WAS complete. aud the car
penter stood, hat in hand, to receive his
well-earned remuneration.
''Oh, yes, sir, as right rs brickr' an
swered the heavy-faced young man.
"And I'd ought to know, for I've box
ed nineteen Of 'em this season, for the
gentlefolksr
Mr.. Robinson looked at him in sur
prise.
'Nineteen-what?' said he.
''Of these ERE spinnin' wheels. sir"
answered the carpenter. with broad
smile. "Lord love you. sir, they goes
of like one o'clock. just as fast as our
guv'nor can make them! The London
folks fancies 'em-and we make 'em up,
arter an old pattern, and stains EN- and
sends 'em down to old Joshua Pardee's
to sell. Likely you bought this ere
there. sir. didn't youp"
"Yes, I did," said Mr.. Robinson,
divided between desire TO laugh and
an almost unconquerable inclination to
use profane language. "And suppOs-
ed it was at least two hundred years
oldr'
''Oid Josh didn't say it was. did hep"
"Well, no." slowly uttered Mr.. Rob-
inson. trying to remember. "Not in so
many words"
He wouldn't" said the carpenter.
"He's methody member. is Josh Par
dee. And he's particular bout what he
says"
But" added Robinson, ..the old
chair had date carved under its seat
l688r'
"Well. yes" said the carpenter,
'they all have. Their amt no law to
prevent folks cuttin' what figures they
likes on furniture, is there? And our
guv'nor, he's made deal Of money out
of them chairs since the fashion came
inr
Mr.. Robinson said nothing. Where
was the use? Mabel had wanted an
tiques, and they had paid antique prices.
Let the carpenter and his revelations
sink into oblivion. The world was full
of knaves. and he had proved one of
their victims. That was all!
So he never told Mabel that her spin
ning-wheel and armchair had been
to order within the last
three months. He took no steps to
break up the thriving business of 1.-THE
guv'nor" and his venerable confeder-
ates. After all. no amount of law
could grind the folly ont Of fools. He
had suffered. Let other people go
through the same ordeal.
But he never bought another draw
ing-room ornament without knowingeX-
actly where it came from. And he
smiles grim. misanthropic sort of
smile when he sees Mabel point out her
treasures to the ladies of her acquaint-
ance, and hears her say, artlessly:
They are genuine antiques.
bought 'em out of the farmhouse my
self. And just look at the date carved
on this love Of al old armchair: $685."
'Dear, dear! how fortunate you are
to obtain such treasures rs these"