The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1883-02-21

a box strapped upon his back. He was
evidently u travelling peddler. Taking
off her black silk apron, she flung it
over the notes and the glistening orna-
ments, and shut down the lid Of the
desk, but leaving it exposed to view.
The peddler coolly stepped inside
the room, unstrapped his pack and
began to open it. He did not glance
at all toward the table, and Katie
hoped he had not seen what was on it.
Peddlers were not uncommon visitors
in the rural districts, and she had
never known them to be otherwise
than honest and well behaved. Still,
the shining jewels might be tempta-
tion.
"The suns very hot to-day, my
lady," he remarked sociably but re-
spectfully land we travellers get full
benefit of it, especially With a load
like this to toll under"
Eyes, it is very warm indeed"
civilly replied Katie.
The pack was thrown open at last,
displaying all kinds of things; buttons,
sewing-silk, ribbons, imitation lace
neck collars, handKerchiefs, cheap jew
elry, scent bottles and many other ar
ticles calculated to take the eye of in
experienced country girls and women.
+ "What will you buy, lady?'
81 do not want anything to-day,
thank you," said Katie, politely, not
daring to be otherwise.
NAY, but Pm sure pretty young
lady like you must need something.
Look at these gloves-real French kid,
and only fourteen pence pair. Dirt
cheap, my lady you'd pay three-and-
sixpence at the town draper's."
mot to-day, thank you. l have no
money to spend. We are poor peo-
pie"
The peddler glanced at the pretty
room, as much as to say that 1t seemed
to be contradiction To the last asser.
tion. However, he only went on tc
laud Lis wares.
ANY jewelry, lady? See, L haveir
this case few choice rings, bracelets
and brooches. Look at these yellow
topaz ear pendants Don't they
sparkle in the sunlight? Only look
my lady"
Katie advanced a step or two from
the table, before which she had beer
standing, as if to guard it, and dix
look. Such pretty earrings as they
were, long, shining pendants, flashing
in the peddler's fingers ; as prett,
as those under her apron. Blu
she wanted them not. The rings wer
lovely; being daughter of Eve, sh
would have liked some of them.
"Thank you, 1 cannot buy" sal
she, slowly. al have very little none
in my purse to-day; none to spend OF
petty things"
The peddler turned over his good
with undiminished cordiality.
Il do not charge for showing m
things. and ladies like to look at ther
although they may not want to bu!
Look at these little bottles of perfume
cologne water. lavender, violet. An
only sixpence each"
The bottles were extremely prett.
and Katie loved perfumes. Perhap
she might spare sixpence for one
them. AS she caught one up, the peddlt
took the glass stopper out of anothe
pouring some of its contents on Katie
handkerchief, which lay on an eas.
chair close by, and held it to her fac
, q" Jessamine, my lady. Do you ik
it?"
"Oh. it is delicious ~ cried Kati
:. smiling at it. "Only siXpence, yo
saw" / think | must have this"
The peddler laughed pleasantly, an
+, tossed back his long black hair froi
his face.
"I thought you'd be tempted by tt
scents. lady. Why, the beautiful lit
bottles alone are worth the none
, Better take pair of them. This "
is rose
Nothing more to-day" she a
swered, deciCively, giving him Il
sixpence.
And the peddler made comic
feint Of yielding in despair. Famili
4 though he seemed to be, his mann
had not lost one atom of its respect.
!, "Then l conclude L may strap up II
pack again." he said, beginning to p
: : the things straight in it. IF y,
would but be tempted to knot Of ri
Z bons or a pair of these delicate glove
{ Stay, though; here's rare perfur
u , my lady has a love for perfume
= l see."
|, "Indeed / have" said Katie, w
f had not ceased to smell at her jasS
: mine. "But cannot buy any more
, Il don't askyOu TO buy this" he a
!. swered, producing a larger bottle
H. cuIiously carved glass, which appear
81 to be filed with IA colorless liqE
n "This is a rare and costly perfun
"a that l never offer Tor sale save to cl
n toners whose purses are as deepas tn
,r wishes. Has my lady ever heard
AZ the altar of roses from India, worth
TO guinea a drop?"
n Katie opened her eyes in surprise.