The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-19
Shopping in the Orient.

From THE Stored Sea- by Mrs. Lew Wallace.
A towel from Bagdad is not in market every
day. and it would be a nice souvenir. The
chance was passing the supreme moment, the
neglected opportunity.
six dollars!" / said recklessly.
Il lose money" said the melancholy man. in
ploring by mournful accent and wistful gesture
Il cannot help. it. retorted, warming with
the day. you need not sell if you don't want
to-"
ga man hard pressed must take what he can
get. 1t is kismet The towel is yours. 1t will
please madame's friends across the sea, beyond
the straits. May it be like the enchanted carpet
of Boudressein, which brought a fresh good for
tune to its owner every morning.
'Have / seen your stock of goodsar you
have he replied much as to say, 1.-The world
is at your feet; what more can mortal ask" The
interpreter counted the money, the crowd broke
away, smiling and jabbering in half a dozen
languages, and one Neapolitan remarked in
French: "A runner from Sadullah Bey's A
man not pleasant to meet, if one has anything
to lose" The noble Othelo alone preserved his
calm dignity, and in silence made his courteous
profound salaam. When his few goods were
gathered, he leaned his back against the wall
after the manner of people who love repose
looking little like ready to mount horse
and draw saber for Islam, will
ing every hour to die for his faith.
Somehow the noble Othelos bearing made me
feel like robber, and, with a sense of guilt. l
turned to the stairs with the spoil. My heart
sank. Ny feminine reader will weep with me
when tell her the first unfolding of the Persian
towel revealed several stout coffee stains, which
added dirt to the yellow tint which dulled its
beauty and freshness. What a forlorn puP
chase had madel Had heen cheated by a
strolling peddler, after all the warning fingers
lifted at me on both sides the sea2 II II
Thalia was lying IN wait for me on diVan in
the baleonied window. | have shrewd suspicion
she had been listening over the banister but she
looked innocent as q baby. There was no chance
of hiding the bargain which had been conducted
with so much dignity and ceremony. L walked
toward her, trying to assume eafiess manner
and plunged boldly into the subject by Haunting
the embroidery before her eyes, thereby reveal
two holes hidden with consumrnate art and a
wretehed spot where the fringe stopped short at
one end; and OH what were those mysterious
dots all the scant and meagre fabrie2 ITALIA
smiled such an ironic, blighting sarcasm of a
smile as never saw ON her face before 1t COW
cred me with confusion, and made my splendid
Bagdad towel dWindle and shrink to the proper
tons of doyley. ''Ahi l see your rage for an
Equities again This has arrived at the antique
without becoming gem, hasn't it!' She
held it up to the light, which
it slightly INSTRUCTED showing body
like the sleazy stuff our grandmothers used to
make milk -strainers of. Don't you think it's
rather-rather thinl" she continued, the dimples
deeping in her checks ''And, dear me, what
did you pay a hyspeckP She broke into the
gayest laugh in the world
| Redeemed with vexation, but was dumb. She
took the Bagdad towel in her two little hands,
gave it slight jerk and the rotten old thing
split from one end to the other.
REALLY, now, that is too bad! ] bought this as
souvenir for you, sample of Oriental mag
nifcence. and you have gone and ruined itp
THANK you kindly" said the spoilt beauty
burying her laughter in the pillows but | al
ways prefer my d;shrags without tinsel,"