Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-08-22
IT THE MAISON DOME.

When l turned from the sunlight of the
Quai MassCna into the shadow of the narrow
Rue Pioueroire l saw Aida como out of her
shop and plant herself in the middle of the
street There she stood, arms akimbo, gaz-
ing intently at the china, the pictures, the
bronZes imprisoned behind the great panes
OF plate glass. Soon she glanced up to
where a new gilt sign informed the passer-by
that here was the Maison Dobbe then she
turned and saw me. She was plump, dark
haired woman, with thick features and a
swarthy skin. She was perhaps thirty three
or four years old, but she professed not to
know her age.
Miss Penniman :" she said, aud a smile
crept slowly to her face. Here again. /
am 30 glad to see you. have Just been ar
ranging my windows. There is Teniors, 50
pointing to dull dsub in heavy frame.
"Cheap at three thousand francs" she added
mechanically.
Her shop did not look unlike many a fash
ionable drawing g-room, full of cabinets. cup
boards, bronzes, Dutch clocks, mirrors aud
candlesticks. There were rugs on the floor,
hangipgs and screens everywhere, and the
walls were covered with small pictures in
huge frames Aida pushed forward an un.
comfortable archaeological chair and begged
mo TO be seated.
"Adolphe, she said gently, and tall
young fellow in a sort of green livery step.
ped out Of dusky corner. She commanded
him to fetch bottle of wine and some bis
cult then turning to me, Are you already
long here y she asked.
Il came yesterday l answered, "and
want to stay all winter If l can find cheap,
decent boarding-pace. Mademoiselle Dobbe,
l will teach you a new idom l am dead
broke"
Aida smiled II know that idiom since a
long time. But why do you not take rooms
and have meals sent in j? l live thus; so do
many" She brushed invisible dust of heI
gown as she added softly, "Up-stairs there
are two rooms,-if you did not mind the old
furniture, and We could arrange about the
meals.
Mind tho old furniture l enjoyed the
idea, and that very night slept in q great
carved bedstead, and the next morning made
my toilet with the aid Of n superb Venetian
mirror. Alida's whole house was a shop, and
she used her wares herself Coffee and rolls
were served in dining-room where there
we're two sideboards and three tall clocks.
The china was exquisite, and Adophe watch.
ed over it tenderly, a wrinkle of anxiety
puckerng his forehead He came in and
washed the fragile cups and plates, but when
the bell over the shop.door rang he dropped
his dish-cloth and hastened downstairs.
'Do you call him clerk, or an errand-boy,
| or a buttops?' ! asked.
IAN the three was the answer, given in
English, as usual. She spoke several Ian
guages in the Same nonchalant way that she
did English and with sublime disregard OF
idioms. She succeeded in making herself
understood, however.
Besides Adolphe, she had a maid, who al
30 filed a nondescript position. She tool
care of the rooms, she sewed, she ran err
rands, and she tended shop. l tended shop
too, after while it was as catching as moa
sles or mumps, and it was very easy thing t
do. When any one came in, displayed the
art treasures and chRtted about the weather
| The triilos had their prices marked on them
but the larger articles-the pictures, furni
ture, tapestry of fiuctuating value, anC
no one tried to sell them in Alida's absence
A would-be purchaser was politely asked t.
call again, and in most cases the second cal
was made.
''It is not wise to be eager to sell, " saiC
Aida; and this was her policy. She wa
slow, unenthusastic, even when driving
close bargain. She acted as though it were
matter of supreme indifference 10 her wheth
or she made sale or not At first laboreC
under the deusion that she was rather dull
pated, but soon found out that there was
shrewd, calculating brain behind her sleep,
eyes. How she came to engage in the brio
a-brao trade, how she acquired her knowl
ege of it, were mysteries / never could faith
om. She bore an unblemished reputation
and was highly respected by the people wit
knew her best She went to the Englisl
church with great regularity /; she observes
Sunday; but l am sceptical enough TO thinl
that she saw some advantage in thus yieldin
to English prejudices l should conside
Aida one of the most sensible and sagaciou
of women were it not for the Edouard Brau
episode. A photograph of Edouard BTRu
stood on her dressing table, and letters cam
from him frequently. l ventured TO bante
her about him a littleand she bore it with tn
same stolid good humor that shs did an
scotiing remarks upon her old pictures an
furniture. l could not live there withou
getting some knowledge of the bric-a-bra
trade, aud l did not scruple to say what
thought about it. The works of the old mas
ters excited my derision most, and above a
the dingy daub that declared itself a TenierI
at is humbug, Aida" said, land 20
know it,"
She smiled sweetly: my dear friend,
cannot tell but l know l shall sell it.
Whereupon she dropped it behind an old 81
ia. There was always some master benin
that sofa, and it was always discovered b
some curiosity seeker. / saw Aida put thre
or four pictures there at different times, an
whenever one was discovered she always VOL
a look of mild amazement Was II genuine
the lucky Gnder wond ask Ah that WAS
question she could nrvIr answer unfortI
nately. She had bought il rs a speculation
, or her agent had sent it to her, but she coul
not vouoh for it, Then she would look /
ohildishy stupid that it was impossible
consider her a connoisseur, aud myself VI