The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-01-23
Mrs. Ormo-anything that she wished to

the DarlOr. neSc last, Sne auueu,
Nth modest pride, "arc, believe, quite
pN~ Tb
Nere given to my mother,
before she was married, by the captain
of a Holland trading vessel, who brought
them direct from Antwerp, and they
have been much admired by artists"
ooh, indeed p said Mrs. Voscelin.
''Dut there is so much imposture about
these things, you know However,
don't object to looking Mt them"
Clara had grown scarlet at the cool
insolence of the city lady's tone, but
Mrs. Orme smiled dcprecatingly as she
led the way toward the best parlor. Re
becca expressed her feelings by scrub
bling vigorously away at the yellow paint
en- the window-sil to remove an infn-
itesimal hy-speck therefrom
Cup and down sassy, amt shc'" said
she.
az don't see how mamma endures
it." cried Clara, tightly clinching her
little fist.
Hard words never yet killed
nobody" observed Rebecca, who had
the soul of 4 philosopher within her
gaunt form.
Presently Mrs. Van Voscelin and the
Widow Orme came back, still debat-
ing.
"rll give you twelve dollars for the
four chairs" said Mrs Van Noscelin.
"They are rather pretty in their way,
but nothing remarkable. And we'll call
the clock, say, ten, and the claw-legged
table-claw-legs are really quite common
nowadays eight. Make the lot thirty
dollars"
ooh" cried Mrs. Ormc. recoiling 81
could not possibly sell them for that"
cts all they are WORTH" said Mrs.
Van Voscelin. "People put an entirely
fictitious value upon such things now.
And you'll find that no one else will
give you such price for the old rattle
traps"
Mammal" pleaded Clara, piteously,
laying her hand on Mrs. Orme's arm.
"And, added the remorseless icono-
clast, 81 have my doubts about their
being real antiques after all. People do
get so imposed upon in these days No
one knows what to believe
Mrs. Orme drew herself up. 81 don't
think you need entertain any scruples on
that score" said she. "These articles
have been in the Orme family for three
quarters of a century at least"
"Say thirty-two dollars and fifty
cents, said Mrs. Van Voscelin. cts
more than they are worth, but l don't
like to be hard on reduced ladies"
II should not be willing to sell them
for less than eighty dollars" firmly
maintained Mrs. Orme, blushing and un-
comfortable.
The city lady turned on her heel
"Mantini himself don't ask such prices"
said she. 90 think you must be crazy.
ood-morning." And she swept out,
throwing down the parrots stand and
chair in her way, and dragging the kit
ten along in the maelstrom of her satin
flounces. Rebecca chuckled. Mrs. Orme
burst into tears. Clara was absolutely
speechcss with Indignation.
" Now, look here" said Rebccca
"Don't mind EN-. I've got a notion
that has just popped into my head. And
my notions are sometimes worth some
thing. That there Mantini as she tells
about married second cousin Of my
stepmother. I'll go and have talk with
him when I'm in town the day arter to-
morrow. He's clever chap enough, if
it wasn't for his furrin' way OF pro-
nouncin' words.n
But, Rebecca," sighed Clara, "what
will be the use OF itl"
"Wa'al, ! don't know" said Rebecca.
"You'll see. Or p'r'aps you won't sec.
It'll be jest as it happens. Nobody can
tell which way luck is goin' to jump in
this world"
Whether we are glad or sorrowful the
memorable wheel OF time revolves just as
steadily on its way, and so Mrs. Orme
found it in her experience. And almost
before she could realize the progress of
days and weeks, gray November was
upon them with its mists and shadows,
and the first snow flakes came eddying
through the air.
Mrs. Orme and Rebecca had been in
the city pricing cheap and convenient
rooms for the winter. Mrs. Orme was
! tired out by a succession of battles with
the average landlady, and had resigned
herself to the pilotage of her faithful
deputy, and somehow they are returning
to the Grand Central depot by the way Of
NJ. Giulio Mantini's cold Curiosity En-
porium" in a shady little street Just out
of the roar and glitter OF upper Broad
way.
"Wa'al, declare CT we amt here, Jest
in front of Mantini's door," exclaimed
Rebecca. dispose we Jest step IN aud
see ef Mantini has sold that there old
furniture of yourn! He's he'd time
enough, I'm sure"
Mrs. Orme drew back, with her foot on
| the threshold.
Don't let us go in just now," said
she, shrinkingly. There is that Van
Voscelin woman standing by the desk. I"
"What of that?" said Rebecca.
Haven't we as good right to the use
of the store as she has, I'd admire to
| know"
Rebecca was the strongest both physi-
cally and of will, and SO they went in.
Mrs. Van Voscelin recognized them at
once, although Mrs. Orme would fain
have glided past her unobserved.
"Oh, it's you, is n" she cried, putting
her eyeglasses exultingly up. "Well,
really, It's quite providential that | met
you just now"
EIndon1 - said Mrs Orme sbvIv