Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-05-31

that Deli had no ear, and considered The i'm,
probability Of his being able to recognize
the Cremanay owing to the alterations winch
had been made in its sppearan ce' especially
as he would be comparing 1t with one when
bore all the old familiar mark. Hopkins
was still deriving intense qualification from
| his practice on the CFemona, but II must not
be supposed that his pleasure was unslloyed.
He would gladly have given the 81 BOO ne
once offered for it to ease his conscience ana
be able to acknowledge before the world his
ownership of the best Of all fddles.
When Friday night cane he felt slightly
nervous, but had no fear that Deli would
discover The deceit that had been prscticed
on him. All the invited guests were present,
and after dinner it was very naturally pro-
posed BY the host that Hopkins should play
on his new fiddle. They wers now in the
drawing room drinking coffee. At DelPs,
bidding Hopkins took the Cremona from its
case. He did not venture to loots at Dell, or
be would have noticed CLEAN OF recogni-
ton in his eyes as they narrowly scanned
The shape of the violin, and he might also
have observed strange smile that lowered
about his cousins lips.
81 have been thinking, said Dell care
!essly, about that offer you made me for
my Cremons, and have decided to let you
have it for thou
Hopkins could scarcely believe his good
fortune; he would carry away Csppecs
model, and no one would ever learn the
fraud. What celebrity would he derive from
he acknowledged proprietorship OF the we'll
known Stradivsrius!
"Doner' he exclaimed. "a thousand
pounds is big price to give, but l won't
draw back from my offer. The guests
clustered round TO witness the bargain, toI
aas not the sale of such violin at such
price q historical EVENT.
81 have blank check in my pocket
book" said Hopkins; Il will till 1t up and
give it to you now, and take the hddie with
me-" >.
you are in TOO great hurry" replied
Dell; you didn't let me finish what L was
going 10 say. Besides the thou | must
bave in exchange the fiddle you hold in your
hands, as rather ike the look OF It,
On hearing this Hopkins was greatly dis
concerted. But he soon consoled himself by
the thought that Il would be as easy for him
as il was before to substitute the copy Tor
the real Cremons, and that he would then
only be taking possession Of that which he
had fairly purchased, and would have no
need to dread discovery. II would be easy
for him 10 make the necessary change IN
the appearance of the new fiddle. After
hesitatiug little he said:
Il should have thought the price | am
=: L.. ooo,ob ~; thout anv aYchanpn
but if YOU are resolved on these terms sup
pose must agree to them. =
Dell then brought an inkstand and placed
il significantly on the table beside Hopkins,
Who taking tae hint produced check aud
filed it up foT Ct 900. On receiving 1t Dell
unlocked his cabinet, and taking out the
spurious Crenona handed it to his cousin,
wro with rather bad grace delivered upthe
genuine violin The bargain was thus COM
pieted, and there was u murmnr OF appro-
bation among the guests. With astonishing
r. oidity the fiddle which Dell received dis
appesttd and the click OF the cabinet lock
VS. heard The alacrity with which this
a, ZION was performed filled the mind OF hop
SIPS with dread. and he stood holding his
purchase in his hand, looking as though ne
slresdy rued the bargain \ strange CLEAN
Atich he noticed in Dell eyes, as he fur
,i>cl7 glanced at him. did not tend to re-
assure MIN. For more than one reason
hopkins refused bis cousins bland request
10 play on the "Cremona, and for the rest
of The evening he was a most unhappy man.
lie did not sleep that night, and the ottener
he recalled the triumphant light he had seen
in Dell's eyes the more convinced did he
become that bis trick had been discovered
and the tables turned on him. In the NOR
hing when he got up scarcely any doubt on
the matter remained in his mind. 1t was
bed enough TO lose the Cremona-as he was
convinced-forever; but he was resolved
that Dell should not swindle him out OF that
{ 600, to which he had not the slightest
claim. SO after breakfast he went TO the
bank 10 stop the check but found he was
too late as it had been already caShed.
lben Del's per6dy became apparent to him
in its blacklist hues. Such meanness as
his cousin had displayed Hopkins did not
suppose could exist in the human breast.
The trickery that had been practiced on
him was contemplate And he had no
remedy. He could not ventilate his griev-
auCe among his friends, as they could no be
supposed to comprehend all the circumstan'
ces of the case, and he could not summon
Up the courage to face Dell and demand
bat K his thousand pounds. Hopkins, how
ever, still refused to think the very worst of
his cousin, and BY every post for several days
be eagerly expected the return ofhis money.
AL uncertainty on this matter soon disap
peared, as an acQuaintanc meeting him one
day said:
Dell is suddenly becoming liberal!
Have you heard he has Just gwen { 900
to the Home for Decayed Tea Tastersy
Now, Hopkins knew that Dell would not
give away his own money, so he exclaimed,
"Confound his generosity" and in a rage
he went home and smashed the fiddle on
, hch Mr. Capper had spent so much labor;
Hopkins has never played since. Several
,,?Is have passed, and the cousins are faster
;ituGs than before, though neither has ever
=, lelred TO their transactions concerning the
Crcmoua. Perhaps Hopkins thinks a thou
50 Cd pounds was moderate price 10 pay
tur getting rid Of hobby that had always
csvsed him more trouble than satisfaction.
1 --Belgrayis