Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-01-23

leaves whispering It the easement. and
the locnsls winding their tiny buglee il
| the maple trees outside, It seemed IS Il
all the golden air was full of the ghosts
Of departed days. Poor Mrs. Orme, the
world was very hard to her IN these
times.
Rebecca presently returned, accom-
panied ~ portly lady elegantly blessed
In surah satin. jetted lace. and scented
valley cashmere shawl
Yes. Mrs. Van N0scelin was buying
old furniture. She dotted on real an
fiQnes; indeed-with 8 shipper she
might almost say that she was crazed on
the subject. Had Mrs. Mrs. -oh, yes,
Mrs. Orme anything that she wished to
part withl
Yes, said Yrs. .Orme, rather
abashed by SO much splendor; II am
talking Of giving up my house here.
and | should like to sell the old
cIaw-legged table, aud perhaps the hall
clock, and the curious carved chairs in
the parlor These last" she added,
with modest pride, '.are, believe, quite
rare. They were given to my mother,
before she was married, by the captain
of Holland trading vessel, who brought
them direct from Antwerp, and they
have been much admired by artists.
"Oh, indecdp; said Mrs. Voscelin.
Gut there is so much imposture about
these things, you know. However, /
don't object to looking ut them"
Clara had grown scarlet at the cool
insolence Of the city ladys tone, but
Mrs. Orme smiled deprecatingly as she
led the way toward the best parlor Ra-
becca expressed her feelings by scrub
bing vigorously away at the yellow paint
en- the window-sill to remove an infin-
itesimal fiy-speck therefrom.
Up and down sassy, amt shcf'' SAID
she.
~ don't see how mamma endures
it, cried Clara, tightly clinching her
little fist.
Herd words never yet killed
nobody observed Rebecca. who had
the soul Of philosopher within her
gaunt form.
Presently Mrs. Van voscelin and the
Widow Orme came back. still debat-
ing.
IN give you twelve dollars tor the
four chairs, said Mrs. Van Voscelin
I" 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"
Oh" cried Mrs. Orme. recoiling, sI
could not possibly sell them for thatl''
8 It's all they are worth, said Mrs.
Van Voscelin. People put an entirely
al, -
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, 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. 0rme 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 century at least.
Say thirty-two dollars and fifty
cents, said Mrs. Van Voscelin. It's
more than they are worth, but / don't
like to be hard on reduced ladies. .
Il should not be willing to.sell them
for less than eighty dollars, firmly
maintained Mrs. Orme, blushing and I'M
comfortable.
The city lady turned on her heel.
Mantini himself don't ask such prices, ?
said she. : think you must be crazy.
Good-morningn 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
fiounces. Rebecca chuckled. Mrs. Ormc
burst into tears. Clara was absolutely
specchless with Indignation
= Now, look here" said Rebecca
9 Don't Eaind 'em. 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 60 and have talk with
him when Pm in town the day artcr to-
morrow. He's clever chap enough, If
it wasn't for his furrin' way of pro-
nouncin' words. ?
{. But, Rebecca, +" sighed Clara, what
will be the use OF it2''
. Wa'al, ] don't know, /" said Rebecca.
you'll see. Or p'f'aps you won't see.
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 il in her experience. And almost
before she could realize the progress Of