Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1885-02-11

Hard words never killed nobody, :
observed Rebecca, Who had the soul Of
philosopher within her gaunt form.
Presently Mrs. Van Voscalin and the
widow Orme came lack, still debating.
I'll give you twelve dollars for the
four chairs" said Mrs. Van Vosoelin.
3They: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, reooiling, II
could not possibly sell them for thatl"
*1t's all they are worth" said Mrs.
Van Voscelin. ~People put an entirely
ficticious value upon such things now.
And you'll find that no one else will
give you such price for the old rattle
Mammal" pleaded Clara, piteously,
laying her hand OF Mrs. Orme's arm.
And" added the remorseless ioono-
clast, II 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. II don't
think you need entertain any scruplee
on that SCORE" saidsh "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. TITS
] more than they are worth, but I 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
uncomfortable.
The city lady turned on her heel
"Mantini himself don't ask such prices
said she. II think you must be crazy
Good morning" And she swept out,
throwing down the parrots stand and
chair in her way, and dragging the kit
ten along in the m@lstrom of her satir
dounces. Rebecca chuckled. Mrs
Orme burst into tears. Clara was abso.
lutely speechless with indignation.
"Now, look here" said Rebecca
@Dont mind '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 tell
about married q second cousin Of my
stepmother. I'll go and have q tall
with him when I'm in town the day
arter tomorrow. He's q clever chan
enough, If it wasn't for his Turin way Of
pronouncin' words"
but, Rebeoca," sighed Clara, "wha'
will be the use of it,"
~Wa'al 1 dom know" said Rebecca
you'll see. Or p'r'aps you won't see.
It'll be just as it happens. Nobody car
tell which way luck is goin' to jump il
this world"
Whether We are glad or sorrowful the
memorable wheel of time revolves Just
as steadily on it, way, and 30 Mrs. Orm<
found it in her experience. And almost
before she could realize the progress Of
days and weeks, gray November was up
on them with its mists and shadows, and
the first snow-aakes came eddyina
through the air.
Mrs Orme and Rebecca had been in
the city pricing cheap and convenient
rooms for the winter. Mr.. Orme wa
tired out by succession of battles with
the average landlady, and had resigned
herself to the pilotaRe of her faithful
deputy, and somehow they were return.
ing to the Grand Central Depot by the
way of NJ. Giulio Mantini's "Old Curl.
osity Emporium" in q shady little street
just out of the roar and glitter of uppe,
Broadway.
@Wa'al, I declare of We amt here, jest
in front of Mantini's doori" exclaimed
Rebecoa. "S'pose We jest step in and
see eff Mantipi 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 very threshold.
Don't let us go in just now" said she
shrinkingly. "There is that Van Vosce
lin woman standing by the desk"
What of that?" said Rebecca
"Haven't we as good right to the ust
of the store as she has, I'd admire K
know?"
Rebecca was the strongest both physi
oally and of will, and so they went in.
Mrs. Van Voscelin recognized them al
once, although Mrs. Orme would fair
have glded past her unobserved.
"Oh, it's you, is it," she cried, put
ting her eyeglasses exultantly up
well, really, it's quite providentia
that I met you just now"
| Indeed" said Mrs. Orme, shyly.
Il only want you to understand, =
went on the stout matron in the valley
cashmere shawl, what very exorbitan1
rate you put upon those old things o.
yours up in the backwoods, when
have been buying real treasures, inn
ported, no doubt from the wainsooted
halls of some old English manor house
OF this excellent and discriminating
person" with movement of her gloved
hand toward the proprietor Of the estab
lishment.
AT madame's YER horrible eairveece,'
said M. Mantini, with profound obeis
ance.
"They were sent home over half ar
hour ago." added Mrs. Van Vosoelin
and I have just settled my BILL" (At
which words NJ. Mantini gave second
series of salaams.) But If you will cal
at my house. A Paragon Park, 1 shall
be glad to have my housekeeper show
them to You. Perhaps it may be q
lesson to You not to be quite so grasp
ing in the future.
! And she hustled of to her carriage.
"Humph," said Rebecca, looking afte1
her with curious elevation of the eye
brows, II guess we haven't time to 20 t.
Paragon Park to-day. Wa'al Mr.. Man
TIM" turning suddenly to the dappe,
little proprietor of the Emporium, she,
you sold them there articles o. vertue
that I sent up from Grexbury Hollow p
II have, ma cousine," answered the