The Democratic advocate., 1885-10-10

where plump, red-whiskered man who
spoke excellent English with perhaps re-
dundancy of h's), promptly placed himself
at his service Together they unrolled the
ivory-mounted banner, and viewed the
stork and palms and the wonderful needle
work wares of the Kyusi River.
every sorry" said the superintendent,
as he called himself, of Tado Anoko's ba-
Ear, "but don't suppose, sir-I don't in
deed-as you'll find hanything to cores
pond with this ere piece of Ugh art. There
never was but few of 'em himported.
And they're all bought hup. Law bless
you, sir, the gentry they will ave 'em, sir,
at hany price.
A plump, fresh colored old woman, the
salesman's aunt, who had been arranging
palm-leaf fans on gigantic revolving
screen at the back of the store, now came
forward, peeping at the satin scroll over
her nephew's shoulder.
'It's quite true, sir, what Simpson says,
pronounced she. II know those banners
P'raps our house may import some more
fore the next holidays; but"
"Call Alta Graves" imperiously inter
rupted Mr.. Simpson. "She knows deal
about the stock. She can tell US. +"
Alta. Graves was summoned pretty
pink checked little damsei, with hair brown
and shining like newly ripened chestnut,
and dark eyes which she scarcely ventured
to lift from the floor. "Oh yes,". she as
sented, in an innocent, birdlike sort Of
voice, "she had seen those banners. But
there were none at present remaining IN
Tado Anokos store of imported novelties.
Unless, indeed, the gentleman would take
afne quality of paper, mounted on linen"
But Mr.. Franklyn shook his head
Paper would not meet the views of the
ladies in whose behalf he was conducting
the investigation, he said. The banner
must be of satin, of the same black color,
embroidered in corresponding pattern.
He was sorry for giving so much trouble
and he went out, leaving his card so that
in case any new vein of banners or deeora-
tions should be struck at the eleventh hour,
he might perchance get the benefit of it.
Three days afterward, just as the hands
of the Office regulator were consolidating
themselves at the figure twelve, and the
bells of Old Trinity were pealing theil
musical noon jangle, there came the smallest
of tap-taps at the outer door of the firm Of
Waitstill & Lingerlong, in which Mr.. Frank
Franklyn was a silent partner. And there
stood Alta Graves, rosy and palpitating.
''Why," exclaimed Mr.. Franklyn, trying
TO locate the fresh blooming face in his
mind, and associating it oddly with Chinese
monsters, mammoth chests of tea, and a
curious odor of fresh mating and sandal
wood fans, ''it's the young lady from Tado
Anoko's place, isn't it p
And Alta made a little courtesy, and
answered, breathlessly, eyes, please"
Mr.. Franklyn graciously bade her enter.
Mr. Waitstill was at his lunch, and Mr.
Lingerlong was in the back Office arguing
with dusty old client who believed him
self better judge of law than Blackstone
so that the coast was clear. What Oh
earth did she want of him he asked him
self. Had the firm got into lawsuit, anG
had she been sent to bid his immediate
presence on the scene? Or was she her.
self about to sue her principals for breacf
of contract?
"Can l be of any service to you?" hC
courteously asked, as he stood there, still
breathless, and changing from pink to pale
"Would you please look at this, sir, anG
see how you like it?" she said hurriedly
unrolling little parcel which until now sh'
carried in her hand.
1t was long strip of black satin, will
scarlet-plumed ibis wading through whit,
silk deeps of water, with the Sacred Noun
tain Fusiyama rearing its peak beyond
while in the foreground waved pictures
que tangle of reeds and rushes.
F'The very thing p exclaimed Franklyn
"But it ISN'T mounted
Almost any store will do that for you
sir" said Alta, her cheek frightening int,
still deeper carmine at his evident satisfac
ton.
"But why didn't you show me this tn,
other day? he questioned.
"I-I hadn't found it then" answered
Alta In some CONFUSION.
"And what is the price ?" Mr.. FranklyI
asked, putting his hand in business ik'
way into his pocket.
Here again pretty Alta seemed to b,
puzzled She didn t know, she said. Coul,
the gentleman tell her the price of the
other one?
1t was ten dollars, Mr.. Franklyn be
lieved
"Then," said Alta, speaking with ar
evident effort, "would you think this toc
dear at eight dollars, seeing that it ism
mounted ?"
II should consider it fair price" said
Mr.. Franklyn, kindly. And he paid hel
the money, a gold half-eagle and thre'
crisp, clean one-dollar bills and she van
ished away down the long hall like LITTLE
gray shadow.
What fool l was" thought Mr.. Frank
lyn, suddenly rousing himself from a rev
erie, ''not to ask her to take. it to Anoko'
to be mounted on ivory And now
shall have to go around there myself
Very stupid of me but Their often an
stupid. But how pleased my aunts will be
bless their dear old hearts And what {
wonderful pair of limpid hazel eyes tha
girl has got n
And all day long Alta Graves's sweet
pea face came between him and the dust,
pages of his prosy law-books, like vagu
dream of what might have been, had sht
not been a shop-girl and he bachelor close
on the forties.
He went home early, and on his way h,
stopped at the establishment Of Tad'
Anoko.
Mr.. Simpson uttered an exclamation o
amazement at,the sight of the ibis and tn,
sacred peak Fusiyama. "Well, l never 7
cried he. "Aunt Sarah, look ere. Wher,
on earth did you get this ere, sir, if / MAJ
made so bold to ask For didn't know
[ give you my word of honor, asthere wa
one like it in the city,
1t was now Mr.. Franklyn's turn to oper
his eyes. ''The young lady whom you cal
Alta Graves brought it to me, , said he
''and l supposed, of course, that you sent
it."
"Alta Graves p repeated Mr.. Simpson
"Our Alta !" shortly spoke Aunt Sarah
"Then as true as my name is Sarah Simp
son she has stole it-and out of our very
stock. And she knowed of it all the time
the ungrateful mink, while we was a-turn
ing over heverything to find match fol
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