The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1885-02-14

ACoSully AuIo. all OSCtllIl auu buC
widow Orme came back, still debating.
I'll give you twelve dollars for the
four chairs" said Mrs. Van Voscelin.
"They.are rather pretty in their way, but
nothing remarkable. And well 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, II
could not possibly sell them for that"
Its all they are WORTH" said Mrs
Van Voscelin. people put an entirely
tictlclous 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, 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. Il don't
think you need entertain any scruples
on that score" said she. "These articles
quarters of century at least"
Say thirty-two dollars and fifty
cents" said Mrs. Van Voscelin. ITS
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.
"Mantiui himself don't ask such prices,
said she. Il think You must be crazy,
Good morning" And she swept out,
throwing down the parrots stand and
chair IL her way, and dragging the kit
ten along IL the melstrom of her satin
hounces. Rebecca churkled. Mrs.
Orme burst into tears. Clara was abso-
lutely speechless with indignation.
Nov, look here" said Rebecca.
Don't mind 'em. I've got notion
that has just popped into my head. And
my notions are sometimes worth some
thing. That there Mantini as she tells
about married a second cousin of my
stepmother. I'll go and have talk
with him when I'm in town the day
enough, If it wasn't for his furrin way of
pronouncin' words"
But, Rebecca," sighed Clara, what
will be the use of it q
"Wa'al | dom know" said Rebecca.
you'll see. Or p'r'aps you won't see.
It'll be just 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 1t 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 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, aud had resigned
herself to the pilotage of her faithful
deputy, and somehow they were return
ing to the Grand Central Depot by the
way of NJ. Giuho Mantini's "Old Curl
osity Emporium" in shady little street
just out of the roar and glitter OF upper
Broadway.
"Wa'al, declare eff we amt here, jest
in front of Mantini's door!" exclaimed
Rebecca. "S'pose we jest step in and
see eff Mautipi 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 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 Vosceln recognized them at
once, although Mrs. Orme would fain
have ghded past her unobserved.
"Oh, it's you, is it?" she cried, put
ting her eyeglasses exultantly up.
We'll, really, it's quite providential
that met you just now"
Indeed" said Mrs. Orme, shyly.
went on the stout matron in the valley
cashmere shawl, what a very exorbitant
rate you put upon those old things of
yours up in the backwoods, when l
have been buying real treasures, i'm
ported, no doubt from the wainscoted
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 hon'ble sairveece, I"
said NJ. Mantini, with a profound obeis-
ance.
They we're sent home over half an
hour ago added Mrs. Van Voscelin,
and I have just settled my bill" CAT
which ", rds NJ. Nantini gave a second
series of salaams.) But ii you will call
at my house. Al Paragon Park, I shau
be glad 30 have my houses geper show
them to you. Perhaps T. may be a
lesson to you not to &c qui so grasp
ing in the future.
And she hustled off t" her carriage.
"Humph," said Reie, ca. looking after
her with curious elevation of the eye
brows, Il guess We haven time TO go to
Paragon Park to-day. Wa'al Mr.. Man
| TIM" turning suddenly to the dapper
little proprietor of the Emporium, "hev
you sold them there articles O. vertue
that tup from Grexbury Hollow? p
4 have, ma cousine, answered the
smiling Frenchman. Every arr ticle r
"Eh?" cried Rebecca. @To the same
person? Wa'al, that was a stroke o
| luck"
"Vraiment," bowed Mantini, ito re
YER elegant mila1i who has just made
herself to depart in Eat coupe of re
most ravissant-to Madame Vosce-l een
| for fur hundred and twenty-five dol.
laires, of which, wiz your leave, sail
keep re twenty five pour la commission
-Four hundred and twenty-five dol
lars?" cried Mrs. Orme, with a little
gasp of mingled ecstasy and doubt, as
she clutcned at Rebecca's arm. "Bu;
that can't be possible. Didn't you hear
her? She said that they were treasures