The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1886-05-05

make up her mind to enter; she took a
turn or two before its front, she
glanced in at its door, and its window,
crowded with goods. She had never
been in a pawnbroker's shop in her
life, and her ideas of It's customers
were vague; comprising gentlewomen
in distress, gliding in as she did, tipsy
men carrying their watches in their
hand, poor objects out of work, in
delapidated shirt-sleeves, and half
starved women with pillows and flat
irons. 1t looked quiet, inside; SO far
as she could see, there did not appear
to be a soul. With desperate effort
Of resolution she went in.
She stood at the counter, the chief
part of the shop being hidden from her.
A dark, vulgar-looking man came for
ward.
What can we do for you, ma'amp"
"Are you the masterp" inquired Sc
lima.
mo"
81 wish to see him."
Another presently appeared, and
Mrs. Dalrymple was surprised. She
had expected to see a common trades
man, OF manners like the first, and he
who now accosted her had the appear.
ance and address of gentleman; and
OF sensible one, too.
II am in temporary need Of little
money, and wish to borrow some upon
my Jewels" began Mrs. Dalrymple, In
q hoarse whisper; and she was really
SO agitated as scarcely to know what
she said.
"Are they Of valueP" he inquired.
"Some hundreds of pounds. l have
them with me-"
He requested her to walk into q
private room, and placed chair. She
sat down and laid the jewels on the Ia
BILE. He examined them in silence, one
after another, not speaking till he had
gone through the whole.
What did you wish to borrow on
.themP"
Gas much as I cam" replied. Mrs.
Dalrymple. 81 thought about four hun
!dred pounds"
-Four hundred pounds!' echoed the
pawnbroker. "Ma'am, they are moi
worth, for this purpose, more than 0
quarter of the money"
She stared at him in astonishment.
"They are real"
"Oh, yes. Otherwise they would moi
be worth so many pence"
MANY of them are new within
twelve months" urged Mrs. Dalrym
pie. Altogether they cost more thar
five hundred pounds"
ITO buy. But they are not wortf
much to pledge. The fashion of thes'
ornaments is changing with every sea
son, and that for one thing diminishe'
their value"
what could you lend me on themr
Zone hundred pounds"
"Absurdr' returned Mrs. Dalrmple
her cheeks flushing. "Why, that on,
set of amethysts alone cost more.
could not let them go at that 1t woul'
be Of no use to me-"
"Ma'am, it is entirely at your op
ton, and assure you do not press 1t,
he answered, with courteous respect
1--WE care little about taking thes
in, for so many are brought to us nov
that our sales are glutted with them.
"You win not be called upon to Sc
these. l shall redeem them"
The jeweler did not answer. II
could have answered, that never an al
ticle, from a service of gold plate to
pair of boys boots, was pledged to hin
yet but it was quite sure to be redeeme
in intention.
care you aware that a great man
ladies, even of high degree, now wea
false jewclry," he resumed.
"No, indeed" returned Mrs. Da
rymple. Neither should l believe it.
Nevertheless it is so. And tn
chief reason Is the one l have jul
mentioned; that in the present day tn
rage for ornaments is so great, and th
fashion of them so continually chanI
ing, that TO be in the fashion, lad
must spend fortune in ornamen
alone. / give you my word, ma'an
that in the fashionable world a gre;
deal of the jewelry now worn is falls
though it may pass there unsuspecte'
And this fact deteriorates from u
value Of real, especially for the pu
pose of pledging."
He began, as he spoke, to put h
/, articles into their boxes again, as il Il
negotiation were at an end.
; "Can you lend me two hundred n
|, on themp" asked Mrs. Dalrympl
after blank pause.
, He shook his head. II can advan,
you what / have stated, If you pleas
r Not pound more. And l am qui
, sure you will be able to obtain no mo
on them anywhere, ma'am, take the
! where you will"
"But what am ! TO dop" returnC
Mrs. Dalrymple, betraying some G.
: element. Very uselessly; but tn
, room was no stranger to 1t.
The jeweler was firm, and Mrs. Ds
rymple gathered up her ornament
her first feelings Of despair mergir
! into anger. She was leaving d
: room with her parcel, when It Q
0 Cured TO her TO ask herself what s
' was to do-how she was to procure t
d remainder Of the sum necessary 1
o Nine. Damereau. She turned bac
It and finally left the shop without b
: Jewels, but with a hundred pounds
It her pocket, and her understand
$ considerably enlightened as to the r
!; ative value Of jewel to buy and
s jewel to pledge.
J. Nov it happened that II Mrs. D
. rymple had repented Of showing b
. temper to Nine. Damereau, that
l nowned artistic had equally repented
showing hers to Mrs. Dalrymple. S
feared 1t might tell against her vi
her customers, II 1t came to be know
4 II NJ IL