The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-01-05
"This thoughtfulness was entirely

"Arthur.'
Tell me what you have in view."
"Well, my friend, after long search,
l found at last a little candelabrum at
B~arhizon's; a candelabrum, mind, ard
it is a superb piece, Louis XIV. style.
And. just think, it costs only 1900
francs. You see my husbands inter-
ference was unnecessary. I am reas
enable myself; but, if l do not mistake,
the general went still further. He
fixed the limit for you, did he not?"
Eyes, 400 francs"
THAT is certainly modest, but
more than enough"
Arthur declared that he would re-
volt against the generals order, but
she would not hear to it. However,
he held to his resolution in spite of her
opposition. Finally they came to an
agreement. 1t was settled that he
should send the candelabrum to his
dear Genevieve, but should assert and
maintain to the general that it did not
cost over 400 francs.
***
When Arthur made his call of con-
graduation on the birthday of the gen
erals wife he was angrily received by
the general.
you seem to have forgotten u
recent conversation entirely"
"Why, what is the matter, g~eneral?"
"Ahl And this candelabrum?"
"Well, what of it? Perhaps you
don't believe-This candelabrum did
not cost Il sou over 400 francs"
"Nonsense."
cit is as I tell you. 1t cost me
trouble enough, though, to find them;
1 swore at you not a little"
"Impossible; where did you rake up
such a fabulously cheap thing?"
"At-but it is of no Importance"
ut is pure curiosity-where?"
Eat BarbiZon's."
"And yet people say that Barbizon
is the dearest bronze-dealer in Paris.
! Four hundred francs, Incredible
"You could not doubt my words?"
$50 little that within an hour 1 shall
order one like it at Barbizon's. For
four weeks 1 have nearly split my head
trying to think of something to buy
for my sisters christening anniversa-
nv. Now I have it. She will dote on
the candelabrum."
TX
Arthur entered Barbizon's breath
less.
"Slr. yesterday morning you sold me
a Louis XIV. candelabrum for 1900
francs. Do you remember mes"
Certainly, Herr Baron"
"a gentleman is coming to you who
wishes to order one like it. You must
tell him that you have no moro in the
store.'
"Impossible, sir; we have three for
sale"
allow unfortunatel But listen. l
have a request. You must render me
a little service. A singular circum-
stance, which 1 have no time to ex
plain, compelled me to declare to this
person that the c~andelabrum bought
here cost only 400 francs.
"And he believed itT"
"Strong reasons-you hear-very
strong reasons force me to conceal the
truth. If he Wishes Il ( -nilar Candida
Drum do not charge him more than 20
louis dor; 1 will pay the difference"
THAT is satisfactory"
~
Ten minutes later a gentleman en-
tered the store and wished to buy one
of the three candelabra. Faithful to
his agreement, Barbizon asked only
400 francs. The purchaser looked
very much astonished. "Four hun
dred francsl Please send me two"
Barbizon trembled 1T this unexpected
order, but he remembered Arthur's
anxiety, and wrote down the order in
his book. Fifteen minutes later the
general entered the shop with his sis
ter. "Onc Of iay friends bought a can
delabrum of you yesterday. l see you
have more Of the same kind. My
friend told me he paid 400 francs for
it. Ia that right?"
~"Sarerlotl !" thought the dealer, ~