The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-12-24
SELECT STORY.
THE PAWNED CHARACTER.


noises of .he street aud reached the
ears of Mr.. Alfred Doolittle. He smil-
ed rather bitterly.
/ shall begin the description of this
parsonage by Offering you his pocket
book for inspection. As | flap it open
you see the compartments. They con-
tan-nothiug. Here look for your
self. Yes, turn it upside down That's
it; shake it You see what falls out
| nothing.
don't know that it is necessary to
describe further the personality of Mr..
| Dooliltle. But | may as well add that
he had tall well shaped figure, a pale
melancholy face, bitter smile on his
lips and magnificent foulful ideas in
his head His feet were covered with
old, worn-out slippers he wore pair
of questionable trousers and three.
quarters of coat. In his hand he
held a long pipe, from which last
sigh, in the form of blue cloud of
smoke, was just escaping. The little
cloud rose up toward the ceiling in
writhing wings, within, which his fancy
wove lovely picture. The little vol
ume of smoke gradually grew dim and
faded away, and with 1t the magic pic
ture The fancy of Mr.. Alfred Doc
little grew as cold as his pipe.
What picture had faded with the
smoke! That of beautiful but cruel
hearted maiden.
Now, tie chambers of his fancy
were as barren as his room. Twilight
was just nesting down into its empty
corners. The open wardrobe seemed
to have spread wide It's gaping jaws to
show the desoation within there were
no books on the book shelves, aud want
grinned ghostike from every corner {:
HI, hi! The world has deserted YOU;
ah but | will never leave you, my dear
boy y
There was a knock at the door. Mr.
Doolittle sprang up. Probably some
one had made mistake in the room
1t was surely none of his acquaintances
for they all knew that he had nothing
to lend He carefully opened the door
out of respect for his questionable
trousers. A little old man. whose APP.
pearance was aptly described by his
first words, slipped noislessly into the
room: Old clothes, old linen Aaron
pays well for everything, sir"
81 have nothing said Alfred as the
old smile came back to his lips. But
the little old Jew was not to be put off
so easily.
"No doubt you can find something.
Old boots, old books Aaron buys
everything, everything
"Look for YOURSELF said Alfred bit
terly. "Here is the wardrobe, here the
book shelves, here"
Nothing, not thing!
Swept clean Too bad, young man
too bad Aaron pays WE'LL And he
drew out of his dirty bag leather
pouch and shook it. 1t gave forth a
clear, full tone, the alluriug music Of
gold, more maddening than the song
of the sirens. Alfred trembled at the
sound and fixed his eyes longingly up
on the dirty wallet. Over the face of
the Jew flashed an expression Of salts
faction and contempt. He raised the
pouch with one hand and stroked it
oaressingly with the other as he ratified
on.
"Aaron pays well sir; Aaron buys
everything, everything
''But you see have nothing" shout
ed Alfred, angrily.
"Ah, the gentleman has something
for which Aaron will give many a bit
of gold"
mo joking with me, Jew, or you
will go down the stairs on the most di-
rect route for Abraham's BOSOM"
"Aaron knows what he says replied
the Jew, with repulsive obsequiousness.
'The gentleman has rare jewel, for
which Aaron Will give what the gentle
man asks" Aud he ran his fingers
through the coins OF the purse. Alfred
followed this movement with cleaning
eyes.
"Well, speak out! What have l
that | am noJ aware of myself? What
is it you want to buy?'
The jew drew a step nearer, bent
over toward his ear and whispered:
"Your character"
Alfred glared at him with extended
eyes.
"Nfy character! You are fool"
The Jew stepped back, drew him
self up, and said in an important tone /:
"The gentleman is amazed. All!
Aaron bays everything wornout cloth
ing, maidenly virtue, old umbrellas,
honor, wigs, sparks Of genius-Aaron
buys everything else. Why should't
he buy character A character is
rare thing nowadays. You fnd plenty
of people without them
Alfred looked at the speaker in ter
ror. Just at that moment the last rays
of the setting sun crept into the room
and gave the Jew a weird, uncanny ap-
pearanc. The pouch in his hand seem
ed to be glowing hot, his tousled hair
and beard were transformed into gold
en- threads, gold cleaned from the folds
of his bag and from the irregular
wrinkles of his face, his great eyes
flashed with a metallic simmer like
two great golden eagles, 1t seemed to
Alfred as if he saw the veriUable Demon
of Gold before him, with curved neck
and talon-like fingers, about to throw
himself upon his victim to suck his
blood and choke the last divine spark.
He covered his face with his hands.
As he looked up again, the Jew had
lost the uncanny halo-the sun had set.
"Now, will the gentleman sell his
character Aaron pays well. There
is considerable demand for oharact-
ers Sell it, sirl Aaron will give you
a good round sum" With this the jew
took out an eagle and held it up be-
tween his fingers. Alfred looked long
ingly at it moment, then turned away
quickly, shook his head, and replied,
firmly;
"No. | won't sell it."
"IIo, no MOI A beautiful charac-