The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-12-10
THE BLUE SATIN DOLL
THE sEYFSTY.FIvE poLLAR
PRIZE CHRISTMAS STORY,
ny JULIAN NAeSus,
Ioopyrl.Aad, l,ss, BY 5. $, AoClprs,l

short.llyed articles without which ahoulI
not, on the morrow, have dared to fac
my numerous family, The iuventiv
powers OF toy.mRkers seem to grow great
or each year, and the almost endless ARA,
made q choice embarrassing, Before M
on the showcase moved with much Whir
ring and clicking q procession Of neChan
ical figures set in motion by an indetsti
gable but evidently very tired salesman
whose face seemed to express wish tina
his machinery could be allowed to rul
down for the night While Twas debat
ing between the merits Of black beal
that mapped and snarled and clswed a
the iuoGsnding air in way calculated t.
delight any boy and irighten any girl o
tender years, and those Of a miniature
Jumbo" whose slow movements were q
ludicrous reproduction Of those Of the
deeply.lamented original, my attention
was diverted by . voice, at the doll'de'
partment, asking;
"Whatis the price Of the large doll in
blue satin?"
! had glanced with rather longing eyes
at that doll as / had passed It 8 few mo-
ments before; but feeling sure that the
poss ession Of her hsxPn ladyship would
he q too costly luxury, ! had not inquired
the figure at which che was held. l had,
however, come curiosity to know, and
listened for the reply.
"Thirty dollaIs Butt can show you
dressed dolls, all the way from ten
dollars"
Something In the unusually abrupt, al,
mCst Contemptuous tone Of the sales
woman caused me 10 turn and look to
whom abe was speaking, The figure oil
q man, twisted and distorted III the most
terrible manner by some accident or Ill
nese, stood or rather was propped up
against the counter. Clutches helped to
hold him, but even 90 supported, his head
and neck could only have been visible to
the saleg.woman. His clothes were shiny
and Almost threadbgre, and were evident
ly rapidly reaching the stage where gen.
teel poverty loses itself in rags. His lace
was turned from me, but / recognized the
man % one who had frequently come into
my office selling pens and pencils. ! had
from time 10 time made small purchases
Of him, and had been impressed with the
fact that he always retuEed any Offers Of
charity, though welcoming eagerly the
chance to dispose Of his small wares. The
extreme incongruity between his appar.
ent position aud the blue astin doll was as
striking 10 me as 1t hEd evidently been to
tho girl behind the counter, and waited
with some anxiety to see what, II any
thing, he would buy.
~ do not want cheap doll" no said,
without o trace oil resentment, "but $50 Is
more than ! can pay. Can you not make
some reductionS"
II will ask the manager" answered tho
Uirl; and she passed across the store in
search OF him.
BY this time, had become 60 much In
terested between the bear and the OLE
plant, and sitting 8 feeling Of delicaCy
which for moment or two made me hes.
itate, ! walked to the doll counter, oste1-
sibly to look at Ito Contents, but really to
see the end Of this strange negotiation.
The man, somewhat to my surprise and
Chagrin, recognized me, az he moved with
difficulty 0 little to one aldo to give me
more room.
"Good evening, Mr.. Roberts," he said,
'you arc buying Christmas presents, l
seo."
Eyes. / have several little claimants
who will not be ignored. And you, are
you buying a doll2" felt that l was uu.
warrantably seeking to lntrudo myself
into his affairs, but l could not resist the
temptation.
81 am trying TO, sir. This one but
they ask more money than I've got"
l was about 10 mako some remark,
which I hoped would draw something
more from him, when the RGleswOman re-
turned. ....
"Our mauager says 90 It Is gottlng so
late, he will make the price $25. That is
very cheap. II is the abandonment doll In
the store"
II know 1t ig," observed my singular
acquaintance, that Is why l wanted 1t.
/ Will take 1t at $26. Please have II packed
In q box without any mark or name on.
The receiver must havo no means Of traC'
ing where II came FROM"
Here was more mystery 10 pick my cur
lOBity still further.
The now obsequious attendant remarked
that sbe would attend to tho packing her
self. While she was thus occupied, the
strange purchaser with difficulty disln-
tered from well concealed pocket q
small bag.
~ know exactly how much there is In
here" no said to me, with smile In
which sweetness and sadness were quaint
ly mixed. Just 500 rs. So the quickest
way for me Is to take out $l75."
He crnned up till he managed 10 empty
his little bag on the glass.toppod case.
The assortment Of money that fell out was
very varied, There were some neatly
folded bills, a few silver dallaIu, some
smaller silver, several Gye.cent nipkels,
and even few coppers. He counted out
81. rs from the smaller denominations, and
then nut one dollar back In his bag, and
the IS cents In hia waist.coat pocket,
~ BhSll need some Of thAt, " he ssid,
nor mesSenger.boy.p Then, looking up
Of me and noting the look Of amusement,
that l know pervaded my iGcs, though
sLreve 10 repress 1t, he added, lyon IRE
surprised to see such man as I buy such
Q dolly"
~ am indeed" | replied, u can't uu'
derttand It ct ALL"
~ would Nke to tell you, Mr.. Roberts
because you have often bought Of me when
didn't know which way TO turn for some
thing to eat, and wouldn't like you L
think me an impoator."
"You shall tell me, l answered, III yor
will but not hore. The girl is coming
back with your box. II 10 o cold night;
glass OF something warm will do you good
We will 20 out and get one. Then yol
lean sit down and tell me what you will
~ do not drink anything, sir, eIosp
very occasionally, when my pains get toO
great for me- TO bear. l will bs glad tu x
with you where can get cup Of coffee
Tonight, Of oil nights, l must not drink
for atm 10 see her tomorrow"
As he uttered the last words look o
almost ecstacy illumined Ills worn features
"Here Is your parcel, sirl"
"And there, | think, you will aud tn
right amount"
Il took the gill ioW seconds 10 SCUM
the money.
"Quite correct, sir; much obliged" sh
-.ll ...ka.. H.. ha1 untabnI