Wichita eagle., 1888-07-07

contingent. among whom was q party OF
four persons two youag men and two
girls, IN whose eyes r1de IN al east SIDE
train and visit to the Bowery evidently
constituted q kind of iark as jolly IS r
was unusual
T'he girls chartered Ike black birds as
they ran down the steps and made their
way through the cosmopolitan crowo that
filed the dusty street The young men
plotted them carefully among the QUICK
sands Of Sidewalk muSiGanS beggars ana
wandering emporiurs OF collar buttons
shoe strings and polychronatlc cravats;
directing their amused attention to the
wondrCus attractions OF the museums ss
shown on the startling canvasses that
adorned the fronts of the buildings IN
which the various fat girls. tattooed Cir
cassians and stxteer toed men were to be
seen for that Insignificant pinch OF silver.
one dime
.Oh. it's the queerest place cried the
infant Of the party. whose blonde bang
had VOL her the irreverent title OF Tow
among her intimate friends See that
absurd little drum up there. beating
away to draw attention TO the only living
bearded baby-poor thing. hope 1t gets
enough &c eat, and Miss Tow heaved q
syupathetis sigh and lapsed into silence
for fifteen seconds.
They were bound for certain jewetry
store where one could often find quaint
Old silver and antique biiouterle that mad
Deen rescued from the pawn shops or
coaxed from the cabinets of poor descend
ants Of wealthy families anc tee second
hand trade Of the dealer had grown until
he found il en- important part OF his oosi-
ness and hunted both this country and
Europe over foI oddities and relics With
which TO please the wh,ms Of his patrons.
This young people were soon deep 10 the
mysteries of Apostle spoons. Nuremberg
tankards and rococc candlesticks and II
the elder girl had not interposed Miss Tow
would probably have run her poor papa Ii
debt to & shocking extent
What is that Frank" asked this more
prudent dausel as she gave last cover-
Gus glance at an enamel brooch orua-
mented by famous French miniature
painter with the portrait OF a court beauty,
who lived IN those
Teacup times OF hood and hoop,
Or while the patch WIS worn
Its blessed old uaIachite spectacle
case and did you ever see such tremend
GUS silver bowed goggles as the poor fell
low that owned it had to wearf answered
the young man laughing And here,
Fanny. see this It looks Ike book OF
devotions," and he unfastened the tarn-
ished silver clasps that closed book
bound in faded yellow velvet and strength
ened by broad silver bands and heavy
silver rim around the case, relic of the
days when books were books and not
things to be turned out by tens OF thou
&c 10. - ND hs1y. fhpf,y x-Y1
away
The two young men and the older girl
stood examining the old ullssa, while
Miss Tow vowed she mad seen enough books
during her last year at school to satisfy
her for the rest OF her days. and went
proving IN the depths of a big tray
full Of antique bracelets, archaic christen-
ing spoons and miscellaneous trumpery Of
the species SO dear to the feminine heart.
\ squea! of delight from the book hating
treasure hunter made them turn to see the
latest discovery
oh, | say cried that volatile young
lady This is the dearest old pungent
ever saw and | am just going TO carry it
home. because ! need one and shall never
find anything again that ike half 50
we'll" and she held out little box Il
wonder where this came from, she ratified
on Pm sure it must be English or
Dutch, for it's too quaint for any sort OF
use-lockr'
The others gathered around and ad-
uircd the toy. tarnisned and dented, and
with hinges that were almost past their
days of service But Fanny studied
closely for a moment
oh. dear. she said. II think / was
growing sentimental over that old book
that was so dear 10 somebody and now
this positively makes NE want TO cry
Do YOU see this, you little Vandal" and
she pointed to some letters worn into the
absolute ghost Of an inscription, but
which could still be seen very family: