The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-04-12
PRICE OF TWO VASES.
Beguilement of The ChriSty Family.

( wanted in her snare bedroom and so instead
OF saying No" when he politely requested her
90 see fshe had any old clo'es to change for
some splendid vases" she allowed him to sit
down while she went up stairs to rummage, aud
came down with some old garments OF her hus-
bands and one of those old Stella shawls,"
which certainly she never should wear again,
unless 10 was at night, for they went out Of
fashion before she was married.
1t came to her mind that she was foolish to
/ leave stranger alone 50 long, but the Old man
was sitting quietly where shc had lett him, and
looked SO much ike a benevolent cid patriarch
that she was ashamed Of remembering that the
4 spoons were IN the pantry unlocked. How
ever EU was quite worldly enough to drive
! h2ri bargain, and TO the coat, vest and shawl
she had 10 add a gown that might very well
have been worn often again.
However, II was not ready money, and she
4 felt that the Vases-go01 limitations of very
Cosriy 0Hes-Were lovely. Sae carried them
into the spare foom, and they made the mantei-
piece quite different thing. Returning TO the
GrulHg-ro9m however shock awaited her.
bier husbands gVCr08t. which he had Un-
wisely left at home that day, because it was
! unusually warm, was gone from lis Peg on the
hall rack and. opening the pantry door, she
saw that the spoons were gone with II. lhey
4 were only plated, but no enc likes 10 lose any
thing iu shat way. Besides she felt greatly 10
lisl.e Tor ii. The old man had been gone
F. long while, and though she sent a messenger
4 for police officer ne gave uern0 hope of catch
/ Ing t8e thief or OF getting the things back.
Was there nothing else gonc?" the man
asked.
5rs. Chri5ty looked about her and discovered
one thing more, 4 counterfeit 50 bill. She had
had ii given TO her by some one year before,
aGa had found that il WIS worthless, and had
written across the hack, This is counterieit,"
1 and added her initials; and somehow she kept
it ia her work basket, The old man had spied
II with bis glis.euiGg black eyes, and had
/ helped himself TO il.
"At all events be can't pass it," laughed Mrs.
Christy; IS feel q little coHsoied when re-
member how provoked he viii be-"
He'll pass il somehow said the policeman,
as he walked away, promising to report the
/ case.
Bat Mrs. Christy, as she remembered that
4 the 0Vereoat that had been stolen was worth
$50, and the plated spoons II least $40, found it
I necessary 10 20 70 her own room and have q
! good cry. 1t was not so much the value OF the
lost articles rs the feeling that il was her fault,
and that her husband might possibly be so far
left 20 himself as to tell her so. At All events,
she would lose a little Of that fine character for
I good sense with which, to her great satisfac-
tioa, hc had endowed her
The day did not pass very pleasantly Call
ers cane, and she could nos help telling her
story bEt il was joke to the best-iutenfiOned
/ sle ie-t very much indeed Ike running away.
However, OF course sue was Obliged to stay.
/ Her daughters were paying visit 20 some
/ cousins, and there was no one else 10 preside
a- table. Besides she could only have put off
I the evil moiaent. SHc went upstairs ana got
out s8llg spoons she Kept lu reserve and waited
! Ter tHe impending moment. sine hoped tsat
her husband would ~ lessg be in good HUmgr,
and nyJ-wheu things went wrong With him
d IEtTtg cross
SIr. Christv. however, returned that evening
ID high COED humor Moreover, he had an
ovarcaat upon bis arm. Could IU b. that he
had come back for u after aHl aud the theft
had been limited 20 the spoons aud the g0un-
lgric5t bank ngteY
4 Thought you went without your coat,
she SAID, wilh q little rej0ic-ful leap Of the
heart as she seemed to rscogEize the garment
4 5y ITS form aud color.
Bat alr Cnrisfy laughed.
50 did, lie said. &" So J did. No, this il
new osat bought IL for William. BY son
HH.iaia is as tail as I am, aud nearly Is stout
aad tals ITS me snug- Msangiy. came across
it in queer way. il = quite bargain. Tou
see ii iJ0ks entirely new"
Yes, il certainly does" said Nrs. Chri5ty
and exactly axe yours, TOO dear Aren't
y0u jesting2"
% No, no, no" said her spouse. You know
I oaly bought mine a week ago. / presume il
e LlE ALAt1L SIS tEJ 1LiA ID lL44aH ilA5 none get
lie means 20 get . cheaper one. 80 to-day
. while 4 was Iu the O6lce, III walked al old
! u3aIi--a venerable old gentleman"
SIR. says he, / gul 4 man who does no
SAD himself getting on well aud am forced e
try going about among the gentlemen. am
tailor. / have made an expensive oyercoa
i3r q gentleman. Fifty dollars was the price
and he did not pay ule. So when ne had il Of
his back one day, said, Sir, pay me' And h'
said You may wait until / am ready" This
is sour honest Christian against poor jew
80 Yes, yes. said /, bat ! understand he haC
not true Christian principles, my good friend.
Very well, ! believe not said NY olC
man. But when this happened / exercised Ia
GINNING. / said to him
e" Very well sir, 1 win wait. Bat / SCI
4 there is button loose. / VIII lasteu it 70
E you. / have silk and needle here
AL, SAID he just like you 20 leave IL tina
way and Of comes the coat.
- You shall get 10 again the next day aftc
! never said I. 50 away I walked. ! woul
D sell It Tor $50, which j. very cheap"
{ i looked at the coat which be unlolde
Z froa' paper.
Guess it viii ct my son. said I. I'm tr
Z / il on aud well 4ee
r "s9it did.
Then. said !, 'now. yoa see, I do this t
z make uP 20 you, rs far as I can, for that othe
g fellow S rasc4llty.'
Tou are an honest gentleman, said hr
aud viii repay you by great bargain.
must sell my solid silver spoons. ] meant {
ueiJ them, not 10 expose ny poverty; but 80
shall have the dozen for $40
2 NeA. Of course i jumped st that M
z lbris-y here laid the spoons on the table
a aud 1 took out a little so dill.
q "' Forty said but he had something els
1 BY wife Is trying to sell her shawl, h
{. said.
= d" Well, / looked at the shawl be shook ou
= "' You shall nave il for S5, as a sample
% nay generosity he said
= Well knew you'd like it, my dear
iI looks like the one I used TO admire you
: when ] C0urted you-red center, eashmel
y border" and Mr.. Chrsty shook cut the folds
the old shawl Mrs. Christy had exchanged f,
the vases that morning. She knew that ;
once. She could not mistake it, But as 81
90 looked at her husband beamiDg and twinkIiu
with good bulnOr, she could not bear to ut,
~ the truth outright.
Thirty for the coat aud ten for the spoons
- be said, merriiy, and FIVE for the shawl: an
Il this is ali j have out Of my little $50 bill. P0,
- Old fellow! The last five be had in the wor
he said. Hullo! What is this?" Ar. Chris
put on his glasses and looked at the bill Yol
name is written on il IN red ink. my dear.
q Caroline CAristy. All, This is counterfeit
u- Why, what IN thunder "-
he Oh e. cried William, at this moment ente
he ing at the door. That's a bill mother took