The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-12-14

sewing. But Mr.. Winthrop was busy man
and after the picture was done it was long
time, nearly year, before he came again.
One day the carriage brought him once
more. The Archers were both at home
MIR. Archer was at work just then or
portrait of pretty child with blue eyes and
sunny hair, dressed in black velvet. They
had very pleasant half hour together, and
then Mr.. Winthrop rose to go.
"Oh, by the way" he said, as he stood by
the door, "it just occurs to me that have
coat here. | forgot it when went away
That was iavorte coat of mine. If you
can lay your hand on 1t now, without trouble
I'll take it."
ooh, surely" said Mrs. Archer.
"lll let Alexander get it," said Mr. Archer
"Coat?" said Alexander, when he was
summoned in, "coat?"-I wish could give
you his voice. as well as his words the
strong melancholy in its tones, and faint
Elusive accent, too faint and too Elusive to
be represent at all in type
Don't you remember the Prince Albert
coat had here Alexander :" asked Mr. Win.
throp.
Seems if did, now" said Alexander,
bowling his head, little on one side, at short
intervals, and looking steadily at his own
boots. "Seemss if | recalls that coat, an
YET
ooh yes, Alexander" said Mr. Archer, "of
course you remember that coat. Go and
look for it. 1t must be here somewhere"
Alexander shambled about the studio,
looking not only in the closets, but in all
sorts of impossible places, under chairs and
behind boxes and pictures. Then he went
shutfling through the other rooms, nosily
opening drawers, inspecting shelves, looking
into trunks.
| NJ l.
while, and the talk ran on again. But Mrs.
Archer exchanged looks with her husband.
Alexander returned after short time.
81 can't seem to fin no coat about" he
said, bowling and bowling. and looking at the
floor, and the ceiling, and the pictures, and
everywhere but at Mr.. Archer. "Somefin
must have happened to that coat"
81 will look for it myself, Alexander" said
Mrs Archer, in n tone of displeasurc, and so
she departed and looked through the draw
ers and trunks and closets, but with no bet
Ter results.
"Well, Mr.. Winthrop" she said, as she
came back, "thcre certainly is something
mysterious about the disappearance of that
coat | cannot find il. But we will have a
thorough search for it, and will send it to
you.
SO Mr.. Winthrop went rolling away in his
carriage.
alexander" said Mrs. Archer when he
was gone, "don't you remember that coat Mr..
Winthrop left here?"
"Coat?' said Alexander, bending his head
on one side and beginning to bow, why, yes,
| do rtmemb' that coat perf'ly"
"And did you really look for it Just now
| as hard rs you know how?"
"Well," said Alexander, as if weighing
bis words very carefully, swell, now, not just
as hard as l has sometimes done things ;
well, no."
"And did you really expect to find it
where you looked?"
"Well, now" said the old man, Gus where
looked, why no, can't say did expec' to
see it JUS there"
alexander" said Mrs. Archer, in severe
tone, II believe you have never told me
falsehood. Do you know where that coat
is?"
well, now," he said, Il suppose l do
know where that coat is, well, yes"
why, am shocked, Alexander" said
Mrs. Archer. "Where is it? Who has it?"
Have you sold itg"
"No."
No."
30, Alexander, have you been wearing
that beautiful coat?"
well, now Mis- Archer" said Alexander,
looking her in the face now, and holding up
two black hands with their white palms to-
ward her, "if you will pause moment, l
wish to say a few words to save my character
from sacrilege. have not wore that coat"
"Who did?"
"Well, Mis- Archer, Mr.. Archer have that
very coat on hissef, this very minute"
Alexander's feelings here overcame him,
and he turned and fled to the kitchen.
Mr.. Archer tore eff his coat and looked at
the tailor's name.
~ never had him make me coat" he said.
"Why, this docs look like the coat, to be
sure. But it looks like my coat, too, only
great deal better
20 Waldo p was all Mrs. Archer could
say, as she sank into her low wicker chair.
Don't you remember" he said, half laugh
ing and half in CONSERVATION, that have
said several times lately that must be grow
ing stout, my coat was getting so tight?"
Mrs. Archer mold d and laughed again.
From the kitchen came faint smoker. 1t
was the first time they had ever known Alex
ander to give away to levity.
~ shall sit right down and write to Mr..
Winthrop, said Mr.. Archer, finally. Il can't
send him the coat now, but I'll tell him III
paint him picture to console him for his
loss"
And lie did Youths Companion.
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