The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-11-21
Now the coat WAS a handsome ono.

Alexander had seen handsome clothes in
his day, at the South, and he noticed this
one as soon as it appeared on the scene.
The material was rich diagonal, and it
was lined and faced with expensive silk,
and fitted like glove.
When Mr.. Winthrop went away that
day, he left the coat.
II will leave it." he said. s1 should
be sure to forget to bring it every time."
Alexander wrapped the coat up and
put it away on a closet shelf.
After that Mr.. Winthrop came nearly
every Wednesday, for a good many
weeks, and then the portrait was finished
at last, and was sent away. 1t made
line picture. Mr.. Winthrop was a tall,
well.built man, with strong, vigorous
face little flushed, and bushy head OF
hair just beginning to turn gray, and
Mr.. Archer had caught his best ex-
preston perfectly. Every one who saw
it was delighted.
Mr. Winthrop and Mr.. Archer had be-
come very good friends, and Mrs. Archer
had fallen into the way of sitting in the
studio while the work was going on, with
her painting or sewing. But MIR.
Winthrop was busy mau, and after the
picture was done it was long time
nearly year-before he came again.
One day the carriage brought him
once moe. The Archers were both at
home. Mr.. Archer was at work Just
then on a port! ait of pretty child with
blue eyes and sunny hair, dressed IN
black velvet. They had u very pleasant
hal!-hour together, and then MIR. Win
throp rose to go.
"Oh, by the way" he said. as he stood
by the door, sit just occurs to me that /
ha coat here. I forgot it when |
went away. That was a favorite coat of
mine. if you can lay your hand on it
now, without trouble. I'll take it."
ooh, surely, said Mr.. Archer.
"I'll let Alexander get it," said MrN.
Archer.
Goat" said Alexander when he was
summoned in, "Coat?"-I wish could
give you his voice, as we'll as his words,
the strong melancholy in its tones, and
o faint, illusive accent,-too faint and
too Elusive to be- represented at all in
type.
''Don't you remember the Prince AL
bert coat had here, Alexanderf" asked
Mr. Winthrop.
"Seems's if I did, now," said Alexan-
der, bowing his head, little on one
side, at short intervals, and looking
steadily at his own boots. "Seems's If !
recalls that coat, an YETI
"Oh yes, Alexander" said Mr.. Arch
er, sof 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 shutting through the
other rooms, noi>ily opening drawers, in
specting shelves, looking into trunks.
Mr.. Winthrop resumed his seat, mean
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, bowing and bowling, and look
ing at the floor, and the ceiling, aad the
pictures, and everywhere but at Mr..
Archer. "Somefn must have happened
to that coat"
81 will look for itmyself, Alexander"
said Mrs. Archer, in tone of displeas-
ure, and so she departed and looked
through the drawers and trunks and
closets, but with no better results.
well, Mr.. winthrop" she said, as
she came back, "there certainly is some
thing mysterious about the disappearance
of that coat. Icannot find it. But we
will have thorough search for it, and
will send it to you"
So Air. Winth op went rolling away
in his carriage"
ALEXANDER" said Mrs. Archer, when
he was gone, don't you remember that
coat Mr.. Winthrop left here"
''Coati" sad Alexander, bending his
head on one side and beginning to bow,
why, yes, l do rememb that coat
perf'iy."
"And did you really look for 1t just
now as hard as you knew how?"
"Well," said Alexander, as if weigh
ing his words very carefully, "well, now,
moi 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, ''jus'
where l look, why, no, can't say did
expec' TO see it us there"
''Alexauder," sad Mrs. Archer, in a
severe tone, II believe you have never
told me falsehood. Do you know
where that coat is?"
"Well, now," he said, ~ suppose do
know where that coat is, well, yes"
"Why, l am shocked, Alexander"
said Mrs. Archer. "Where is it2 Who
has lt2 Have you sold ita"
"No."
"Given it away"
NO."
so, Alexander, have you been wear.
ing that beautiful coata"
"Well, now Mis- Archer" said Alex.
ander, looking her in the face now, and
holding up two black hands with their
white palms toward her, eff you will
pause momene, l wish to say few
words to save my character from sacri-
lege. 1 have not wore that coat"
'tWho didw
"Well, Mis- Archer, Mr.. Archer have
that very coat on hisself, this very
minutel"
Alexander's feelings here overcame
him, and he turned and fed to the
kitchen.
Mr.. Archer tore off his coat and looked
at the tailor's name.
Il never had h m make me a coat"
be said. "Why, this does look like