Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-04-26
PRICE OF TWO VASES.

Wien the old poddIer came in at
the door with those extremely pretty
vases, Mrs. Christy felt that they were
the very things that she wanted in her
spare bedroom, and so, instead of
saying No when he politely request
ed her to see if she had any ''Old cloes
to change for some splendid vases"
she allowed him TO sit down while she
Went upstairs to rumma@c, and came
down witt some old garments of her
husbands and one Of those old "Stella
shawls, whicl certainly she never
ould wear again, unless it was at
NIGHT, for they went out Of fashion
before she Was married.
II came TO her mind that she was
foolish to leave Il stranger alone so
long, but the old man was sitting
quietly where she had left him, and
looked SO much like benevolent old
patriarch that she was ashamed of re-
momhering chat the spoons were in
the pantry and the pantry unlocked.
However, he was quite worldly enough
TO drive hard bargain, and TO the
coat, vest and shawl she had to add
gown that might very well have been
worn often again.
However, it was not ready money,
and she felt that the yases-@oOd imi-
tations of very costly ones-were love
". Sae carried them into the spare
room. and they made the mantel-piece
quite 4 different thing. Returning to
the dining-room, how ever, q shock
awaited her. Her husbands overcoat,
which he had unWisely left at home
that day, because it was unusually
warm, was gone from its peg on the
ball rack, and, opening the pantry
door, She saw that the spoons were
gone With it. They were only plated,
but no one likes 10 lose anything in
that way. Besides, she felt greatly to
blame for it. The old man had been
gone a long while, and, though she
sent a messenger for a police officer,
he gave her no hope of catching the
thief or of getting the things back.
WAS there nothing else gomez" the
man asked.
Mrs. Christy looked about her and
discovered one thing more, a counter
felt 50 bull. She mad had Il gwen 10
her by some one 4 year before, and
had found that it was worthless, and
had written across the back; This is
counterfeit" and added her initials;
and somehow she kept it in her work
basket. The old man haG spied it
with his glistening black eyes. and had
helped himself to it.
AT all events he can't pass it"
laughed Mrs. Christy. Il feel IL little
consoled when | remember how pro-
voked he will be"
Hell pass it somehow" said the
policeman, as he walked away, prom
ising TO report the ease.
But Mrs. Chrstv, rs she remam-
bered that the overcOat that had been
stolen was worth $40. and the plated
spoons at least $40. found it necessary
to 30 to her own room and have a
good cry. 1t was not SO much the
value of the lost articles as the feeling
that it was her fault, and tina her hus-
band might possibly be so far left to
himself as to tell her so. At all events,
she would lose a little of that fine
character for good sense with which,
to her great satisfaction, he had en-
dowed her.
The day did not pass very pleasant
". Callers came, and she could not
help telling her story, but it was
joke to the best-intentioned among
llSDl. anu, us the utHnCE uOuE aD-
preached, she felt very much indeed
like running away.
However, of course, she was obliged
to stay. Her daughters were paying
visit to some cousins, and there was
no one else to preside at table. Be-
sides, she could only have put off the
evil moment. She went up stairs aud
got out some spoons she kept in re-
serve, and waited for the impending
moment She hoped that her husband
would, at least, be in good humor, and
not-when things went wrong with
him-a little cross.
Mr.. Christy, however, returned that
evening in high good humor. More
over, he had an overcoat upon his
arm. Could it he that he had come
back for it, after all, and the thief
had been limited to the spoons and
the counterfeit bank note?
Il thought you went without your
coat, she said, with little reioiceful
leap of the heart, rs she seemed to
recognize the garment by its form and
~olor.
But Mr.. Christv laughed.
so did," he said. $50 did. No.
that is new coat. I bought it for
William. My son William is as tall
as l am, and nearly as stout, and this
fits me snugly-snugly. came across
it in queer way. 1t is quite bar
gain. You see it looks entirely new"
Yes, it certainly does" said Mrs.
Christy, land exactly like yours, too,
dear. Aren't you jesting?'
mo, no, no, said her spouse. ''You
know only bought mine week ago.
presume it is the newest style, and
William has none yet. He means to
get a cheaper one. So to-day, while 1
was in the office, in walked an old
mana venerable old gentleman.
Sir says he, 4 am a man who
does not find himself getting on well
and am forced to try coin@ about