The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-12-19

'lhat your 1dea or lofeiy, enf ois-
dainfully retorted Tom. "Well, old
Ausdale wants the fiimsy stuff embroid-
cred in the sprawly pattern with these
silks, or crewels, or whatever you call
'em, Just as soon as he can have 'em
finished. And he'll pay $50 for the job,
material found"
Cecily looked rather doubtfully at the
pale yellow fabric
ITS no very liberal price for three
yards of such embroidery" she said.
Tom made hideous face.
"Lid you ever yet know old Ausdale
topay a very liberal price for anything2"
asked he.
"But it's better than nothing, I sup.
posef" reluctantly added Cecily.
'Take it or leave it." said Tom.
s'That's what old Auzy remarked in that
winning way of his"
''Of course I must take it," said
Cecily. There's no other work in
prospect, and my time Just at present is
worth only what it will bring"
"Hc wants it as soon as you can finish
It," added Tommy.
C., cry WELL" sighed Cecily.
And she lighted the big double. burner
lamp and set diligently to work to out
line the pattern.
But few nights afterward Tommy
flung open the door of the room. and,
instead of entering it afte" the ordinary
prosaic style, turned somersault into
the presence of his sister.
Cecily gave a start that pr.cked her
finger seriously.
"No blood drops on the yellow
slimpsy flimsy "yelled Tommy. "lt's
deal too valuable for that. That's right,
Sis, keep your finger in your mouth.
I want to talk. rre made discovery"
''How you startled me, Tomw
"Wasn't startled, though, a good
bit! Just listen till tell you. / took
two boxes of lace fr;l's to old Auzy's
house this afternoon for miss, the royal
princess, to choose from, and while was
waiting I heard lady say in the next
room: t,h. what gem! An Oriental
landscape, isn't it? Palm trees and
travellers drinking at q well?' You may
guess pricked up my ears when I heard
miss, the royal, answer: It's piece Of
rare old tapestry that papa got through
his agent at Constantinople. 1t used TO
be wall decoration In the boudoir of
one of the Pasha's wives, and it was
brought here at the risk of an Egyptian
slaves life Eh2 What do you think
of that for rousing big lies"
"You don't mean, Tom"
eyes, 1 do, too! 1t was your piece of
work, Sis. tiptocd close to the door
and peepcd in, and there it was. hung
over the top an ebony easel. Didn't it
look stunning, thougal 1 IL say that for
old Aury-he knows a good piece OF
work when he sees it."
"But, Tommy"
"I.isten-you haven't heard all. Miss
Ausdale was talking thirteen to the
dozen, and says she: Don't hint it to
your brother, dear Miss Thorneycroft,
but remember how devoted he was to
relics of Eastern ancientry like this.
and there is large piece of en-
broidery on old Persian silk coming
through the Custom House now-and
papa says your brother shall have the first
refusal of it. It's over hundred years
old, but the agent at Constantinople says
it is in wonderful order, and much the
same pattern as this. 1t has hung for
century in the Mosque of ST. Sofia. 1t
belonged to the widow of Emin Bey,
and her descendants were induced to
part with it on condition no ono should
know it had left the country. Three
yards long and in perfect preservation!
And papa will let Mr.. Thorneycroft have
it as a good favor for $400. One must
make sacrifices, you know, for ones
clergyman. Oh, but I can't remember
the half of what she said," breathlessly
added Tommy. 'And old Miss Thor.
neycroft kissed her and said she would
never forget her kindness, and might
she have it to surprise the parson with
as Christmas gift9 And so they struck
the bargain. And don't you see, Sis, this
piece of yellow stuff you are working at
sen is TO ma >e $500 for old Auzy, be-
sides lot of credit for generosity and
artistic Judgment and all that sort OF
thing"
ut is cheatingm cried out Cecily.
"That's the way it looks to me-, said
Tommy.
81 will never let Miss Thorneycroft's
kind heart be imposed upon in that sort
of way.
81 don't see how you can help it."
''But will help it." exclaimed Cecily,
her cheeks red, her breath coming thick
and fast.
It was three weeks afterward that
Miss Eudora Ausdac was ushered into
Miss Thorneycroft's sitting room at the
parsonage" In her hand she carried q
parcel; on her face were smiles sweeter
than honey.
"I'vc brought it, dear Miss Thorney-
croft" said she. "Papa said it was too
prec ous to intrust it to menial hands"
drought what2' bluntly asked Miss
Thorneycroft, who was maiden lady of
an on uncertain age.
"The precious piece of old English
embroidery"
THAT belonged to Emin's Bey's great
grandmother"
His widow" she sweetly explained.
"Papa-"
II am much obliged to you," said
Miss Thorneycroft, transixing Eudora
with her eye. .glas,cd orbs. "But you
needn't take the trouble to undo the
parcel I've seen the needle work be-
fore"
"But dear Miss Thorneycroft-"
cat the house where that dear little
Cecily Teller was embroidering it. 1
called there while it was on her frame,
and she told me its history, likewise that
of the J asha's wifc's tapestry that in
volyed such peril to the Egyptian slave.
But you needn't have taken the trouble
to invent that story about Emin Bey's