Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-28
PRICE OF TWO VASES.


when he politely requested her to see if
she had any ''old clo'es to change for
some splendid vases" she allowed him to
sit down while she went up stairs to rum
mage, and came down with some old gar
ments of her husbands and one of those
old ''Stella shawls, " which certainly she
never should wear again, unless it was at
night, for they went out Of fashion before
she was married.
1t came to her mind that she was fool
ish to leave a 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 remembering that the spoons
were in the pantry and the pantry I'M
locked. 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 vases-good limitations
of very costly ones-were lovely. She car
ried them into the spare room, and they
made the mantel piece quite a different
thing. Returning to the dining room,
however, a shock awaited her. Her hus-
bands oyercoat, which he had unwisely
left at home that day, because it was I'M
usually warm, was gone from its peg on
the hall rack, and, opening the pantry
door, she saw that the spoons were gone
with it. They were only plated. but no
one likes to lose anything in that way.
Besides, she felt greatly to blame for it.
The old man had been gone long while,
and, though she sent 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 dis
covered one thing more, a counterfeit SIS
bill. She had had it given to her by some
one year before, ana had found that it
was Wort HESS, 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 had spied
it with his glistenfng black eyes, and had
helped himself to it.
"At ali events he can't pass il, laughed
Mrs. Christy; 81 feel q little consoled
when I remember how provoked he will
be-
"He'n pass it somehow" said the po-
Hceman, as he walked away, promising to
report the case.
But Mrs. Christy, as she remembered
that the overcoat that had been stolen
was worth $40, and the plated spoons at
least $40 found it necessary to go to her
own room and have good cry. Ii was
not so much the value of the lost articles
as the feeling that il was her fault, and
that her husband might possibly be so far
left to himself as to tell her SO. At all
ha lncn nf irla
character for good sense with which, to
her great satisfaction, he had endowed
her.
The day did not pass very pleasantly.
Callers came, and she could not help tell
ing her story, but it was a joke to the
best intentioned among them; and, as the
dinner hour approached, 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. Besides, she
could only have put of the evil moment
She went upstairs and got out some
spoons she kept in reserve. and waited for
the impending moment. She hoped that
her husband would, at least, he in good
humor, and not - when things went
wrong with him-a little cross.
Mr.. Christy, however. returned that
evening in high good humor. Moreover,
he had an overcoat upon his arm. Could
it be that he had come back for ii, after
all, and the theft had been limited to the
SPOONS and the counterfeit bank note?
II thought you went without your
coat" she said. with little reioiceful
leap of the heart, Us she seemed to recog-
nize the garment by its form and color.
But Mr.. Christy laughed.
$50 did, he said. 80 I did. No,
this is new coat. l bought it for Will
lam. My son William is as tall as l am
and nearly as stout, and this fits me
snugly-snugly. l came across it in
queer way. " is quite bargain. You
See, it looks entirely new"
'Yes, it certainly does" said Mrs
Christy, land exactly like yours, too,
dear. Aren't you jesting;'
''No, no, no." said her spouse. "You
know l only bought mine a week ago.
presume ii is the newest style, and Will
lam has none yet He means 10 get
cheaper one. So today, while | was in
the Office, in walked an old mana ven
cradle old gentleman"
Sir says he, i am man who does
not find himself getting on well and am
koANeu ~ NY gong dDOul aillouS lIle sen
tlemen. am tailor. l have made an
expensive overcoat for gentleman. Fifty
dollars was the price and be did not pay
me. So when ne had it on his back one
day / said: Sir, pay me" And he said:
''You may wait until am ready" This
Is your honest Christian against q poor
jew
eyes, yes said I. but understand he
had not true Christian principles, my
good friend
Every well, believe not said my old
man. But when this happened l exer-
cised my cunning. / said to him:
every well, sir, viii wait But I see
there is a button loose. will fasten i,
for you. I have silk and needle here
".Ah,' said he. just like you to leave
it that way and off comes the coat.
".You shall get it again the next day
after never said I. So away l walked,
/ would sell it for $50 whtasi is very
cheap.
Il looked at the coat which he unfolded
from paper.
Guess it will fit my son. said l. IN
try it on and we'll see.'
$50 il did
Then said I, now. you see. do
TINS to make up TO you, as far as can,
for that other fellows rascality.'
You are an honest gentleman said
he. and / will repaY you by great har-