Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-03-21

might be messenger from some dealer,
said that | would see the man. On en-
tering the room where he WIS, l saw a tall
fair young mau of about twenty-seven
His clothes were somewhat worn, al d he
had delicate expression. He held in hi:
hand brown paper parcel.
II have book here" he said, which
should like MIR. Morgan TO see, as he has
oeen mentioned TO NE "a party who
might be wiling to buy it."
Having said .his, he took from the
brown paper my unole's "Flrst Folio" aud
placed it in my trembling hands.
THANK heayenln | exclaimed in an OK.
cited tone, while the young man looked at
me in surprise.
This Is Mr.. Morgan's own copy" ]
continued: ut was lost three days ago
and | was afraid il had been stolen. When
you spoke of selling it, you wished, OF
course, to see whether | would idenhfyi 1t.
90. and so will Mr.. Morgan. But YOU
shall have your reward; stay till return"
Aud off went with the shakespeare, "
nor was | content till | had looked IL in
the cabinet, whore 10 WAS usually kept.
then went TO get some money and re.
AAA AAA ~ - lNN Az W AAAt MAUI L q my RS
constituent found he was gone, and a
servant told me that he had left she house
very hurriedly. He certainly did not sp-
pear to be an individual who would be
above accepting reward. That, how.
ever, was a trivial matter, and gave me
little concern IN the midst OF my intense
citation.
AS soon rs my uncle came back | put
the First Folio" into his hands. The
time had not yet come when l thought
it proper that he should learn the truth
noticed that my uncle was examining the
book very carefully, fearful 1 supposed,
lest it had received any injury. At last
he looked at me with cunning express
sion, and said in low tone:
Do you know this isn't my oopyp
Not yoursSF exclaimed in surprise
and alarm.
Me-" replied my uncle, sit is not the
one bought, and is still more perfect
copy, The title page in my shake
speare' WAS tori in one corner; in this il
is absolutely without 0aw. The first
pages Of Hamlet we're foxed' in my
copy, but here they are "a clean as when
they we're printed. | know what has
happened" continued my uncle, with an.
other cunning glance toward me, "a
and his friends have been comparing my
Shakespeare with some others and my
name has become detached, 40 they have
been mixed. The man who has got mine
is probably noae the wiser, and will be
just as well satisfied with it as with this,
and |, OF course, won't complain
Nov, although the reader may have
formed a contrary opinion, my uncle
when in the city was famed for upright
ness and for the probity OF all his deal
ln2s. IL wac only as collector, and
when doauug in scarce books, that he
81 metimes displayed laxity of honor
which distressed me. What had occurred
was clear to me. The book which was
now in my uucle's possession had been
stolen, and not the actual thief, bat re
setter, or messenger had come TO dispose
of it. Concluding from my words that
the boob had been stolen from my uncle,
aud under the belief that had gone for
policemen, the fellow had made his cs-
cape.
am sorry to relate that my uuces Ia.
terest in this fresh copy of the First
Folio" coupled with his devotion TO the
Shakespeareau question, proved iujuii-
Gus 10 his health, ana several weeks later
he Was seized with stroke of apoplexy
which proved fatal. | inherited all hi.
property, including his valuable collec-
ton OF rare books. From the time when
first conf ectured the truth regarding
the stolen book | resolved that ultimate
ly il would be restored TO It's owner. am
preserving 10 carefully, and | make this
opportunity OF stating that IL will be de
liyered to any one who Identifies IL ald is
aole to prove his claim; or, II he prefers
10. shall nave the book valued by Mr..
Quaritch aud purchase il at hIs estimate.
There Is another act OF restitution
which remains for me to do. have
said that ! was distressed by she thought
of having suppanted my fair cousin in
my uuole's will; but she has at last con
sented TO accept that roparation which
will give me the greatest satisfaction 10
bestow, SO il is probable that soon PEG
pie will once moro be making free OF my
name; and my friends will again find oo-
caoion to say that my luck is far beyond
my deserts.-J Crawford Scott in Bel
grayia.