Wichita eagle., 1890-03-05

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up the stun walls on the place"
Capt. Midget had commanded the Nancy
Belle, fishing schooner which cruised from
Maine to Florida, and during one of his voy.
ages he had fallen in with the captain of G
/ Turkish vessel, and allowed himself 10 be
tempted into the far regions OF the golden
east.
After that all record ceased, except that
| now and then q rumor hoated back of the
captains having been seen by stray travellers
| seated cross legged Oh e cushion, smoking a
prodigious chibouque. in the companionship
Of turbaned dignitaries and salaaming slaves
But Of all this the captain would bear no
testimony.
Il did stay east a SPELL" was all that he
| would say, but can't say liked it,"
the captains favorite niece, Lucy Ostron,,
came down from Buckingham to live with
him, and settle his house.
Il don't want things no different from what
they be, said the thankleSs mariner.
"Oh, but you can't live 50, uncle.n said
Mrs. Ostrom. And Nathan would just as
lief come down and live here, as to work in
the shoe factory at Buckingham"
A sharp attack Of genuine Connecticut
rheumatism accentuated Mrs Gstroms adj
vice, and Capt. Ezekiel made no further OBJ
lection to the plan.
"Lucy's good creetur'," said he. II guess
Ill let her have her own way"
''Uncle, is it true9n Mrs. Ostrom asked. one
day.
''Is what truep retorted the old man, slowly,
rubbing his swelled fingers with pine scented
liniment.
about your having genuine cashmere
shawl that once belonged to a great begun
in Wahwallah, in Indias"
ayes, it's true" said Capt. Ezekiel.
ooh, uncle, where is iti''
~ left it in the bonded warehouse in New
York" answered the old man.
'Was it very pretty, uncleF'
'Wal, it wasn't bad TO look at.n
Mrs. Ostrom's bright blue eyes sparkled.
"How l should like to see it!'
''Guess likely you would" was the dry re-
joinder.
''Unclel"
"WalY"
What are you going to do with it:n
Capt. Ezekiel screwed up his face.
wal, | was calculatin' to hev it sold at
auction at Buckingham, Friday week." he
answered, slowly. st orter'd fetch deal o.
money, that shawl. It's all sorts O. colors and
that fine ye can dror it through weddin'
ring, if so be ye've mind to-
Dear mel" said Mrs Ostron.
The fame Of the begum's shawl spread all
through the place Every woman in Bidding
Center had some question to ask, or some
statement to make in regard to it. Not a soul
but secretly determined to put in bid for
the treasure.
ats too bad you've had such i'll luck this
year, Nathan" said Mrs Ostrom, with tears
in her eyes, I'D ha' liked that ere shawl"
well. well, Lucy, faint everybody can
have what they want in this world,n said
honest Nathan.
But in his secret heart he determined to
draw his slender balance out OF the Bidding
ham Savings bank, and have try for the
prize coveted SO ardently by his hard worked
wife
Her brother, Squire Samuel Grips, also
made the same resolve.
Lucy shall hev that shawl If money;l buy
itn said he. 'She'S always wanted shawl.
Mis- Grips, she's too short and stout for that
sort of thing, or else | guess she'd strike for
the begum's shawl, too"
Printed circulars relating to the eastern
treasure were tackled up on ali the corner
stores and upon the trees in front Of the school
houses, churches and toll gates, and when at
last the all important day arrived, there was
a crowd almost equal to that which was won't
to assemble on the occasion OF camp meetings
and circuSeS.
Squire Samuel Grips had authorized Bella
Smith to bid or his behalf
Mr.. Ostrom, unwilling to be identified by
his wife, engaged little Miss Peck, the dress
maker, TO represent his interests
Other householders, maidens and matrons,
were there assembled. each and all deter
mined to possess themselves OF the scented
Oriental treasure, which they then beheld for
the first time
a visible thrill passed through the throug
as Jethro Dulnbleby, the village auctioneer,
held up the richly hued fabric
Come, genelmen an ladies' bawled Jeth-
TO, "here's shawl worn by the lady of the
president o them eastern kentries an worth
its weight in gold Here's the Begun Rad
jee's shawl Look at it-feei it. Come. gen.
elnen an ladies, who'll start the begum's
shawl as il orter be started =
Fifty dollarsi' bawled Dr. Drummond.
who was supposed TO have made a fortune in
natural gas in Pennsylvania
Sixty" hoarsely shouted Mr. Nudge. the
dry goods man.
''Seventyln piped Miss Peck
'EightyIn yelled Bella Smith.
From this the bidding ran up. after most
spirited fashion, to two-three-four hundred
dollars. There 1t stood for s while until DR.. j
Drummond, with desperate effort, raised it /
to five hundred
Mr.. Nudge whispered with his wife. and |
nodded 10 the auctioneer to make il SIX
Miss Peck withdrew, in obedience 10 dis |
arited signal from Mr.. Ostrom.
Seven hundred, : said the squire in bold /
defiance Of Mrs. Grips negative shakes OF /
the head.
''Seven hundred aud fifty said Mr. Jsn- /
kins, of Jenkins Hall.
''One thou - sandH bawled Nicodenus i
Slote, a recently prosperous resident. vino had /
built a rubber factory N toe ravine under /
the hill
A dead silence fell on all the crowd With /
one accord they stared az Mr. Slote, who !
stood there sleek, smooth shsyen and smiling
his hat on the back Of his kead, his hands .
thrust into his pockerS-Midas IN Nine i
teeuth century costume /
"One thousand doEarSis md for this price
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