Frostburg mining journal., 1890-06-28

81 have no money, and 7 do not wan,
any of your wares" said spiritlessly.
"Ah but you do not know what
splendid article have here, " he persist
ed, loosening the strap which passed
across his shoulder, and lowering the
precious, package to the floor. A pair of
real Wedgewood faiences. Oh, don't
shake your head ma'am; | shan't charge
you anything for looking at them, you
know. I'm certain you are an artist
all the ladies are born artists-and this
is something quite out of the ordinary
run.
And with a succession of mods and
grins he unstrapped pair of really very
pretty blue vases, nearly 2 feet high, and
ornamented with raised garlands in
white.
"Only Sc pair, ma a'am," said he.
sDirt cheap. positively giving them
away at that price"
81 have not Sc to spare, 1 replied in
differently.
at is great bargain, ma'am," he in
sisted.
Il do not want them." said.
He was silent few seconds.
"Tm sorry, ma am, he said. "They'd
be a great decoration for a house like
this. But if you really won't buy, it
would be doing me great favor to al
low them to remain here until to-mor-
row. I've long tramp before me, and
I'm not going to any place where think
they'd be likely to buy anything of this
sort I'll set them back by the chimney
piece. ma am, where they won't be in any
body's way. I'm very tired with carry
ing them."
felt sorry for the poor iaded wretch
so | made no objection. And when he
was gone the vases did make the room
look wonderfully pretty. | could not
but wish they We're mine.
Obadiah perceived them at once when
he came home to tea.
Hello, what does this mean?" he
asked
So told him, adding
Il only wish that could afford them
they are so handsome.
Obadiah walked around and around
them. with his brows knit thoughtfully
and his hands in his pockets.
"Yes, they're pretty" said he. But
they are not perfect"
"Not perfect" echoed.
"Not by any means. Don't you see
that lengthwise crack down one? And
the end of the little raised rosebud is
Clipped off on the other. | hope you
didn't do it, Josie?" with sudden glance
of apprehension.
81? Certainly mott" I cried. "Why,
I haven't so much as. touched the
things!"
"Then I dare say it's all right" said
Obadiah.
And we sat down to supper.
The next day, however, my friend,
the china vender, came along, smiling
and obsequious as ever.
"There are your vases" said, "just
where you left them"
But all at once he broke out into q
storm of reproach and obloquy. They
had been cracked and damaged in my
care. They We're perfect-absolutely per-
fect-when he left them there the day
before. had worked the mischief, and
I was of course responsible for the value
of the articles.
OF course l knew that the rascal was
telling falsehood; but what could do ?
l was alone in the house and fairly terri
fed by the ferocity of the man.
you must pay me for them, he reit-
Grated again and again, "or l will have
you arrested at once"
l burst into tears.
"How can pay you?" l said. "The
vases were damaged when you left them
here. And, beside, I have not S5-no,
nor Sin the house." Which was true
enough.
While I spoke he had been glancing
furtively around.
81 don't want to be hard with you,
ma'am," he said. "Of course a poor
man like me has got to save himself from
loss, and if you'll let me have that set OF
blue and white India china in the dresser,
I'll leave the vases, and we'll say no more
about it. "
1t went to my heart to part with the
India ware, which had been a'relic of my
mothers housekeeping days. but was
so terrified by the mans bullying man.
ner that l believe would have given him
the house over my head if he had asked
for it, and he went away, leaving the
beautiful vases on the floor.
How glad was to see Mrs. Meggs come
cheerfully in half hour afterwards
good motherly old soul, with silver spec
tacles, and an elderly dimple still linger-
ing on her cheek.
"Why, my dear, what is the matter?" d"
she asked.
told her all.
"But, my dear" she said, show came
you to be so taken in? There was an ar
ticle in the paper last week warning
everybody against this very impostor.
Didn't you see it? 1t was called THE
Vase Swindler.'"
colored deeply and hung my head.
"We have stopped taking the paper, ?" I
said. "Obadiah thought we couldn't
afford -"
"And your beautiful china, tool" said
Mrs Meggs. "Why, there was half a
column in the paper, week before last,
about the value of old china just now.
And by what it stated your set of India
ware must have been worth S20 at least >
Twenty dollars! And | had frittered
.hem away for pair of wretched,
cracked, tawdry vases, of the very sight
Of which was already sick.
MY dear" said Mrs. Meggs, "your
IDEAS of economy are altogether mis-.
placed. You should read the papers.
Obadiah went and subscribed for the