The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-18
THE MORNING NEWS: SUNDAY. FEBRUARY Is. 1891

love.
He found himself actually nodding IA
miliarly to the old newswoman, budding,
freezing and mumbling about the door
ways and wind-swept corners of the great
newspaper edihces; giving CHEEKY saluta-
lions 10 clerks, messengers, pOrters and
carriers, who rushed and tumbled about
him; and even arranging his books on his
little table, which he set alongside the
Sun building on Frankfort street, while
whilsting away as blithely as though all
his life an agile and cunning participant
in the canny shifts and cruel articles of
the street. This strangely buoyant mood
carried him brave enough through a bit
ter winter day, almost TO its night, with
out single sale, and, so kindly disguis-
ing was the Irish frieze, more luckily
without recognition by any friend
Soon the cOmfOrta ole looking men of
this locality began leaving the great ONCE
buildings for their homes. Then a chubby
checked, jolly-looking editor of the Press
passed his stand, turned, glanced along
the titles of the books, handed Dick three
crisp bank notes for an illuminated
Homer" and went his way A half a
dozen lawyers or insurance men or capt.
taiists followed. An annotated copy of
Byron" went to one of these and Hal
lam's Constitutional History of England"
was taken by another. The Lives of
Vic lAJlN NuduC6llOlo NtuG W a famous
corporation lawyer. MIR Pulitzer stroll
ling past from the World building,
caught up and carried away "Alonzo
and Melissa" One of the Tribune
editors fancied rare old edition of Rous-
ieau's "Eloisa." Somebody from the
Times wished the Lancashire Witches"
aud when a certain venerable editor from
the almost historic room above his head
descended to the street, buttoned his
great coat close up around his long. white
beard, caught sight of the little stall,
and, with the bland remark "Book sell
ing is an honorable calling, sirl" handed
the young merchant a S20-bill for a
bright, clean copy of the rare "Burck-
hardt's Arabian Proverbs, " and then with
q stately Good night, sir!" slowly trun-
died away. Dick could contain his unre-
straina BILE excitement alone no longer
He clutched his books, snapped to-
gether the little table, sped to the ele-
waited railway station, fidgeted impa-
tiently all the way to his own station,
rushed down the stairs, paid the grocer,
the butcher, the milkman, ordered coal bv
the ton with outlandish house supplies on
his way, rang up Mrs Rasper with
furious hilarity, clapped the overdue rent
in her hand with bang and flourish,
with something besides for herself and
her children; and scrambling up the
stairs frantically, came to his own door
and Dots trembling, outstretched arms
like a whirlwind Of Joy and triumph;
owing no man penny with his days lot
of books still halfiunsold; and roll of
bills in his hand which it took the whirl-
ing heads and misting eyes of these two
tried souls long and happy time to
count!
After the first wild intoxication of sue
cess, there was little reaction in Dicks
spirits and trade. Books were often re-
turned, or exchanged. Even fsticufs
were occasionally necessary to protect
his pocket and stall. The winter wind
swept cruelty around that particular
corner from the open park spaces, down
past the dismal arches of the bridge, to
the great river beyond; and chillier and
more cutting far were the stealthy, con
temptuous glances of old acquaintance
among the passing throng. But he bore
1t all with positive bravery. If impu-
dent curiosity pressed him too closely he
would deity parry it with, "Sh-h-h
Making practical literary study. There's
fine set of Bacon STRIP which was all
true enough, poor fellow! in this one
region of the great city, where quarter
million souls pass and repass each day
and night, where the thunder of the
presses is never still, where more as
founding extremes of competence and
poverty and tremendous intellect and be-
sotted ignorance. eddy and whirl, and
crash together than in any other single
place beneath the sun.
Then there were the compensations in
character study among those who came
and nibbled at his books, tarrying and
chattering or brusquely purchasing and
going their several ways; and he found
himself unconsciously acquiring exact
ness in estimate of motive, intention and
secret purpose on the part of those Who
prefaced their paltry hagglings with for
givable pretense; while a ready di-
plomacy, on his part, grew without effort
into fine and nice corresponding adjust
ment; the inexorab BILE difference between
art in theory and the art that grows
polished aud powerful from use
One visitor only puzzled him. This was
lady; lady plainly but richly clad,
erect, splendidly poised as if conscious of
physical and mental strength with firm,
fine face that might have been a Portia s
or Jurlst' S, so expressive or impressive
could 1t at once become, and with large
gray eyes which looked straight at one
! for a straight response, and seemed sure to
| tinality of every possible shading of his
tOric, art, associative and actual value, of
any book upon his stand, without once
| opening its lids.
! He had grown to notice her coming
| along Nassau street, and almost without
/ looking, to know that she frequented the
| large book stalls of that ancient thor
! Oughfare A few times she had paused
! before the little collection moment, and
| then, with a slight inclination of her
| head, had disappeared in the direction of
the Bridge approach.
One bitter cold day he turned from his
usual exercise of kicking the foundations
/ of the Sun building to keep his feet from
/ freezing, to see her standing in her sables
beside his stall. Her purse was open as
! II she was about to purchase. 1t was the
/ first time he had seen her hesitate, and
| he believed her incapable of hesitation.
Il beg your pardon, sir; am in error -
! she said quietly, slipping her fingers dex-
trously under the lid and disclosing the
title-page of "Baazac." I was under the
/ impression that this was first edition. a."
! 1t put Richard Hardy on his nettle, for
he was now sure he was dealing with an
/ astute collector of books.
This triie madam, might interest
( you," he observed with some dignity,
while proffering Dots little mascot curio.
/ She thanked him, took the little book
/ in her hands and turned its parchment
leaves as leisurely as ever the Grand
Monarch had done, but her gray eyes and
now impressive face gave no betrayal of
interest, while Dick silently FURNISHED
/ his glasses and his wits of diplomacy,
/ awaiting some sign.
Have You fixed its price, sir}'
/ Its value is well known, madam. i" re-
turned Dick solemnly. while mentally