The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-07-07


take a stroll past the little curiosity shop
In the suburbs. I began by going there.
in order 10 assure myself that Mr.. Hale
was as good as his word regarding the
question Of the show window. and this
point being satisfactorily settled, Il had
soon became a habit to gather whatever
consolation was TO be found IN the fact
Of the coveted treasure being SIN unpur-
chased. Sometimes I would step into
the shop and spend a few happy minutes
in gloating over the teapot. which the
little crooked old man would fetch slowly
and carefully from the cupboard as soon
as my shadow had darkened the doorway,
and before any word had been spoken.
While I handled IL lovingly. his quick.
terrier-like eyes would closely watch me.
for his eyes were the only things about
him that seemed able to move quickly.
The habit Of living in the midst of brittle
things had fashioned his movements TO
the slowness of a caterpillar, and the pre-
cision of a cat.
1T is true enough that to turn round in
that little dark hole, without running
either your elbows or your knees against
something breakable, was no easy matter.
but place Mr.. Hale on desert tract of
sand, and 1 verify believe he would move
forward with the same caution, in the
instructive dread of knocking over any
stone pyramid that happened TO be loom
ing over the horizon. But it would have
been too narrowing to enter the shop
every day. Generally, when I passed that
way Mr. Hale was standing in the door
way. and here again no words were re-
quired. A questioning nod from me- and
an affirmative inc nation OF Mp. Hale's
white head. and I knew all that wanted
TO know. The teapot was still in its place
in the cupboard
LAS the time Of decision arrived, my
visits to the curiosity shop grew less fire.
quent. The seriousness Of the verdict
which was impending made smaller things
fade from my mind, for my funds were
melting at an alarming rate, and the
question of the acceptance or non-accept-
ance of my design was fast becoming
to me almost a question of life and death.
At times l felt all but certain Of the prize,
but Just as frequently l was Mortified al
my audacity in daring to compete. When
at last the notice came, the furry Of the
moment was so intense that 1 did not
dare to trust to my own spelling Of the
word Accepted" and actually got my
landlady in TO see whether her version
agreed with mine.
when the first almost painful excite
ment had Gained down, l was seized by
an Irresistible desire to celebrate the
event in some fitting manner. and the
blue and white teapot Immediately oc-
CURED to me. had actually not thought
of it for a week, but now instantly re-
solved to treat myself to it, and without
more ado ] put on my hat, and made
straight for Mr.. Hale's shop. I knew that
the purchase would leave me all but At
my last penny, for of course, my bridge
would not turn into solid gold at once,
but no excess seemed TO me too big for
such day, while every risk appeared
ridiculously small. Now that 1 was sure
of having got fair footing. I felt ready
and even anxious to fight the world.
THE news had come by the first post,
and busy place though Currypool was.
the streets were scarcely more than half
fun yet as leisurely trod the foot pave
ment. Now that fulhlment was so close
at hand, felt no hurry. but rather in
clined to draw out the delights of an
ticipation. 1t was only when l came in
sight of the familiar doorway that
sense of uneasiness came over me, and
unconsciously FASTENED my steps. After
all, ! had seen nothing of the teapot for
a full week, and Mr.. Hale was not stand
ing at his post. Could he be busy with
customer at this early hour?
Eyes, he was busy with a customer, as
could see before 1 had crossed the thresh-
old. Upon the counter, drawn UP in an in
regular row, there stood a medley Of Jugs
and pots which a fairhaired young lady
in broad straw hat was critically pass
ing in review, while Mr. Hale crept care,
fully about in the background, collecting
from off -Of- : bc-v
shelves. s. L.x,t
"'You need not trouble yourself any
further she was saying as l entered Il
am not likely to find anything that will
match better than this blue one here 1t
is mot quite what l wanted, Of course,
but 1t is far the nearest l have found
What did you say the price WASP
wait till have got to the back Of this
shelf here" was Mr. Hale's reply. The
fact is have as good as promised to keep
that teapot there for a most kindly spoken
young gentleman who
And in the same moment he turned
round and caught sight of me.
Bless me, if he isin't here himselfr he
calculated, and following his glance, the
young lady turned likewise, and what
should see but the fair tea lrinker Of the
Kings Forest, with almost the same look
of establishment upon the fresh young face
that had seen upon It then, and in her
lit was my teapot which she had held in
her hand, the identical teapot for whose
purchase 1 had brought what, broadly
speaking, was my last guinea, in my
pocket-while poor Mr.. Hale stood and
looked at me deprecatingly across the
counter, as much as to say: 1t really
isn't my faultp'
ut was a shock. though not entirely one
of dismay, for during the two months past
] had often but vainly peered about on the
crowded Currypool pavement for a
glimps of that especial shade of golden
hair which had hit my fancy so marvel.
lousy on a certain day in May. Once at a
crossing l had thought to catch sight of a
figure that appealed to my memory, but
1t had been no more than a fleeing vision
speedily swallowed up in the crowd, while
now was standing close enough TO study
her features, should l be so minded, and
even to settle the color of her eyes beyond
all manner of doubt. They were blue, de-
cided, even before l had clearly realized
what she was holding in her hands Hav.
ing realized il, the teapot and the dread OF
losing it sprang once more into the fore.
ground of my thoughts. What tack would
she take? After what Mr.. Hale had said
would it not be the natural and graceful
thing to relinquish her claim to the arti.
Gle? Possibly; but as l now perceived tC