The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-10-16

~ y 81 ck
" Noof visit my friend Azral,
lAo\V ~ who keeps the vertu
SANT shop on Wardour
NML street. I had sew
SQvO eral holidays on hand
and knew of no more delightful way
of spending an idle hour than in look
ing over old Azral's collection OF vertu,
which had great fascination for me-
The old man, who had taken quite q
fancy to me--probably because L ouia
appreciate his love for the bizarre and
antioue-and who even became quite
chatty OF times, was a venerable ne
brew who boosted descent from DAVID.
Contrary to the traditional character
istics of his race, he was frank ana
open handed had found him even
generous.
A fine old fellow he was. tall, males-
tic. with long white beard sweeping |
his breast; stately and slow in speech,
polite, but not cringing, with that
self-respecting courtesy which Dickens
gives us in Riah, the "Godmother."
cannot say why, but he was my mind
picture of Aaron-he had sort OF
silent eloauence about him. Wlthous
kith or kin. he lived In the love OF his
relics, his children he called them.
And o rare and exquisite, but decided
ly diversified, family he had
The shop, which was wedged IN be-
tween a jewelers. on one hand and o
second hand book-dealer's on the
other. was narrow and low, but ex-
tended back some distance. On
shelves in the walls, on tables, IN
drawers were spread the objects OF his
passion in the most enchanting dlsre-
gard for the conventional modes OF ar,
rangement. Here o shelf OF old
Dutch faience showed stout burgomas-
tiers in blue and yellow. Next was
shelf from which cleaned arms and
cutlery, swords, real Damascus BLADES,
of so magnificent O temper as to admit
of being bent in circle. Here was o
bureau drawer full of exquisite ivory
carvings, crucifxes and amulets OF ricn
and varied workmanship side by side
with diminutive Persian narghlles ana
SQUAT Chinese iosses. Inthe next was
agate from Japanese lapidaria, along
with wood fretwork from Geneva ana
let from Cornwall. Here hung paint
ing of Cimabue, here one OF Guido
there one of Benjamin West.
To examine such O curiosity snoI
was my delight, and I often resorteo
there. He had lately bought stoch
of Moorish jewelry, and asked me e
examine it. eagerly complied, ant
while looking it over saw curioul
breastpin that Immediately attracted
nv attention. A delicate little COLDER
heart held together two swords crossed
The swords were each about tnre
inches long, one Scotch claymore o
pure green gold, the baskethilt OF tn
most beautiful lace-like arabesqu
tracery of gold interviewer with silver
At the end of the handle sparkled
tiny topaz, scintilating like an imprif
nned sunbeam. The other was q
Eastern similar, with broad. slighti
curving blade and an edge OF som
white metal, possibly silver. At th
cross piece of the handle there was
ruby. and at each end of the eros
niece a diamond of the purest waite
The heart bore two inscriptions, OF
in Arabic and one in Latin.
The Latin was "Gladii duo, G.
unum." The whole thing had rit
exotic look about it that stimulate
my curiosity 1 asked my venerao
friend if I might buy it.
ssNo," he said slowly-"no, that
not for sale; but if you like it l W
tell you its history.
I replied that nothing would plea
me better. ne
..That. breastpin," said he, lis
trust confided to me. Last year v
in the Holy Land with my mother,
Jerusalem. Once on o journey to VI
nv kinsman, Javan, at damascus
came upon poor Turk half dead
the wayside. He had been attaci
and beaten by robbers so that ne
diving. I got off my beast, and W
70 him and tried to lift him up.
attempted to speak. Bending clos
oaupht the question in Arabic:
cart thou JewF
lam -. =,
"I had some faint hope that t
vert Christian, q European
chance an Englishman.
"T live in England, in Londor
said. -. -,
.sThe dying man clasped his nal
allah is good, he whispered.
thou lift my head up. have q u
Twill confide it to thee. Here
breath came thick and couio scar
hear the words. My father-n
me promise-to get this-to-Ja
called Thurs-by- Lon--lt-
nv the beard of the Prophet, Will
thee he cried, starting up 1t
but the spark Of life was almost
Il i,ioksged, and he had only sire
ss..sA Ma kacA lako hia hasem