The Republican., 1898-06-09

He handed them the cascade of dain-
ty null ruffiing, fiuted and edged witt
delicate valenciennes, and began swift
ly shutting up and preparing to remove
his machine.
Il don't suppose-you ever-buy old
ones"
BUY old ones? Indeed, we do! That
is really my business-to pick up good
old machines whenever we can induce
owners to part with them"
I'VE have no idea of selling ours"
cried Dora, stoutly. 1T was wedding
gift to mamma, and we are attached to
it."
Lady, honor your sentiments. 1t is
only kind heart thaticherishes the old
war horse
Let him price our old war horse for
u.s." giggled Bess; though | have no
more idea of selling than you"
When the ramshackle old charger
came rattling through the hall the
agent went into ecstacies.
What superb metal! What action
it must have had-4O years ago! You
don't find many like it nowadays"
1T was bought before the war end
cost hundred dollars" said the En-
gagged One, with great pride.
Indeed, / believe you. And it is
worth at least $25 now!"
Blue Eyes was speedily absorbed in
this remarkable veteran, and trusting
to his convenient deafness a buzzing
colloquy grew quickly louder and
louder behind the smiling agents back.
What did he find to occupy him so long
about the old hulk?
''Bess, what do you think of that?"
"How much is $25 from 1852" "Oh, it's
about $50" mo, it isn't" ooh, I'm
SO stirred up in my mind can't bother
with figures" Papa will see we are
business girls" Add it up, and see ex-
actly.' "Oh, it's S9O!" cries the En-
gagged One. You're a perfect gump;
it isn't at ALL" Richmond trip mas got
to 60" "Who cares for old trips? It's
$50" We'll each contribute third
and so on and so and on.
When the willy agent Strengthened up
his back the thing was settled among
them. He had no idea of ever straight
cning his back up until the matter was
settled, if it crooked him into a cork
screw.
True, there was a little difficulty in
convincing them that thirteen dollars
and third was the correct quota, and
the Engaged One counted all her fin
gers twice and the three diamonds in
her ring before she would believe it.
By that time the "old warhorse" was
screwed down in the wagon and the
new one briskly deposited in the middle
of the parlor.
"Godday, ladies!" and the black
horse ard the white one were kicking
up dust along the avenue.
"Gre't day in de mornin'!" calculated
little black Topsy. Dat ar man dun
tote off old Miss SEWN sheen and dun
rob us outer all we-all's money!"
Bess looked at Dora. Dora looked at
the Engaged One. All three burst out:
1--WE are robbed! We are robbed!
Stop! Come back, sir Oh Oh-h-h!
He has got all our money! want our
good old machine back again! Come
back here!"
Run, Topsy, run! I'll give you dol
lar if you catch him and bring him
back!"
Never had little Topsy's little black
feet slapped the ground so hard OF Sd
hastily before.
She tore after the lessening cloud of
dust, around the bend of the road, gain
ing on the black and the white.
They craned their necks 10 see. Yes;
Topsy was certainly gaining.
'Oh, Bess; what in the round world
did you ever get him started on our
darling old machine for? 1t is all your
fault"
mo such thing! You put the notion
N buying it in his head yourself. do
hate that old new thing"
"Ow-ow-our lovely trip to Rich
mond all gone, too, and not handker-
chief even TO be hemmed. Oh, how did
you have the heart 10 rob three poor,
harmless girls like that?"
stop your racket" shouted Bess
from the horse blocks. "Yonder comes
the cloud of dust back. Topsy has
nabbed him! Huray for Tops We
will make him give us back our money,
and darling Old machine; never more
to part. Cheer up
"Bess, you are the greatest goose in
the world Can't you see that it is only
mother coming home in the surrey?
There She is waving. Oh, girls, fool
and his money is soon parted. Oh, my
fifteen dollars-gone! Boo-hoo-oo!"
Dora, stop crying. You look like
scarlet fever. Don't be all of a sud-
den with mother. Throw a cloth over
that horrible, sickening old thing! How
! do hate it. To be fooled and robbed
by an agent"
Eve must break it gently to mother,
else she'll have turn. Is the old thing
lid? Money and trip all gone; 1 never
was so unhappy inVny life. Boo-hoo-
col"
stop crying; can't you?"
"And, so, my dears, gave up my trip
entirely and bought a present instead.
Bess, what is the matter with your
eyes? WHY, YOU all three have not got