The Florence daily tribune., 1899-03-09
A DOUBLE DEAL.

When the cid peddler came to the
door with those extremely pretty vases.
Mrs. Christy felt that they were the
very things that she wanted in her
spare bedroom. and so, instead of say
ing Not when he politely requested
her to see if she had any "old clothes
to change for some splendid vases, she
allowed him To come in and sit down
while she went up stairs to rummage
and came down with some old garments
of her husbands and a shawl of her
own, which certainly she never should
wear again, unless it was at night, for
it was fashion which went out before
she was married.
1t came to her mind that she was
foolish to leave n stranger alone SO long,
but the old man was sitting quietly
where she had left him, and looked so
much like a benevolent old patriarch
that she was ashamed of remembering
that the spoons were in the pantry and
the pantry unlocked However, he was
quite worldly enough to drive a hard
bargain. and to the coat, vest and shawl
she had to add gown that might very
well have been worn often again.
However. it was not ready money,
and she felt that the vases-good imita
tions of very costly ones-were lovely.
She carried them into the spare room,
and they made the mantelpiece quite Il
different thing Returning to the din
ing room. however, a shock awaited
her. Her husbands S overcoat, which he
had unwisely left Mt home that day, be-
cause it was unusually warm, was gone
from its peg ON the hall rack, and,
opening the pantry door, she saw that
the spoons were gone with it. They
Were only plated. but no one likes to
lose anything in that way. Besides, she
felt greatly to blame for it.
The old man had been gone long
while, and though she sent messen-
ger for police officer. he gave no hope
of catching the thief or of getting the
things back
WAS there nothing else goneG' the
man asked.
Mrs. Christy looked about her and
discovered one thing more-a forged 81
note. She had il given to her by some
one n year before, and she found that
it was worthless and had written
across the back, This is counter
felt, and added her name, and some
how she kept il in her workbasket.
The old man had .spied it with his
glistening black eyes and had helped
himself to it.
AT all events, he can't pass it,
laughed Mrs. Christy. II feel little
conscled when | remember how provok-
ed he will be.
Hell pass il somehow, said the
policeman as he walked away, promis-
ing to report the case.
But Mrs. Christy, when she remem-
bered that the overcoat that had been
stolen was worth es and the plated
spoons at least 81, found it necessary
to go to her own room and have good
cry. 1t was not SO much the value of
the lost articles as the feeling that it
was her fault, and that her husband
might possibly SO far forget himself as
to tell her so, AT all events. she would
lose little of that fine character for
good sense with WHICH. to her great
satisfaction. he had endowed her
The day did not pass very pleasant
ly. Callers came, and she could. not help
telling her story. but it was joke to
the best intentioned among them, and
as the dinner hour approached she felt
very much indeed like running away
However. of course. she was obliged
to stay Her daughters We're paying
visit TO some cousin. and there was no
one else to preside Mt table. Besides.
she could only have put off the evil mo-
ment. She went up stairs and got ont
some spoons she. kept in reserve and
waited for the impending moment She
hoped that her husband would, at least
be in good humor, and no.-as when
things went wrong with him--a little
cross.
Mr.. Christy, however, returned that
evening in high good humor. Moreover,
he had an overcoat upon his arm. Could
it be that he had come back for it, after
all, and the theft had been limited TO
the spoons and the counterfeit bank
notef
Il thought you went without your
coat. =" she said, with little rejoiceiul
leap of the heart, as she seemed to recog-
nize the garment by its form and color
But Mr.. Christy laughed;
80 did. he said. $50 did No;
this is a new coat. l bought it for Viii
liam. My son William is as tall as !
am and nearly as stout, and this fits
me snusly-snugly. | came across it in
a queen way. Itis quite bargain, You
see. it looks entirely new.
~ -
Christy. and exactly like yours, too,
dear. Aren't you jestingf''
''No. no. no, said her spouse. lyon