Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1899-03-28
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 'tNoP' 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 shawl of her
own, which certainly she never should
wear again, unless it was at night, for
it was a fashion which went out before
she was married
1t came to her mind that she was
foolish to leave = stranger alone SO long,
but the old man was sitting quietly
where she had left him, ard looked SO
much like 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 hard
bargain, and to the coat, vest and shawl
she had to add a gown that might very
well have been worn often again.
However, it was not ready money,
and she felt that the Vases-good inita
tions of very costly ones-were lovely
She carried them into the spare room,
and they made the mantelpiece quite
different thing. Returning to the din
ing room, however, shock awaited
her. Her husbands overcoat, which he
had unwisely left at 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
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 a 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 gomez" the
man asked.
Mrs. Cbristy looked about her and
discovered one thing more-a forged 81
note. She had it given to her by some
one 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 it in her workbasket.
The old man had spied it with his
glistening black eyes and had helped
himself to it.
cat all events, he can't pass it, -
laughed Mrs. Christy. 81 feel little
conscled when 1 remember how provok-
ed he will be. -
"He'l pass it 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 60, 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 a 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 were paying a
visit to some cousin, and there was no
one else to preside at table. Besides,
she could only have put off the evil mo-
ment. She went up stairs and got out
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 not-as when
things went wrong with him-a little
cross
Mr. Christy, however. returned that
evening in high good humor. Moreover,
he had an 0vercoat 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
note?
II thought you went without your
coat, . she said, with little rejoiceful
leap of the heart, as she seemed to recog-
nize the garment by its form and color.
But Mr.. Christy laughed:
$50 1 did, he said, $50 1 did No;
this is new coat. bought it for Will
liam. My son William is as tall as I
am and nearly as stout, and this fits
me snugIy- snugly. I came across it in
queer way. 1t is quite bargain. You
see, it looks entirely new. ~
Yes, it certainly does, - said Mrs
Christy. "and exactly like yours. too,
dear. Aren't you jestingf 2"
'tNo, no, no, said her spouse. tYOu