The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-03-10
THE SCRANTON TRIBUNE-SATURDAY MARCH 10. 1900

Then the talk drifted away to the
chapter of his book OH which he was
engaged--the book which was his
life's work, yet never seemed quite
complete. Somehow Miss Nancy
rather hoped 1t never would be. When
Il had gone into the world something
would have gone out Of her life. Yet,
Of course, she would dearly like Roger
to succeed, to be recognized in his true
character, as she knew him--some-
thing more approaching genius than
anything else. but fearfully handicap
ped by circumstances In the race
which 10 some men 10 made so easy!
A week later Miss Nancy was walk
ing through the village, a basket on
her arm. 1t was a Saturday and she
had been doing her marketing. She
held in one hand her purse, in which
was more change" than usual every
| thing had been cheap that morning.
somehow, and she was meditating
whether she could send for that book
she knew Roger wanted. To give each
| other such things was an old-estab-
lished custom between these two--to
buy them each one for him or herself
| would have seemed such dull pro-
| ceeding!
As she approached the market place
she saw that something unusual was
| going on: then she suddenly remem-
bered 1t was the day on which old
| Matthews effects were to be sold, and
she paused on the edge of the crowd.
When the people saw her they made
way for her at once, and there were
many touchings Of caps and greetings.
The auctioneer was stranger. He
had an oddly-shaped head, and a cur-
iously rasping voice which attracted
Miss Nancy's attention.
| A big jar had just been put up" for
sale. and somebody had bid a shilling
for It. Another cried "two" and the
auctioneer, who had noticed that a
lady had come upon the scene, and
knew their fancy for "oddments' Of
china. looked toward Nancy. and
bowed insinuatingly:
| Mako it five madam, and have it,
| Nancy hardly heard the words, but
she saw the bow, and bent her head
with the instructive kindly courtesy
which had won her 80 many friends.
| She had scarcely done so when down
came the hammer, and she was asked:
| What name. and the address,
| "Netherby, Rosemary Cottage" she
gasped out. confusedly and wondered
vaguely why she was presently asked
to hand over five shilings, which she
meekly did. and then followed n boy
who volunteered to carry her Jar horne
in very hazy frame of mind.
She met Roger Leslie just es she
reached her garden gate
Where have you been?" he asked
"And what on earth Is that"
1--WE been at an auction" she said
weakly, "and-and-they made me buy
| that"~
Roger Leslie shouted with laughter
His intimate knowledge of Miss Nan.
cy's ways and Miss Nancys character
gave him the clew to the whole thing
and he laughed himself into til. house
and into his favorite chair.
Miss Nancy pretended to bo highly
offended. but ended by laughing too
and the little maid who presently
brought in the tea tray inwardly won.
dercd what could be the cause Of al
the merriment.
| "lcH tHey Idu Hdu tnclT Tea MISS
Nancy hunted out a book she said shj
knew she had somewhere, which told
one all about old china its marks, an(
value.
At last she found the book, ant
Roger hunted through It until he fount
a description which exactly suited hel
purchase.
When he had found it he dropped thu
book and stared at her.
Nancy" he said, solemnly, chat la,
to a connoisseur is worth anything yol
like from $500 to 1000 guineas!'
Miss Nancy grew white.
Not really!" she gasped.
Yes, really, and II you want to sci
1t, know one Of the men at Christie's
and will communicate with him."
Want to sell it," said Miss Nancy
"Of course. l want to sell it, but Ger.
tainly didn't want to buy it,"
This fact seemed rather to rankle
much to Rogers amusement, in spite
OF the other more important fact thai
1t was worth small fortune!
Well-my story is almost told.
The man from Christie's came dowr
In state of wild excitement. A client
OF theirs had asked them to look 70,
the jar, which he believed was still in
existence, and which was the fellow Of
the one he already possessed
Roger, luckily, was present at the In.
terview, and took the whole matte,
into his own hands. When he men.
toned the sum Miss Netherby would
consent to take for her jar the mar
from Christie's rather opened his eyes
However. as he presently allowed, II
was worth every penny of it, There
was no equal to the jar in Europe, ex,
cept the one In the possession of hi:
client, and the end of it was that he sal
down there and then and wrote .
check Then he packed up his treas,
ure and departed, leaving Miss Name,
and her lover together.