The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-04-09


The goods were beaped up ON the
doorstep and the town crier was call
ing loudly for purchasers. A few pass
ers stepped. but they had hardly
glanced at the poor collection when
they continued their way. and even the
beggars went by without q sigh OF
enfy.
At last the crier stopped to recover
his breath, and after glancing up anu
down the street. he said doubtfuliy:
II am afraid. Master Caverdone'
you will get but little for your pains.
There seems to be no one IN Rome
DOOR enough to want these chattels.
The whole lot will hardly bring three
ducats."
.Three?' repeated the person ad'
dressed, q thin. little old man. strik'
Ing the ground furiously with bis
walking stick as he spoke. land the
miserable woman owes me twelve du'
cats! Twelve. ss ! am n Christian
Jacobo. had entire confidence In
her husband. / supplied him with
brushes and colors whenever ne
wanted them. How was I to know
that he was going to die without pay
Ing me-the miserable dauber-leav'
ing me nothing but q heap OF rub
bish? I cannot sell the woman and
her four babies"
.Hush! said the crier. "she will
hear you. II is not her fault that the
fever carried him or
ATTEND to your business" cried the
old man. in q sharp tone. and theH ne
stood looking su!lanly around him. Al
q little distance sat the Widow Pele-
grlno, and whether because she had
not heard her creditors reproaches.
or because she was incapable OF being
affected by anything. there was not
the slightest sign Of resentment In her
attitude or expression. On her lap
she held two young children. evident
" twins. who were dispatinS WITH
each other the possession Of her dis
hevelled locks; another child was roll
Ing about at her feet. while the young
est was cooling to itself and playing
with q wisp OF straw pulled from Its
own cradle. The mothers face was
perfectly calm. expressing the resis-
nation or indifference Of despair.
Suddenly. some persons CHANGED to
stop and look ut the wares OF which
the crier was announcing The sale.
Imitation rules the world Of men as
attraction governs that cf things.
More passers joined the group. stop.
ping merely because the others d!n,
and in q few minutes there was
crowd. No one wanted to buy. hut
each seemed anxious to find out why
the others stayed.
Two gentlemen walking together
found their way impeded by the
throng, and one Of them asked in .
brusque tone:
what is the matter here"
"If we were In my dear Paris. my
lord" returned the other. Il would say
II was probably q woman beating her
husband. or u cat having Its ears
cut"
1T Is even less than that, Sill
Frenchman." interposed a Jew. whe
had overheard the question and reply
"the household effects Of q pool
painter who died last week are abou'
to be sold by Master Caverdone."
"And who. may I ask, Is he: SAID
the first speaker.
"a merchant. {. no can furnish yor
with paints and brushes at reasonable
prices. Mr.. Englishman." was the
reply. upon which the Partisan ex
claimed hastily:
"You are too familiar. I would
have you know that You are speakin:
to Lord Pembroke and Monsieur d.
vivonne~
The Jews face beamed rs he lis
tened.
Lord Pembroke. the great English
art amateur! ! am so glad to NEE
you. l have some valuable works
by all the best Italian masters"
"what 10 your name?" asked hi.
iordship.
Israel"
II have heard Of you" said the ar
lover: you drive hard bargain
Have you any Poussins?"
'Three, my LORD"
"What Is your address,"
The Jew gave II. and while Lor,
Pembroke was writing it down. tn
sale began. The first thing put ul
was the baby's cradle. No bid wa
made and the Jew remarked lightly:
"Caverdone will hardly collect hi
dues"
"Is the debt larse?"
Twelve ducats. my lord"
HAS tae widow no friends:"
ayes, but they are as poor as she.
How will sue manage to liver sal
the Frenchman, and his friend n
piled carelessly:
Such people have few needs"
They are fortunate. then" eS
claimed De Yivonne with a laugh
"for my part. I spend three hundre
thousand francs a year. and yet al
in need OF everything. have bee
obliged to cut down my forests: 1t
very humiliating. II were rich
would give the poor woman he
twelve ducats. but cards have ruipe
me-"
And art ruins me-" said Lord PEN
broke with a sigh. II have outru
my income again. 4 rascal in Eottel
dam refuses fifty thousand crowns fc