The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1902-05-09

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you feel promptings to the strenuous
iife?
I'm what form?' The steamer chan
on the piazza was evidently inviting q
nap.
"Um-er-say golf; l haven't played
for days"
Golf! A mile across lots to the
links and three miles around them
Ask Lois"
Lois is in one OF her now-you-see-me'
and-now-you-don't moods. can't
find"
The stones on the wall ratified, and
through the swaying rows OF sweet
peas came a breathless voice.
"The most wonderful find-rlght
here-Joe says We can drive easily
now, to-day-for fear some one breaks
it"
"A 1907 carved chest or a hood.top
highboy?" The tone would have damp
ened any but a true enthusiast.
"It's a General Pike pitcherw There
was a pause for every one TO take in
the great news.
"And we yearn for General Pike
pitcher above all earthly joys"
"Alas, the ignorance Of ones own
kim said Lois, coming out OF the
sweet peas. Listen, Bess. It's one
Of the oldest and rarest pieces Of ma
tive china. I've never even seen one
and father has hunted years for one
Think Of It's being up in this little Yer
mont villageW
"Who told your" queried Bess.
"The postmstress. ! asked her
about old furniture and china the first
day | came. I've just been down 10
the village She WAS visiting up on
Pond Meadow Hill last week and
saw an old pitcher in one Of the houses;
she can't remember whose. but she
wrote down the name Of the pitcher.
now in the Jolly-boat."
Driven by Loiss impetuosity, the
aunt and the cousin packed themselves
and their remonstrances into the jolly
boat, a wagon of mixed architecture,
but unlimited capacity, and counseled
Joe, owner OF the vehicle. to drive to
Pond Meadow Hill.
The sun still stood over Haystack
Mountain, but "the sleep that lies
among the lonely hills" was already
70 I've
and Bcss enjoyed the September beauty
In silence. Lois brooded lovingly over
the prize yet to be captured.
Lois's father possessed all the reQui-
sites for happiness but health. Shut
out from the things of action, he gave
his life to the things of the mind. a
boyhood passed In an English village
had given him love for all the
links that hold us 10 the past.
He had delved in old records and
every country. He and his daughter
had spent many days in little outworn
villages picking up relics. curious or
valuable.
At first Lois loved the old things
because her father did, but gradually
the collectors passion burned in her
own breast
Thus far perseverance had been
forced to be its own reward. The 1907
chest was genuine indeed, it crumbled
feebly away under the minisuaton
of the freight handlers. The hooded
highboy proved TO be wearing n head
gear not its own, and its legs ut least
one hundred years too juvenile for ii.
The "Pittsfield Elm plate revealed
to the unfriendly daylight cracks seam
ing it from side to side.
Other calamitous disabilities ap-
peared mysteriously in all Lols's
treasures. But she was of the stuff
OF which martyrs and collectors are
made. Each new expedition was "a
triumph of hope over experience"
Mixed with the pure gold of her an
tiquarian passion was, II must be told,
the dross OF wounded pride. 1t was
hard to be met always at the end of
each hunt by the wise smiles of her
father and his friends. and their You
see, my dear. a genuine platter would
have" or You never find a really
old chair with those marks Oh"
II do hope it hasn't got a great bite
out of it like the George Third tureenw
said Lois to herself.
Here's Pond Meadow" announced
Joe, pointing TO open fields which