St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1904-02-06
I been said from the time of the Spanish

11tS lildliHei was 4ulcL duu plcdSdul.
Where did that lovely thing come
from?" Alme asked, pointing to :
| bronze candelabrum, from whose twist
| ed branches hung small, glitterinl
| crystal drops. They threw shafts O
light over the tesseiated flooring, a!
the late afternoon sun, pouring through
the open door, glanced upon them.
"Just recently it came from a resi-
| dence in Mexico, which belonged to the
decadent descendants of a time-hon
ored house of Spain. The lady whit
lived in it died in poverty and every
thing was sold by a public crier-wha1
we call auxtionnaire. Originally thai
candelabrum must have been brought
from Seville. Look close and you will
see name.
cit is that of famous artist of the
fourteenth century. His name appears
in old records Of the art works of that
period in Spain"
Alme sprang up and questioned Gag.
erly.
McFerson looked at his watch, with
smile, and put it back in his pocket.
you said something about a desk %
he remarked.
ooh, yes. I want particularly love
ly Louis XIV. desk. OF course you
have one? I'll hang that candelabra
right above it. It's thousand times
more artistic than ours. The light
from it will be charming"
The proprietor led the way to q
certain high-ceiled room, whose con-
tents made Alme express her delight
with warmth and decision.
Alme had been so much absorbed in
her examination of the beautiful OBJ
jets darts, crowding on all sides, she
had hardly noticed a small, daintily
dressed, old-fashioned woman, who,
with her black satin skirt, black lace
shawl, wealth of white hair and
strange, old-time bonnet, seemed to be-
long to another period.
Come in and look around, Miss
Hortense; nothing new to-day" the
proprietor said in pleasant voice az
she stood timidly in the doorway.
She came forward with a dignifed,
gentle air, and began peering about
among the furniture in an anxious
way, and when Alme spoke of a desk
she drew close to her and listening
to her followed her eagerly.
II am anxious to see a lady's desk
myself-an old desk with bronze door
trimmings. Quite pretty thing. Ny
mothers" she said, in low voice,
holding Alme's sleeve. MIR. Norton
has promised to get it for me. He will
some day. There is will locked up in
it; my grandfather's will 1t will be
found, of course. Everything was sold
while was away-everything 1t was
quite number of years ago. l drop
in occasionally to see if they have
found the desk for me. My lawyer
tried to trace it for me, but perhaps
you have noticed, my dear young lady,
that lawyers are not very efficient. So
have undertaken to find the desk
and the will myself with Mr.. Norton's
kind assistance. Yes, yes; it will turn
up some day. 1t is my grandfather's
will. have inherited great wealth.
a vast amount Of landed estate-quite
a large property. would be very
patient, my dear, about the will and
content to wait, only you see I must
send Rene to college. My sisters son.
A fine lad. He must have every educa-
tfonal advantage, SO must hurry to
find the testament which is to place
me in possession OF the land. In my
will l leave it all to Rene. Nothing
new, to-day, Mr.. Norton?"
Her voice was sweet and low and her
manner gentle and refined, and she re-
minded Alme of an old-fashioned pic
ture. Her rambling talk caught Alme's
attention, WHO looked down compass
sionately on the small, pathetic lit
tie figure.
"She is perfectly harmless. We let
her come and wander around as long
as she cares to do SO. They were all
very wealthy people formerly, and to-
day this elderly lady and the lad
Rene, her nephew, are all that are left
of them. They are in sadly reduced
circumstances. The boy works cheer
fully and hard
who supports them?" Alme asked
feeling of immense pity yelling in
he. heart for the poor, forlorn little
woman whose troubles had evidently
brought her to her present benighted
condition.
"Her neighbors. This is poor but
a kindly neighborhood."
"Where does she live?" whispered
Alme, as the little figure moved softly
away.
''She lives right next door," Mr..
Norton said, with a slight embarrass-
ment, which Alme understood, for
there was look of gentle compassion
easily read in his face.
There are several which might suit
you. They are Of the period you mer-
toned and can be restored to their
original condition." Norton said, turn
ing away.
''Well, little woman, look around and
make up your mind. I'm going to see
some carved oak dining sets.' Nc
Person went off with a young man,
Norton's assistant.
But Alme>was too engrossed in her
examination Of an array Of slender,
graceful Bull and Marquetterie desks,
with many drawers and much gliding,
to pay any heed to Dan McFerson's
remark.
u IL