Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-25

he read this inscription, they
needn't have put that up for my benefit. 1t
isn't a leaf from tree or few blades OF
grass that will do for me. I'm much mis-
token if 1 don't manage to carry away some
kind of personal relic of the great man"
Phil was relic hunter of the most aggra-
waited type. He had enjoyed unusual priv
leges in the way of home and foreign travel,
and was very proud of collection of inter
esting articles he had managed to gather.
Prominent among them figured fngerend
from some old Florentine statue; fragment
cut from dress worn by waxen effgy of a
queen in Madame Toussaud's collection, the
garment having belonged to the living orig
mai; mummy's toe; scrap of curtain from
one OF the private apartments of Sans-Souci;
bit of tarnished gold lace from the coat of
one of Frances marahals and even leaf
from valuable parchment manuscript. Many
less remarkable things, too, such as bits of
stone from old mosaics; withered flowers from
sacred shr1nes, or fragments nicked from tenn
pie. or tomb.
All these gained their chief value in their
owners eyes from P n being articles forbidden and
had many tale to tell of his boldness or
adroitness in having secured them
Il was not aware that such relic could
be procured said an old-fashioned visitor, to
treasures.
"They can't-for love OF money" said Phil,
proudly. 1T took about the smartest hand.
ling ever did in my life to get that into my
pocket while the stupid old sacristan was
trying to make out the amount of the coin
"Do you mean, then, that you-well-that
yalos oauloMsapproprlated it;.,withoqt permission?"
blushing more than was usual with him as
he quickly drew attention to something else,
inwardly thinking the old:fashioned visitor
extremely disagreeable.
mo hn ha1 oil =. l.
rail from littlefrequented summer resort at
which he happened to be staying for short
time with some friends to visit the late home
of one of Americas dead statesmen
Its quiet, unostentatious appointments were
a. fitting type of the unpretending purity of
the life of its some-timeago master. A few
plain rooms were open to those who came to
do homage to an honored memory
One or two old servants were showing the
place to chance visitors who came that way
to-day. and Phil soon began to congratulate
himself on the, fail. opportunity he should
probably have W for "appropriating". some ar
self, with every other American boy, bound
in honor to guard from profane touch.
He visited the room in which a great soul
had laid down lifes burdens, not in the rev.
erent awe felt by those who, led by the spirit
of sincere homage to true nobility are sure to
be blessed by earnest aspirations after what
is higher for themselves; All his senses were
on the alert, first, to determine on what he
best way of doing so.
On table stood dry ink-bottle quill pens
and a sand-box, two or three books and lit
tie heap of what appeared to be geological
specimens. Close to this lay portion of a
his eager eyes. 1t looked Interestingly dingy
and discolored. 1t might have been one Of
the last things ever used by the great man,
and he made up his mind to become its owner.
Seizing what he thought to be good chance,
he quietly slipped it into his pocket, Aatter,
ing himself that none had perceived the act
But, sauntering afterward about the grounds
he found himself rather closely observed by
thin.faced, elderly man with spectacles and
tall hat.
Phil would have preferred avoiding speech
with him, and was thinking of turning his
face hotelward, when the stranger accostei
him with a somewhat severe air.
"Young gentleman word if you please"
Phil touched his hat civily.