The Jasper news., 1907-04-04

do you make so much Isabel?"
'No, only scrap here and there"
she said regretfully, because, you
see, it takes such an awful lot to make
an income; but l wasn't thinking OF
myself"
MOP"
You needn't say No in that tone,
Marjorie as though you thought me
egotistic," said Lady Isabel, in slight
ly aggrieved voice. The fact is,
am trying to help friend
"Really-how kind of you, dear.
Who is it?"
Laura Staunton." she answered;
the dear girl, the youngest daughter
of our old vicar. Like all clergymen,
he had what David or Solomon or
somebody called "a quiverfuP OF
daughters. Idon't know why it should
be considered in the light of a bless
ing to have quiverful of daughters.
It's very hard, at any rate on them,
for he has left them all without
penny"
How are you going to help her?'
dSkGl WllH Interest.
Well" replied Lady Isabel, "she
has opened d shop for nice second
hand thngs-now don't look like that
Marjorie. don't mean clothes, | mean
things like grandfather's clocks and
broken china and old tenders, and all
that sort of thing" she added vaguely
"Oh, you mean curios-an old curl
osity shop, in fact"
Yes" said Lady Isabel. And now,
Marjorie. dear" lightedly-"you've
put an idea in my head. I'll make her
call it 'Ye anciente curiosyte shoppe;
but | must see she spells it right, or
rather, wrong, it will sound so much
more genuine
1T will certainly be an advantage
in these days even to sound genuine"
l said.
yes, won't it," she answered very
pleasantly, especially as most of the
things will be faxed. You know they
nearly always are faxed at that sort
of shop"
"Really?"
She nodded "Yes--and I'll tell how
it's done little later on"
How are you going to help Miss
Staunton's shop" l asked her pres
emily.
We'll, for one thing, am going to
take Mrs. Barrington-Brown there to
buy things; you see, we shall both be
in town for day or so next week"
81 see. And Mr.. Malcolmstein, is he
to be taken there as well?"
mo; shan't take him there said
Lady Isabel hastily, nor the Flieder-
manns; they know too much; but |
dare say they'll pick me up some lit
tie things for her to sell. She's very
pretty-Laura, l mean"
rs she faxed, too?" | asked.
Lady Isabel laughed. mo, my dear,
she's not; she's absolutely genuine"
I've been going over the list of
things in Lauras shop and rearranging
them" said Lady Isabel the following
afternoon.
Have you; how very good of you. y
oh it's rather fun" she answered
bending over her table and writing
something rapidly.
La Marquise Victorine-Victime de
la Revolution" leaning on her shoulder
as read who's she?"
Its for a small miniature l picked
up cheap" said Lady Isabel airily. ut
was very faded, SO l got little artist
| knew to touch it up for half a
guinea"
"And how did you find out who II
was?"
81 didn't" she replied frankly; "bul
# / don't know, shall always put Vic
time de la Revolution-there were sc
many of them, poor dears. so l shall
always be safe"
why call 1t aiything?"
only. ON account of the price," shs
answered tseri. usly. You see, Mrs
Barrington-B.Lw wn will pay so much
more for sorething really historical
81 see." laid.
"All the broken china has gone Il
| he mended by little man Mr.. Eaken
stein told me of-he lives at White
chapel, or Noting Hill, where no one
ever goes, or somewhere, and he's &
Polish Jew. and frightfully clever ant
| tricky. His name is Balenski, and yol
| can't tell Balenski-Chelsea figure
from the real thing. if you're ever sucl
an opportunities, of course, yol
! know his work"
'Is that how collectors get thei
| china mended?"
NO" she said, mot collectors, onl,