Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-07-21
Barter and
Exchange.
By JANE LEE.
By JANE LEE.
Copyrighted. 1905. by P. C. Eastment

The evening paper contained very
little news. Evening papers were get
ting stupid and dry-at least SO thought
Ethel Yorke as she turned over one
page after the other In hopes Of find
Ing an item OF some interest.
Aimlessly her glance wandered from
one sheet to another, and her attention
was finally attracted to the Exchange"
column. Only one ad. seemed to in
terest her. She read 1t to the end.
mused to herself, 81 wonder" then
read It again aloud to herself to see II
It sounded the least bit plausible.
"Will exchange first class typewrit-
or In Al condition for genuine an
tiquss. Fakirs need not apply. J. B.
G., Box AL"
Antiques commented Ethel to her,
self. "Well. we're strong on antiques
have everything from the human to
still life, from dear old Aunt Cornelia
to the pen used in signing the Declara-
ton Of Independence. Then, again.
Aunt Cornelia is worth more than
secondhand typewriter, and the pen Is
probably not worth the bell on the old
machine. Let me think"
Aunt Cornelia appeared at the door
way as If in answer to the suggestion.
Whom are you talking to, Ethel|
she asked as she glanced around the
apparently empty room. ut seems to
be very one sided conversation, for
hear only your own voice." she added
"Auntie, dear, am conversing with
very bright young person of my ac'
quuintauce-- none other than yours
truly, Ethel Yorke," said Ethel, with
sweeping bow. "Auntie, want a
typewriter, and'-
81 know you do. dearie, but talking
to yourself won't get one."
"Auntie. Pm not fooling. want a
typewriter. and I'm going to get one.
Behold" said Ethel as she presented
Aunt Corneia with the ad. to read.
The old lady read It carefully. glanced
at Ethel, then said:
"Well. dearie. there Is the old me-
lodeon. That Is a true antique. Your
Grandfather Parker gave that to your
grandmother for wedding present.
II Is all carved by hand and inlaid with
teakwOod."
Aunt Cornella sighed as she went on.
II suppose II you want to learn to be
a stenographer and go out In the work
aday world you must have typewriter
on which to learn. and I guess you had
better offer the dear old melodeon In
exchange"
The ad. was duly answered. and
within forty-eight hours prompt re-
ply was received saying that the owner
of the typewriter would call that even
Ing to inspect the so called antique.
Ethel answered the doorbell OF the
little apartment that evening. for the
household boasted Of no maid since
the loss Of their little fortune. A tall.
smartly dressed man entered and was
ushered into the sitting room. followed
by Ethel.
"Are you the young lady who wants
a typewriter" he asked as he took In
the graceful lines Of her well rounded
figure. her mass OF red brown hair and
the even contour Of her beautiful face.
"Yes." she replied as she offered him
a chair. w want to become an expert
typist, and was attracted by your ad.
Here Is the melodeon. II You want to
look Il over" and she walked across
the room and lighted another gas jet
to exhibit her heirloom to better ad-
vantage. The man followed In silence
"Its q really. truly antique" said
Ethel. T'm not a fakir such as you
suggest in your ad."
The young man walked up to the
beautiful old melodeon. a priceless
treasure to one who knew Its value.
For the moment he seemed lost In his
admiration OF the delicate workman
shin. the beautifully tinted woods, and
he sat down before It. dreaming. The
girl looked ut the man as II upon the
figure In a picture The lights fell up
on Nun rs ue Sut UtloIe tue StiuhiShS
and she wondered why he did not
speak. Maybe. after all. the old thing
was worth nothing.
Howard Philips. man Of leisure and
collector Of antiques. turned to his
companion, hardly knowing which he
admired most. the inanimate wooden
treasure or the beautiful girl
"Tf acceptable to you, Miss Yorke. |
will take the melodeon. giving you In
exchange the typewriter and bonus
Of $5O," he finally said. "The instru-
ment is beauty and very rare speci.
men," he added.
The final arrangements were com.
pleted. and the next day found Ethel
In possession of typewriter and Phil.
ips with the melodeon Philips went
on with his search for antiques. but
somehow he felt that the greatest
treasure on which his eyes had rested
in months-aye. even years was the
girl whose face seemed to haunt bis
ireams
A terrific snow and hail storm kept