Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1911-12-16
ROMANCE OF
A STATUETTE
Trials and Reward Of a Shifty
Financier.

was Whut IN hhahCAuhy u
ner." Having a note TO pay In the
bank today. he would draw with three
days grace on Milwaukee. The draft
he would meet with another on st.
Paul. BY the time he had chased his
indebtedness around a circle by way
of San Francisco, New Orleans and
Charleston IT was quite possible that
some real funds tied up somewhere
would be released and he would make
a bona fide payment, AT present every
cent he had In the world was deposited
with his brokers az mnrgin on GER
tain stocks he had bought. The market
had gone down few points. but "A
boom was confidently looked for. and
he was holding on with tight grip
Passing a china shop, he resolved TO
look in. buy present for the lady.
Miss Gaudalet, give draft In pay
ment md chase II over the continent
till the expected boom had come and
he should have plenty OF money. En-.
tering the shop. he heard the proprietor
scolding luckless porter who was
sweeping up the fragments OF a china
statuette.
aANOu b1lu thG uCdtCEs MY
porter has just broken a eve hundred
dollar piece of china"
An idea seized upon Algernon.
"What will you take for the frag-
ments?" he asked.
Nothing. You are welcome to them
''Will you send them?"
Certainly"
Algernon wrote "Elise Gaudalet,
Central Park West" on a piece OF pa
per and gave It TO the dealer. asking
him to have every scrap boxed and
sent to the address.
do you hear?" said the dealer TO
the porter DO as the gentleman
says. Don't leave out single piece"
Algernon left the store In comfort
able frame of mind. THE box will be
opened tomorrow ! will keep away
for week. at the end of which time
will call and learn that my gift has
been broken In transit. BY that time
we shall have better market. and I
can get money from my broker with
which to send another statuette."
But unfortunately the coal miners of
the country took 1t into their heads to
btIlhCs anu kuS luStGdu VI EO-
ing higher went lower. A week pass
ed. and Algernon found himself under
the necessity of duplicating the bro
ken present. being at the same time In
desperate financial straits. Entering
his club one afternoon. he took his
mail from his box and observed Miss
Gaudalet's familiar handwriting ON
one Of the letters. Tearing on the en-
velope. he read:
My Dear Mr. withers-- Why have you
not before this given me an opportunity
to thank you for your beautiful PRESENT.
1t Is the handsomest gift | received. Do
come and see II on it's pedestal. The man
dropped the box in the hall. but Fortunate
ly found every part perfect Sincerely.
ELISE GAUDALET.
To say that Mr. Withers was aston
ished by no means expresses his SEN
sations. Had a volcano opened In the
center of the club swimming tank he
could not have been more thunder
struck. Calling a cab. he rode to
Central Park West and called for Miss
Gaudalet. He was ushered into the
drawing room. and there in q bay win
dow on marble pedestal was the stat
uette. In a few minutes Miss Gaudaiet
came In and poured forth her thanks.
Isn't It beautifulT she exclaimed.
I'm glad You fancy It." stammsred
Withers.
And to think" she said. changing
her tone to one of complaint. that you
should have kept away all this time.'
Algernon looked. into her eyes and
saw. or thought he saw, tears He
turned and took her hand.
"Have you really missed meT
An hour later he left the house en-
gagged. He concluded that the stupid
porter had delivered the perfect stint.
uette by mistake. and as he had not
ordered it he could expect ample time
to pay for It,, During the next few
days he expected with each mail to
receive notification OF the error. but
none came. Then stocks advanced,
and he sold out with handsome prof
1t and sent check, for the statuette.
1t was returned with a note stating
that there had been no mistake.
Something had gone wrong. Alser-
non puzzled bis brain for awhile, then
concluded to sound his fiancee with a
view to an explanation.
Elise" he said one evening. there
Is mystery about the statuette I sent
you for your last birthday" IN
What is it?"t IL .,sss
why. you said the porter dropped
It In the hali--and--are you sure 1t
wasn't broken?''
Elise burst into laugh and. throw
ing her arms about her lover. she said:
You stupid. Did you suppose l
would have been deceived even II your
had been obeyed? Don't
know your methodist
What do you mean?'
when the box was opened found
every piece carefully wrapped by It.
self In tissue paper. I went to the
store and ordered n duplicate
"Will you let me give you checkY''
AlEernOn
Certainly. II Is your present. and
you may nay for It. knew that all
you needed was time"