Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-11-07
The Filigree
Bracelet
An Oriental Tale
By CLARISSA MACKIE
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.
An Oriental Tale
By cLARIssA MAcKIB


Z Copyright by American Press Asso-
+ citation, 1911. r
fs-i-s-s-s-is-s.-s!-;s-.-s-i-s-s-i-i-issifssss!t'
On the third evening after the tour
list steamer Neptune left Constantine
pie the little group Of people whom
congenial interests had drawn togeth-
er out Of the hundreds Of passengers
aboard the big ship gathered their
seven chairs in friendly proximity.
Professor Trayle laid his hand on
the soft white wrist Of his daughter,
Madeline. Il notice that my daughter
is wearing her filigree bracelet this
evening, and it reminds me that there
Is a story connected with its purchase
In Constantinople."
Good" cried Mr.. Hanford, and his
wife echoed approval in her quiet
voice. 1--WE have had the story of "A
CARPET From Mazandaran' and also
the alluring tale Of The Crystal Bali
and what Miss Gray saw In 1t. Let
us have the bracelet story, and mind
you omit no details, Miss Trayle.'
"It's really the plainest sort Of
story" protested Miss Trayle. Il had
planned, when my turn came, to relate
the wonderful adventure father had
with the bronze teapot"
"Ah, my dear, that is my very own
story" laughed the professor. Il see
that Mr.. FELTON, has unrolled the car
pet Of Mazandaran, on which no man
can sit and tell other than the truth,
so remember that the old legend ap-
plies to both sexes
They all laughed as Alexander FELTON,
spread the ancient bit Of carpet which
he had found In q remote interior
province and Madeline Trayle with q
single graceful movement sank to a
seat upon its silken texture.
Father and I spent day among the
bazaars In Constantinople," she began,
"but we could not discover anything
that resembled the bracelet I wanted.
A dear friend Of mine In New York
possessed fligree bracelet which
was considered a perfect specimen OF
Byzantine silver work. may as well
save words by saying now that this
bracelet is It's duplicate in every detail.
"My friend said the bracelet had
been purchased in the bazaar in Con-
stantinople, and 1 supposed it would
be an easy matter to duplicate 1t. The
| day father and / spent there revealed
that there was not another bracelet
like Emily brakes in all Constantine
pie unless 1t was worn by some fair
denizen Of the city. Thus spoke the
shopkeepers In the bazaar.
"Father has a friend who Is inter-
ested In the raisin industry and this
gentleman has a villa on q vine clad
slope beyond the tip Of the Golden
Horn, and 1t literally overhangs the
Bosporus sea. We drove out there
and spent day, and on our return to
Constantinople we met an itinerant
peddler, who offered me this bracelet.
| "Of course we did not bargain long
| for II. 1t did not need his clever tale
| Of its having once belonged to the sui
| tan's favorite. who tired Of the bauble
and gave 1t to slave woman. who IN
turn sold 1t to our peddler. He asked
| q ridiculous price. and father paid 1t
without murmur
1--WE had not proceeded more than
| -,
was ut our horses heels, begging fol
another word with my father. Oh
course father had spoken to the man
In his own language, and now he un
derstood the babel Of sounds that
poured from his lips. AS the sounds
we're accompanied by an outstretched
palm I knew the man wanted money
for something, and I saw father toss
the peddler q twenty plaster piece and
listen with interest to a long recital
accompanied by much gesticulation
Yes, indeed, father, you did appear
much interested In the story the man
told.
"When we were once more on oul
way toward the city father related
the story the man had sold to hin
for 20 piasters. 1t was good story
well worth 30 piasters, father, dear
I do believe you secured bargain
in that storyw Madeline smiled mis-
.hievously up into her fathers ruefu
countenance.
Remember, you're sitting on the
CARPET Of truth, my DEAR" he warned
iaughingly.
ut was good story" protested
Madeline.
"Ah, do tell itr' cried Mrs. Hanford
impatiently.
"Please do" chimed In the others.
"The story went that the sultan
bought It from q fortune teller, who
predicted that whatever woman wore
It on her arm might marry the richest
man In the world. One can well I'M
agine the supercilious incredulity OF
the sultan and the disdain with which
he waved the story teller aside. Well
never mind whether father and 1 be
lieved the story or not. The bracelet
seemed to possess an added attrac
tion for both Of us, and I will confess
that as soon as we reached the Nep
tune that afternoon I fastened to my
stateroom and scrubbed 1t vigorously
with soap and water until 1t became
quite clean and bright.
Tts incredible how filthy some OF
that native jewelry IS" remarked Miss
Gray, with a shudder Of disgust.
Apparently they believe that Ger
tain amount Of soil laid on the article
Increases its interest and naturally
Its value" laughed her nephew, Ar
thur Clayton. "I'll confess to one fad
Of mine when I'm travelling around
!, these parts and
yankee! These paris" SCORED his
aunt.
"That's what I amw maintained Mr
Clayton emphatically. I'm the mos
dyed in the wool Yankee that ever
ever
Manufactured wooden nutmeg
finished Mr.. Hanford quietly.
"Go on with the story, Miss Trayle,'
urged Miss Gray impatiently. "We'v'
interrupted you times enough. Arthur
keep sti!l!'
"We!l, scrubbed the bracelet cleai
outside and inside and wore 1t the mex
day when I went ashore. We hat