Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-03-22

teeth strongly. It's an old saying tina,
he goes farthest who shuts his teeth
longest. He was going to test the pre-
cept by immediate practice.
He had stood before the list fully
three minutes. Now he turned abou,
face. a singular elation tingiing his
blood. Once he set his mind upon q
thing. he went forward. He had lost
many pleasurable things in life be
cause he had doubted and faitered
not because he had reached out to
ward them and had then drawn bach
He was going to meet Fortune Ched
soye; when or how were but details
And as he discovered the Major him
self idiing before the booth OF the East
Indian merchant, he saw in fancy the
portcullis rise and the drawbridge fall
to the castle of enchantment He
strolied over leisurely and pretended
to be interested in the case containing
mediocre jewels.
"This Is a genuine Bokhara en-
broidery?" the Major was inquiring.
oh. yes. sir"
How old?"
The merchant picked up the tag
and squinted at II. 1T Is between two
and three hundred years old. sir"
To Georges opinion the gods them.
selves could not have arranged a more
propitious moment.
You've made a mistake" he inter.
posed quietly. THAT is Bokhara, but
the stitch is purely modern"
The dark eyes Of the Indian flashed
The gentleman is an authority" sar.
castically.
Upon that style Of embroidery, alb
solutely." George smiled. And then,
without more ado. he went on to ex.
plain the difference between the an.
tique and the modern. You have one
good piece Of old Bokhara, but II isn't
rare Twenty pounds would be a good
price for It."
The Major laughed heartily. And
Just this moment he asked q hundred
for II. I'm not much Of a hand In
Judging these things. / admire them
but have no intimate knowledge re.
garding their worth. Nothing tonight,
he added to the bitter-eyed merchant
THE Oriental Is like the amateur fish
erman; truth is not In him. You seem
to be a keen Judge" as they moved
away from the booth.
81 suppose it's because I'm inor'
dinately fond Of the things. I've really
good collection Of Bokhara EN-.
broideries at home in New York"
"You live In New York;" with mild
interest. The Major sat down and
graciousiy motioned for George to DO
the same. Il used to live there; TWEEN
ty-odd years ago. But European travel
spoils America; the rush there, the
hurry. the ciamor. Over here they
dine. there they eat. There's as much
difference between those two perform
ances as there is between The Mikado
and Florodora. From Portland In
Maine to Portland in Oregon. the same
dress, same shops, same ungodiy nien
buildings. Here 1t 10 different at the
end of every hundred miles"
George agreed conditionaiiy. tThe
Major wasn't very original in bis
views) He would have shed his last
drop of blood for his native land. but
he was honest In acknowledging her
faults.
Conversation idled In various chan
nels. and finally became anchored al
jewels. Here the Major was at home
and he loved emeralds above all 9TH
er stones. He proved to be an ensas'
ing old fellow, had circled the globe
three or four times, and had had an
adventure or two worth recounting.
And when he incidentally mentioned
his niece. George wanted to shake bis
hand.
Would Mr.. Jones Join him with q
peg to sleep on? Mr.. Jones certainly
would. And after a mutual health,
George automatically excused himself
retired buoyant and happy. How sim
pie the affair had been! A fellow
could do anything If only he set hi.
mind to Il. Tomorrow ne wouio @ss'