The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-06-04

W ~ : 49,
How much?" when farther on she
saw an old ruby-glass scent bottle.
Halt crown, lady, that's just giyin'
it away. Nice little bit, eh?'
"Ill take it for two shillings." ven
tured Helen.
IT'S yours, mum. Anything else?
Got EN- all down to war prices
Il may come back this way later"
murmured Helen, wondering If she had |
offered too much. She might have got
ten it for one and six.
Hello, dug up an! thing"
She started to FIND Warren beside |
her.
oh, what have you got?' looking
at a bullying bundle under his arm
Never you mind. Doing little
looting on my own.
Dear, you know you mustn't pay
what they ask first, don't YOU" anXi,
ously. They all ask more than they
expect to get
See here" testify. who's doing
this? You go ahead and buy your own
Junk. If | see an. thing | want-l'll
get it..
Helen turned away vaguely troubled.
He might buy something foolish and
pay an absurd price. Perhaps they
should have stayed together.
The next moment she was absorbed
in a particularly alluring lot from
which she finally selected an ivory
fan broken but not past mendlng, a
cameo pin and a curious Jade locket.
After some bargaining she got the
three pieces for only seven shillngs.
1t was dusk now, and oil lights flick.
cred over many of the stalls. 1t was
weird scene-this great dark market
space, lit only by those flaring lamps.
Some of the men were now packing
up. but many were still shouting their
wares, eager for few last shillings.
At a stand farther on Helen found
an old sampler 1t was dated 1853.
with a quaint house-and-tree design.
Did this man know its value. Her
heart beat fast at the possibility of
getting it for few shillings.
twenty-five shillings," he an.
swered gruffly, as he went on packing.
"Yerd poy three guineas at one o yer
Bond Strait shops
So he did know. Helen's hopes fell.
ooh. couldn't pay more than
twelve" she murmured.
Extraordinarily thu price. mum.
Take it or lave it,
Helen flushed Indignantly, yet she
wanted the sampler She passed on
slowly, hoping he would call after her.
Where was Warren? She turned
suddenly to look along the opposite
line of stalls. 1t was quite dark now.
What if they should get separated?
Her eyes strained anXiOusly through
that shabby, jostling crowd.
A long panic-stricken moment. Then
she saw him-a few stalls back.
OH running to him with joyous
relief. Il thought I'd missed you
Had enough? Let's get out of this.
Which gate did We come in?"
: Outside, Helen looked back over the
dimly-lit market. They had been
through only small part of it, and
she thought longingly of the undis.
covered treasures in all those other
stalls.
They made their way back through
| the dark, squalid street to the under
ground. When they entered the train
Helen glanced anxiously at Warren's
bulky package. What had he bought:
! Remembering certain purchases be
had made in the past, she mistrusteJ
t his judgment.
Want to see it now, Ell? All right
|. we'll give You a treat"
He took off the crumpled newspaper
}. and proudly displayed a garish shell
box with a mirror on top. Heller
= gulped. 1t was awful!
Pretty good haul, eh?" fitting ;
t loose shell in its red paste bed. "Olt
J. one too. How about that for tel
t shillings?"
Ten shillings! II he could throw
away ten shillings on this ghastl,
h thing-why hadn't she bought tina
g sampler?
r, What's the matter" sharply. Don
n like it,"
t "Oh, yes-yes," hastily Il wa
k only thinking Of an old sampler tina
p I'm sorry didn't get"
With we'll feigned carelessnes!
N Warren felt in his pocket.
n That it?' tossing a small packag
into her lap.
Is Helen tore it open, and with cry {
Ie delight held up the sampler.
W "Oh. you dear, you dear! But no
did you know"
WAS right there behind you"
i" In her JOY over the sampler, the az
id full box was forgotten.
Now how about this?" Warren toe
n it up again. Think it bum, eh? We
Vo if it'll make you feel any better
or only paid a bob Thought it wou
d. be worth that" with a chuckle, to s,
you glare at it."