The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-05-07

with dusty treasures.
And we're selling everything very
cheap now-we have to-" simply. Our
brothers in the war"
Helen murmured her sympathy.
We had post card from him three
weeks ago." her lips quivered, but not
a word since"
The older sister came in now from
the back room. She looked pathet.
ically colorless and frail.
Sarah, this is an American lady
who bought some things of us last
year.
She smiled vaguely. 1t was plain
she did not remember
"Oh, how lovely" exclaimed Helen,
as the other sister now took from a
chest an exquisitely embroidered white
crepe shawl with long knotted silk
fringe.
Brother bought this down in Devon
shire just few months before be
left" stroking the fringe with a thin,
blue-veined hand. Its marked seven
pounds, but we'll take five for 1t now
that's just what he paid"
"Id love to have it," Helen admit.
ted, but couldn't think of 1t now.
It's costing us SO much to live over
here-the hotels and restaurants have
all put up their prices!"
An. yes. food isslhSsI xkss6;n1l
sister sighed, "but everything els1 81
cheap. Look at us-we'll sell or
goods for almost nothing-and ND
one will buy. Last week sister sold
a piece of tapestry that cost us twelve
shillings for eight. don't know What
we shall do, l don't KNOW don't
know"
Then, as though fearing she had
said too much, she went back into the
rear room.
Sisters not WE'LL" apologized the
other. She's grieved so over brother
that she's not the same" Then taking
up the shawl and holding it SO the
long fringe fell together in rich mass
she asked uncertainty, Don't you
think it's worth four pounds to you
even now"
"Then three" desperately.
Helen hesitated. She was really dis.
tressed. ''I'm sorry, but l told you
when came in couldn't buy"
II know you did, and we-we've al.
ways been one.price shop" proudly,
"but now" her voice broke.
TITS hard-it's very hard" MUIR
INJURED Helen. but the war can't last
forever-it must end soon."
But If brother never" she bit
her lip; she could not put into words
the possibility of his never coming
back. "Oh, you don't know-he was
such good brother! And he was the
best judge of tapestries in London"
proudly. "They never had a sale at
Christie's that he wasn't called In. We
had an established business here-but
now"
She took up the shawl again and
tremulously stroked the fringe.
You can have it for two ponnds!"
In low voice. "You could sch it to
any dealer in America for three times
that much"
Two pounds! Helen caught her
breath. Three pounds had been alb.
surdly cheap, but two pounds for that
shawl! 1t would make the most won.
derful evening wrap. She hssitated.
Then the bargain instinct thit is in
every woman succumbed to this final
offer.
Very we'll, I'll take il"
But as she counted out tho money
she was vaguely troubled. The thought
of these women being forced to such
sacrifice was disQuieting. let if she
did not take advantage of ii someone
else would. She had not asked them
to take SO little--the sale had been
pressed upon her.
When Helen left the shot, she saw
by a clock in a chemists window that
1t was quarter after sit Warren
always came home about nyen She
must get back to the hotel lefore then.
Two pounds for that shawl. Her
impatient fingers tore slit in the
paper through which gkamed the
heavy silk fringe.
She hurried on to the bp Of Char.
ing Cross road. the nearsst bus line,
but as many Of the Londm buses had
been drafted for the war,lt was fifteen
minutes before the onel she wanted
came by.
When she finally reacted the hotel