Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1917-09-27
A Tatar Bargainer.

- AdNoA OaA SahhNas
Ablakim was big, black-haired Tatar
with rim of skin visible round his mouth
that gave him a fierce and al the same
time humorous expression. | found
him one morning squatting on my veranda
and watching a shoal of dolphins that
sported gracefully in the cool Black Sea,
says MIR. Denis Garstin in Friendly Rus
sia
"Zdrastee, barinl" he exclaimed as
appeared, and realized from his tone
that he wished TO do business with me.
"Scarfs to-day?" asked, when we
had greeted each other.
Ablakim laughed at the thought OF the
pleasure he was TO give me. He began
slowly TO display scarf after scarf, sllrug-
ging his shoulders at each new one, as
if it were scarcely worth his while TO
dazzle me with such repetitions OF beauty
At the bottom OF them all Ablakim went
through the act OF discovering treasure.
Having given me the merest glimpse
OF il, he put If hurriedly back, yet knew
that he meant TO sell it TO me.
pretended if had escaped me, and he
brought il out again. In spite OF myself
| gasped with admiration. Al each end
OF the scarf and on either side, worked in
myriad golden threads, were Eastern
baskets, from which grew golden trees,
that rose up and spread out in all kinds
OF symmetrically opposed golden trlit'
leaves and flowers. Reverse or diverse,
it was the same; end d.palient eyes and
cunning hands must have grown weary
month after month in the faShioning OF II.
"How much do you want?" ! asked.
"Sixty rubles."
"Of course" replied, land expect
il is worth il. But am a poor man and
must earn my own living. could not
think ofsuch aprice. You understand"
"But naturally" said Ablakin. "Yet
you must not think that these are my
scarfs. They are my cousins; he is
poor and must sell them. ! bring them
to you because we are friends, and try
10 help him. How much could you give?"
"Ten," answered, hoping 10 end the
matter by my low offer; and we talked
of other things.
As he was leaving, after drinking col
fee, Ablakim put on crafty look and
said, GIVE me fifty, and | will manage
my poor cousin" But the sum was
beyond me, and he went his way.
The next morning again found Ab-
lakim on my veranda, and we talked oi
many things before he came TO the point
Conversation veered round 10 relatives,
and he began telling me Of his cousin.
"He had bad luck last year in the vine
yards. The frost nipped his grapes, and
think he will sell that for forty rubles. "
1T is we'll worth it," ! answered.
"But am a poor man and must earn my
own living. could not think OF such a
price. You understand"
Again Ablakima understood and de-
parted. Two days later met him in
little, smoky coffeehouse in the mountains
He shared my red watermelon, and we
talked of the heat and the approaching
vintage. THAT Abdul" he said, my
cousin, should have great vintage, but
he has no money TO hire pickers, and
Yesterday his wife fell Ill. think he
will take thirty rubles for that scarf"
at is we'll worth it," replied. But
am poor man and must earn my own
living. could not think OF such price.
You understand"
Ablakim shrugged his shoulder and
crunched his teeth in the melon. We
were sitting on the little veranda, looking
down the valley that was already growing
mysterious III purple mistS. An old lataT'
with his womenfolk squatting in aioltlng,
long cart, passed by. He greeted Alba
kim in Tatar, and the latter spoke with
him, and pretended to be bowed in grief.
"What did he say2" asked, for Alb
lakim and have only Russian in COM
mon.
"My cousin-that fool Abdul" he said.
"has fallen sick, he says. He needs
workers in the vineyards TO take his
place. He would take twenty rubles, !
think"
at is we'll worth it," replied. "But
! am poor man and must earn my own
living. could not think of such a price.
You understand"
A few hours later as rode down the
winding road found detected figure
huddled by the path from the village.
"Barin," he called, "a boy has come 10
Tell OF my cousin-that Abdul-who
starveS. He will take your ten rubles."