Show THE ANTIQUARY PARADISE j by DESMOND F copyright 1906 by joseph vies it seemed almost inevitable ever since I 1 had read about the place in a daily of two years ago I 1 had fought the great temptation it was almost vanquished when in the second number of a new journal for collectors I 1 came up n a heading the antiquary s paradise I 1 p test I 1 tried not to read the artic e knew what I 1 should find the glo ries of the friday ino mart in the metropolitan meat market I 1 was de not to read it it I 1 did then I 1 told the female connoisseur and my fate was fixed we must go she said in grim resolve the female connoisseur has a great way with her we I 1 echoed dully you and I 1 was her stern answer I 1 tried diplomacy I 1 told her that it was a long way off it was no place for a woman here she snorted it was dirty very dangerous I 1 told her that halt the mysterious digap pe arances in the city were from that part of town this seemed only to rouse the spirit of romance in her her eyes alls bened oh won t it be fascinating you must put on the very dirtiest of clothes I 1 said with inspiration dress seemed the most vulnerable point otherwise they 11 batee their prices double it 11 be just like in a book she cried for a married woman the F is absurdly ungrammatical and youthful we shall have to make an early start I 1 meant this as discouragement she took it as an added joy yes we 11 creep out in our old things with the milkman let s say nine cl ck on friday next from here this seemed to clinch the matter nine clock on friday next t om here I 1 repeated vacantly and bald gaoa by my stock of tact ana pa tience was exhausted after all I 1 could solve the matter by I 1 bad nearly managed to forget in all sincerity on thursday when I 1 received a letter I 1 hope it said your cos tume Is ready mine is quite a tri this is only vo remind you we start from here at nine a m wet or fine it was not quite closing time for telegrams and I 1 dashed to the near est post office no antiquary s paradise it wet I 1 wired falsehood comes so easy on a telegraphic form then I 1 settled aown to pray tor rain james I 1 said to he butler I 1 may want calling at halt past seven to morrow it it s fine but mind went on very impressively I 1 hope flinn t wink it there should be drop of rain or any sign of to come I 1 shall not want calling un atil nine clock you understand it would not be my fault it james failed to wake me my conscience was entirely easy when james came in next morning I 1 merely felt a little sorry tor the fe male connoisseur alone in all her finery halt past seven sir said james I 1 leaped up what I 1 began to awful anger ah the weather 9 janes contin apfl it s just like summer to day A rare peace luck sir not a clo tta he drew the curtail swiftly letting lettl ng in a light that hurt lay eye I 1 suddenly resolved to oversleep myself but somehow I 1 could not really sleep and the thought of the F s disappointment came to beigh upon me I 1 determined to see the matter through but one thing I 1 would not do I 1 would not indulge her by putting on absurd odd clothes a dirty collar and the rest what was the use of if she had said they would take us then for dealers As though I 1 could tie mistaken tor a dealer or she either I 1 put on an ordinary morning suit and was at the F s house by nine clock she must have been most eager foi the trip she was ready and opened the front door at a first glance I 1 took her for the servant A mat kin tosh coat of a disreputable agi a stained and skirt of sergy a cheap bead chain were the things to strike me the F auit seyed dyer like me alta she smiled such playfulness so soon after breakfast struck me as close upon immoral looking back I 1 was in rather an unpleasant mood I 1 notice anything different I 1 said the F kept agreeable she al ways a man he laughed not notice I 1 hate sneers at the sex I 1 did no itce your dress I 1 said but it as usual look at the hat now that gives you away no common anson could ever yes she interrupted pleasantly pleasa atly but coldly I 1 borrowed it from liz then she stepped back oh but I 1 admit oure bet ter the tie the baggy knees oh you re perfect I 1 said nothing the F rather an noys me at times when she is silly of course she was trying to an noy me over the journey I 1 prefer to waste no words finally the mar ket came in view A bare unimposing place cobbles gutters palisades broken here and ther by little crowds clustered round some treasure spread upon the ground A close approach made the latter s na ture clear villainous faced men and women lolled against the rails staring with lack luster eyes at their stock in trade oddments of rubbish in every possible variety the ers to be for the most part displayed an equal lack of interest the was delighted what fascinating place she cried but I 1 noticed that she kept her gloves on and turned the fascinating treasures cautiously with the end of her urn brella the sellers lowered on her in resentment A a dealer she did not convince mentally they raised thel prices still she bought b aught till I 1 wats laden I 1 ought for the mere joy 0 buying the meat market might be the antiquary s paradise but this friday was clearly a day off her purchases included nothing in the least degree heavenly and not much that was antique she had got a scent bottle to fit a silver top at home a table bell a heavy frame and I 1 had dissuaded her from a pair of massive candelabra the stall holders would not deliver purchases she was just discussing an old hat designed for use on future expeditions suddenly she started back good gracious who d ever d 9 what have you seena I 1 murmured she was staring in nor down the lane of rubbish I 1 fol lowed her gaze it was mrs a few yards off sweeping along in the ex of fashion she must have read the same arti ole I 1 whispered secretly rejoicing mrs barningham Bar dingham raised her lorg bettes and scanned the F s cos tume coldly how dye do my dear she said languidly what a queer place I 1 see your carriage and she passed on cat hissed the F it one can hiss such words luckily I 1 m always smarter than she is the old frump I 1 thih w 11 go said the F in bedraggled tones probably I 1 made some pretense of resistance but it cannot been too convincing my spirits rose as we approached the exit once past the perilous cross ing where halt horses were being how dye do my dear she sa d languidly frantically galloped with a view to sale v should be clear of the vile place and I 1 knew that the F would not drag me there again suddenly she stopped oh she cried what Is ita it asked be careful t don t look that article said old masters were quite often bought here on that stall oh do be careful there Is titian I 1 m sure at last she let me look abe head was certainly dirty enough the colors mellowed algoet to irlby the F was herself again she attacked the man insidiously ached the price of endless rubbish and finally pointed with contempt at the ad master the F thought the price ho quoted very reasonable she bore it off triumphantly hug ging it face forward hoping I 1 think that some big dealer would make a noble offer for it and suddenly some one did exclaim in surprise hullo we both looked up it was mrs fenton smarter f possible than even mrs been buying she smiled how original yes I 1 got an old master the F bubbled with pride mrs fee ton thought that she was joking and laughed a cool rippling laugh ery old she said I 1 al ways thought t so marvelous how pears annual could afford to do it quite a gem now ts varnished she aughee again I 1 suppose there nothing good here she was gone she s envious said the F 0 chirse its old ita I 1 wonder its no well they t abw yes it Is look what is ita P unhappily there could be no beneath the dim toned varnish there was still legible in bold handwriting pears neither of us spoke it but the F 1 silently turned the picture s face towards her also she took a hansor home |