Short stories, American; United States -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction
“Please don't be offended,” said the fair collector. “I know what you
think. You've heard of my stupid collection, and I know you think
I meant to add this to it. But, indeed, now that I have had time to
think--you see I came here immediately from the pawnshop, and I was
so interested, like all collectors, you know, that I didn't stop to
consider. That's the worst of a hobby; it carries one rough-shod over
other people's feelings, and runs away with one. I beg of you, if you do
know anything about the coin, just to keep it and don't tell me, and I
assure you what little I know I will keep quite to myself.”
Young Latimer bowed, and stood looking at her curiously, with the medal
in his hand.
“I hardly know what to say,” he began slowly. “It really has a story.
You say you found this on the Bowery, in a pawnshop. Indeed! Well, of
course, you know Mr. Lockwood could not have left it there.”
Miss Catherwaight shook her head vehemently and smiled in deprecation.
“This medal was in his safe when he lived on Thirty-fifth Street at
the time he was robbed, and the burglars took this with the rest of the
silver and pawned it, I suppose. Mr. Lockwood would have given more for
it than any one else could have afforded to pay.” He paused a moment,
and then continued more rapidly: “Henry Burgoyne is Judge Burgoyne. Ah!
you didn't guess that? Yes, Mr. Lockwood and he were friends when they
were boys. They went to school in Westchester County. They were Damon
and Pythias and that sort of thing. They roomed together at the State
college and started to practise law in Tuckahoe as a firm, but they made
nothing of it, and came on to New York and began reading law again with
Fuller & Mowbray. It was while they were at school that they had these
medals made. There was a mate to this, you know; Judge Burgoyne had it.
Well, they continued to live and work together. They were both orphans
and dependent on themselves. I suppose that was one of the strongest
bonds between them; and they knew no one in New York, and always spent
their spare time together. They were pretty poor, I fancy, from all
Mr. Lockwood has told me, but they were very ambitious. They were--I'm
telling you this, you understand, because it concerns you somewhat:
well, more or less. They were great sportsmen, and whenever they could
get away from the law office they would go off shooting. I think they
were fonder of each other than brothers even. I've heard Mr. Lockwood
tell of the days they lay in the rushes along the Chesapeake Bay waiting
for duck. He has said often that they were the happiest hours of his
life. That was their greatest pleasure, going off together after duck or
snipe along the Maryland waters. Well, they grew rich and began to know
people; and then they met a girl. It seems they both thought a great
deal of her, as half the New York men did, I am told; and she was the
reigning belle and toast, and had other admirers, and neither met with
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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