The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-03-25
Anderson ynteAlgellfer.
THE OLD BUREAU.
CHAPTER I.

that were exposed to be sold under the ham
mer. We had been there but few moments,
when we heard female voice inquiring, SIS
the old bureau to be sold to-day9" On look
ing ND, we perceived the question had teen
addressed to- Us by a young lady, whose SAD 1 out
pleasant countenance struck US at once. we
replied that all the articles spread Sd the side
walk would be disposed Of to the highest bid
der.
e should like this bureau. if il goes low
enough, she said, pointing to an old fashioned
article that was standing among other furni-
ture; "but never bought anything at auction
in NV life, and see no women here; don't
know as it would be proper for me to bid"
rs would be perfectly proper" we remarked,
ssbut if you wish it, will bid off the bureau
for-you."
esE you will, sir, will be greatly obliged to
Z you'' >.
: 'e35ow high are you willing should go7"
ssI don't know exactly how much it is worth,
but if it sells for three or four dollars you may
buy it" >,
iShall speak to hand-cartman to leave it
at your house." :.
aNo, sir, viii call at noon and settle for it
and take it away. I am very much obliged to
you for your kindness"
So saying, the young lady went away, leav-
ing us to wonder who she was, and of what use
the old piece of furniture could be to her.
We examined it-took, out the drawers-but
saw nothing remarkable about it. At eleven
O'Clock. when the auction commenced, we were
present, and after waiting near an hour, the
sauctioneer remarked, "we will now sell the bu.
reau. What will you give me, gentlemen ?''
One man offered two dollars, another three,
and we bid half.dollar more. Four dollars
were bid-four and half, and five dollars.
We were astonished that the old thing should
bring SO high q price. What could we do?
See it sold, and disappoint the lady? The
thought struck as that it might have belonged
to some friend, and she wished to purchase it
on that account, and rather than disappoint
her, we resolved to bid again. Six dollars were
offered by another to our astonishment; but
when our hand is in, we seldom let another
outbid us, and so We offered until the bureau
was run up to ten dollars-and We purchased
it for half dollar more. Certainly we would
not have given four dollars for it to use ourself
{ However, we bought it, and had it sent to our
room, telling the auctioneer that if lady
should call for it to inform her where it might
be found. We examined it again and again,
and began to regret our purchase, feeling al
most certain that the young woman would not
thank US for what we had done; but we never
mourn over q bad bargain. Our philosophy
will not permit US to do so.
A little after dark, as we were sitting in our
sanctum, the young lady came in, with an
apology for intruding, and remarked, "you
bought the bureau-so the auctioneer informs
me" =
eyes, I bought il at an extravagant price, l
assure you.
4What did you give s'
@Ten dollars and a half"
ssYon astonish me- What can do? had
no idea that it would bring over three or four
dollars, and am not prepared to pay for it TO-
night ,,.s = 40. s,o,;., :, ~. 70 .; ;ve 90
much for it; but presumed you wanted it
very much"
81 did, sir, and would not value paying dou-
bic the amount for the bureau, if were able,
rather than not have it."
$50 apprehended. Perhaps it may have
belonged to some friend of yours ?"
ayes, SIR, that bureau was once my mothers"
and noticed a tear come in her eye, which
she endeavored to conceal-"but she is dead
nov, andI wished to keep it in remembrance
of her,
Thinking the lady might be poor, we told
her that she might take the bureau that night
if she wished, and pay us for it when she found
it convenient. ~
Il am greatly obliged to you for your kind
ness, but1would rather that you should keep it
until it is paid fol"
We Urged her to take it, but she refused, say
ing, 81 will see what I can do, and call in a
day or two and see you," and bidding us good
evening, she left.
There is something very mysterious about
this woman, thought we. It may be that she
is poor, and perhaps in very destitute circum-
stances But she shows an excellent heart,
and the warmest attachment to deceased
mother. Her education must have been good,
and she has evidently seen better days. And
we thought the next time the child called upon
US, we would ascertain something more of her
character and circumstances perhaps her
name, which we felt anxious to learn.
In day or two the young woman called on
us again, and with tears in her eyes she re-
marked, "I do not know what you will think
of me, but all the money I have in the world
is FIVE dollars; this have brought you towards
the bureau you were so kind as to purchase for
me-" So saying she placed the money before
us in silver.
II shall not take the money at present." we
remarked. "I can do without it. You may
take the bureau, if you want; and when you
are able, at some future time, you may pay me
for i"
She expressed great deal of gratitude, and
said, 81 would rather you should take what
have :" and nothing that we could say would
induce her to take the money again.
"You appear to have seen some af1iction 2"
We remarked, as we saw the tears in her eyes,
"Not much, sir; must confess that have
net always been as poor IS I am at present; for
7 have seen better days. When my parents
were living, never knew what it was to want
for anything. Now cannot say So"
"How long have your parents been dead?"
.Ahout six years since my father died and
it was four years ago last Saturday, when my
mother was buried"
At the mention of her mothers name the
tears came fast to her eyes, tender chord was
touched-we saw it and made no more inqui-
ries-when she took her leave.
It was nearly six weeks before we saw the
young lady again. She then called upon us