Weekly Trinity journal., 1878-10-19
IRENE'S AUCTION.

saved ?" queruously questioned Mrs.
Arthur, her hands listlessly folded across
her lap, her air betollening utter helpless
ness, as she looked pitifully toward the
beautiful girl whom she addressed.
Nothing, mamma !" answered the
latter, drawing Aear as she spoke, and
kAeeling by the others side, while she
laid her finger caressiugly upon her
mothsr's pale cheek-"ony each other /;
but paps's death has taught us how much
that is. Don't worry, dearest. l hope
the sale will enable us to buy furniture
more suitable to the few rooms which Tor
time must be our future home, until l
can secure some pupils, and get the little
homo in the country where you are to
live, surrounded by birds and flowers, and
forget that he red flag ever waved from
your door"
They were brave words, bravely spok-
en- SO bravely as not to betray the effort
they cost the speaker.
Six months before, Irene Arthur had
reigned belle in her fathers magnificent
home, when, like u thundsrbolt from u
clear Summer sky, came that fathers
failure and death in quick succession, with
the lessons experience only teaches of
friends deserting in the hour Of need
little by little learning the necessity of
standing alone, and seeing hope drifting
further and further in tho distance, until
the present, with its absolute emergen-
cies, reused her to action.
The small head, set so regally upon the
slight, sloping shoulders, held itself more
regally still the red, full curved lips
were pressed more proudly together, as
lrene buclled on her armor for the fray
The hardest part was over now. Her
mother had been told Of the worst which
could belal them. She must now take
her from this spot, hallowed by memory,
before the Decorating foot OF strangers
entered 1t.
n few days search and she was re-
wardcd by finding, ia II quiet home, a
suit of rooms which met at once her
purse aud her requirements, in sad con
tras: to the elegant luxurlance with which
she haG been surrounded her life long, but
where, ut least, her mother was saved the
sight OF the red flag, which seemed to her
to be- dyed in her hearts blood.
as there nothing you would wish to
save, Miss Arthur ?" questioned " voice
at her s;de, the morning Of the sale.
She turned haughtly toward the stran-
ger something in his clear, blue eyes
bent upon her witnessed the words held
honest meaning.
II beg your pardon, sir" she answered
unable to disguise wholly the pride these
latter days had developed 50 toicibly. -
"l have not tho pleasure Of your ac-
quaintance."
1T is for me to beg pardon, | forgot
| might not be known to you personally,
though ain the ouctioneer appointed by
the estate. Your father once did mo Il
grea. kindness, Miss Arthur, and though
would not seem intrusive, | should ike
very much to preserve any article you
might desire"
With many thanks, sir, desire to TO.
ceive no iavors," she replied, codly, and
passed on, TO take one 1leetng look ere
she aed to the place she must now lea n
to call home, to be haunted all day by the
SQUAD of the auctioneer's hammer and the
voices of strangers, desecrating the halls.
But when, in the dusk Of tho evening,
cart stopped before ihe door, and one
by one articles halloWed by association ~
hor fathers chair, her own desk, her
mothers isvorlte pictures brought
in, tho feeling 20 long repressed gave way
to a burst of tears.
Who had done this thing3 For one
moment the honest blIe eyes which had
met her own that day rose Lefore her.
But, no such delicscy belonged not To
their owners rank of life. Nor was it n
strangers work. Some ono must have
known her well to have selected the few
things Il had been such bitter warfare to
pai I with.
They were, indeed, like old friends sent
TO comfort her, rs, in .he weary days that
followed, her tired eyes would rest upon
them in her bitter struggle for the daily
necessities of life for hersei-ths iuxu-
ries which to her mother had become ne
csssitios.
Busne. had thrown her more than
once with Earl Kenneth, the owner OF
the blue eyes. There had been matters
connected with the sale which had com
pelled her TO meet him, until he grew to
her almost as friend and at times she
would forget tho social gulf which sepa.
rated them she the once wealthy bank
er's daughter, he man who had risen
from the humblest ranks, but whose soul
was that OF noblemsn.
The friends she md once known, she
no longer knew. They rode she walked
and must stand on the curb to let their
carriage. Drift by.
Earls CHEEKY voice and pleasant smile,
her mother, too, grew to welcome, with
tho few choice flowers, or the early fruit,
he ever laid so quietly in Mrs. Arthurs
hand, growing daily paler and thinner.
But one evening, as he sat by Irsne's
side alone, very calmly, very truly, yet
with certain humbleness. he told her
that he loved her, and asked her to become
his wife.
IL cannot bear to see you struggle" he
said. "Once. ms you well know, | could
mot hnyn n.ked you to become my vile