The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-10-01
IaExE's AUCTION.

And all must go! Can nothing
be saved ?" querulously questioned
Mrs. Arthur, her hands listlessly
folded across her lap, her air betoken-
ing utter helplessness, as she looked
pitifully toward the beautiful girl
whom she addressed.
"Nothing mamma" answered the
latter, drawing nearer es she spoke
and kneeling by the other side,
while she laid her finger caressingly
upon her mothers pale cheek-"on-
ly rs but papa's death has taught
US how much that is. Don't worry,
dearest. hope the sale will enable
US to buy furniture more suitable TO
the few rooms until 1 can secure some
pupils and get that which for time
must be our future home, little
home in the country where you are
to live surrounded by birds and fow-
ers, and forget hat the red flag ever
waved from your door"
They were brave words, bravely
spoken-so brayely as not 10 betray
the effort they cost the speaker,
Six months before Irene Arthur
reigned belle in her fathers mag
nifcent home, when like g thunder
bolt from clear summer sky, came
that fathers failure and death in
quick succession, with the lessons
only experience TEACHES, of friends
deserving in the hour of need-little
by little seeing the necessity of
standing alone and seeing hope drift
ing further and further in the dis
tsnce, until the present, with its ab-
solute emergencies reused her to sc-
ton.
The small head, set so regally up
on the slight, sloping shoulders, held
itself more regaliy still the red, full
curved lips were pressed more proud
ly together, as Irene buckled on her
armor for the fray.
The hardest part was over now.
Her mother had been told the worst
which could befail them. She must
now take her from the spot hallowed
By memory, before the desecrating
feet of strangers entered il.
A few days search and she was
remarked by finding in quiet house
suite of rooms which met az once
her requirements, in sad contrast TO
the elegant luxarianee with which
she had been surrounded her life
long, but where, at least her mother
was saved the sight of the red flag,
which seemed to her TO be dyed in
her hearts blood.
lis there nothing you would wish
to save, Miss Arthur questioned q
voice at her side the morning of the
sale.
She turned haughtilytowsrd the
stranger, but something in his clear,
blue eyes bent upon her witnessed
the words held honest meaning.
IL beg your pardon, sir" she au-
swe.ed, unable to disguise wholly
the prize these latter days had devei-
oped 90 forcibly-"I have not the
pleasure of your acquaintance.
"It is for me TO beg pardon. Il
forgo. 1 might not be known to you
personally. although I am the auc-
tioneer appointed by the estate.
Your father once did me a great
and | thought / would not
seem intrusive, / should like very
much to preserve any article you
may desire"
with many thanks sir, 1 desire
to receive no fsvors,v she replied,
,oldly, and passed on, TO take one
ieeting look ere she fed to the place
she must now learn to call her home,
20 be haunted all day by the sound
of the auctioneer's hammer ard the
Toices Of strangers desecrating the
halls.
Bot when in the dusk of the even
ng cart stopped before the door,
and one by one, articles hallowed by
association-her fathers chair, her
own desk, her mothers favorite piet-
lres were brought in, the feelings so
ong repassed gave way to burst
,f tears.
Who had done this thing? For
,ne moment the honest blue eyes
hat had met her own that day rose
before her. But, no, such delicacy
belonged not to their owners rank in
ife. Nor was it strangers work.
Some one must have known her well
% have selected the few things it
had been such bitter warfare 20 part
with.
They were, indeed, like old friends
sent to comfort her, as, ln the weary
laws that followed, her eyes would
rest upon them il her bitter Struggle
'or the daily necessities of life for
Injuries which to her
mother had become necessities.
Business bad often before thrown
her with Earl Kenneth, the owner Of
The blue eyes. There had been mat
.ers connected with the sale which |
her to meet him, until be
grew to her almost as friend, and
1t times she would forget the social
gulf which separated them-she, the |
once wealthy bankers daughter; be !
B man who had risen from the hum
Dlest ranks, bat whose soul was that
,f a noblemsn.
The friends she had once known
;he no longer knew. They rode; she
walked, and must stand on the curb
TO let their magnificent carriages
drift BY.
Earl's CHEEKY voice and pleasant
smile her mother, too, grew to well
come, with the few choice flowers or
The ealy fruit he ever laid 80 quietly
y in MIRA Arthur's hand, growing
iaily paler and thinner.
Bot one evening be sat by Irene's
'ide alone. Very calmly, very truly,
yet with o certain humbleness, be
sold her be loved her, and asked her
to become his wife
IL cannot bear to. see you strug-
zle," he said "Onee, as you well
know, l could not ask you to become
nv wife, and though 1 have no. for
gotten dear, that l am Q man who
has only honor and ambition, | yet
can take you from this life of toll,
can shield YOU with nv breast. can