The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-07-17
Irene's Auction.


lessness as she looked pitifully toward
the beautiful girl whom she addressed
"Nothing, mamma" answered the lat
ter, drawing nearer as she spoke and
kneeling at the others side, while she
laid her finger caressingly upon her
mothers pale cheek-"only each other:
but papas death has laugh 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
for time must be our future home, I'M
til I can secure some pupils and get the
little home in the country where you
are to live, surrounded by birds and
flowers, and forget that the red flag ever
waved from your door.
They We're brave words, bravely
spoken-so bravely as not to betray the
effort they cost the speaker.
Six months before, Irene Arthur had
reigned a belle in her fathers magnif-
cent home, when like thunderbolt
from a clear Summer sky, came that
fathers failure and death in quick sue
cession, with the lessons only experience
teaches, of friends deserving in the hour
of need-little by little learning the
necessity of standing alone and seeing
hope drifting further and further in the
distance; until the present, with its alb
solute emergencies, 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 Irene buckledo on herarmor for the fray.
The hardest part was over now. Her
mother had been told the worst that
could befall them. She must now take
her from this spot, hall owed by mem DRY,
before the desecrating foot of strangers
entered it.
A few days search, and she was re-
warded by finding in quiet house,
a very comfortable suite of rooms
which met at once her purse and her re-
quirements, in sad contrast to the ele-
CANT luxuriance, 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
as there nothing you would wish to
save, Miss Arthur :" questioned voice
at her side, the morning of the sale.
She turned haughtily toward the
stranger, but something in his clear blue
eyes bent upon her witnessed the words
held honest meaning
81 beg your pardon sir, she answ cred,
unable to disguise wholly the pride these
latter days had developed SO forcibly-
81 have not the pleasure of your &C.
quaintance.
at is for me to beg pardon. l for
got I ght not be known to you per-
sonally, though I am the auctioneer ap-
pointed by the estate. Your father
once did me great kindness, and though
would not appear intrusive, l should
very much like to preserve any article
you may desire"
with many thanks, sir, / desire to
receive no favors," she replied eoldly,
and passed ON, to take one feeting look
ere she fled to the place she must now
learn to call her home, to be haunted all
day by the sound of the auctioneers
hammer, and the voices Of strangers,
desecrating the halls.
But when, in the dusk of the evening,
a cart stopped before the door, and one
by one articles hallowed by association
her fathers chair, her own desk, her
mothers favorite pictures-were brought
in, the feelings SO long repressed gave
way to burst of tears
Who had done this thing For one
moment the honest blue eyes which had
met her own that day rose before her.
But, no snch delicacy belonged not to
their owners rank in life. Nor was it
strangers work. Some one must have
known her well to have selected the few
things it had been such bitter warfare
to part with.
They were, indeed, like old friends
sent 10 comfort her, as, in the weary
days that followed, her eyes would rest
upon them in her bitter struggle for the
daily necessities of life for herself-the
luxuries which to her mother had become
necessities.
Business had thrown her more than
once with Earl Kenneth, the owner of
the hlue eves There had been matters