The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-07-08
IRENE's AUCTION.

And must all go: Can nothing be
saved" querulously questioned Mrs. Ar.
thur. her lands lis.lessly folded across
her LAP. her air betokeniug utter help.
lessness as sbe looked pitiiully toward
the beautisnl g,rl whom she addressed.
Nothing. msmma," answered the
latttr. drawing nearer ~ sue spoke and
kneeling at the others side. while she
laid her finger caressingiy upon her
mothers pale cheek-"only each other
but papa's death has taught Us how
much that is, Don't worry. dearest. l
hope tie sale will enable US to buy fur
niture more suitable TO the few rooms
which for . time must be- our future
home, until / can secure some pupils
and get the little home in the country
where you are to live. surrounded by
birds and flowers, aud forget ths. the
red flag ever waved from your door"
They were brave words. bravely
spoken-so brave as not TO bet.ay the
effort they COS, the speaker.
Six month. before. Irene Arthur had
rsiguei belle in b.r f,ther's maznifi- =
cent home, when like q thunder bolt
from = clear summer sky. came that
fathers failure and death in quick sue
ccssion, with the lessons only expert.
ence teaches. Of friends deserting in the
hour Of need-littla by little learning
the necessity of standing alone and see
ing hope drifting further and further
in the distance; until the present with
its absolute emergencies. reused her to
action.
The small head set 50 rexslly upun
the slight. sloping shoulders. held itself
more r-9Slly still the red. full carved
lips wers press more proudly together
~ Irene Ducklet on her armor 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. hallowed by memory.
before the desecrating foot of strangers
entered it.
A few days search. aud she Was re-
wsrded by finding in . quiet house. a
very com Portable suit Of rooms which
met at once her purse and her require
ments. in sod contrast to the Elegant
luxury. 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 I" questioned . voice
at her side. the morning of The sale.
She turned hAughtily toward the
stranger. but somethingin his clear blue
eyes bent upon her witnessed the words
held hOhcst meaning.
II beg your pardon. sir" she an
swered. unable to disguise wholly the
pride these latter days had developed
80 forcibly -"I have not the pleasure
Of your acquaintance"
1T is for me to beg pardon. for
got might not be known to you per.
sonally. though l am the auctioneer
appointed by the estate. Your father
once did ma great kindness. and
though l would not appear intrusive. l
should like very much to preserve any
article YOU may desire
With many thanks, sir. ! desire to
receive no favors." she said coldly. and
passed on. to take one ileeting look erc
she fed to the place she must now learn
81 call her home, to be haunted ell day
by tho sound Of tho auctioneer's ham
NOR. aud the voices Of strangers. desc
Grating the halls.
But when. in the dusk Of the even
ing, q cart stopped before the door. and
one by one articles hallowed by associ.
stion---her fathers chair. hcr own desk,
her mothers fsvorite piciures-wers
brought in. the feelings 30 long sup.
pressed gave way in . burst Of tears.
Who bad done this thing! For one
moment the honest blue eyes which had
met her own that day rose before her.
But. no! such delicacy belonged not to
their owners rank 10 life. Nor WAS it
. strangers work. Some one must have
known her we'll to have selected the
few things it had been such bitter var.
fare TO part with.
They were. ..iudeed, like old friends
sent TO comfort her. ss, in the weary
days that followed. her eyes would
rest upon them 10 her bitter struggle
for the daily necessities Of life for her
self--the luxuries which to her mother
had become necessities.
Business had thrown her more than
once with Earl Kenneth. the owner Of
the blue eyss. There hsd been matters
connected with the sale which had
compelled her to meet him. until he
grew to her almost as . friend. and at
times she would forget the social gulf
which separated them-sbe. the once
wealthy bankers daughter. be. . man
who had risen from the humblest ranks,
but whoss soul WAS that Of noblemau.
The friends she bad once known, she
no longer knew. They rode, she walked
and must stand on the curb to let their
carriages drift: BY.
Earl's CHEEKY voice and pleasant
smile, her mother. too. grew to vel
come, with the few choice howers. or
the early. fruit. he ever laid 50 quickly
in Mrs. Arthurs hand, growing daily
paler and thinner.
But one evening. as he sat by lrenes
side alone. very calmly. very truly. yet
with certain humbieness, he told her
that be loved her. and asked her to be-
come his wife.
II cannot bear to 80 you struggle.
he said. 'Oncs. ss you well know.
could not have asked you to become my
wife; and though have not forgotten.
dear, that au . man who has only
honor and ambition, yet l can take
YOU from this life OF toll. can shield
you with NV breast, can toll tor you