Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-07-22

ltairs.for his hat and cane.
So off we went to No. 81, where the
flaming flag announced the desecrption
of household gods. We wereladrnitted
by the man in charge of the sale; and
such charming abodel Not a down.
right curiosity shop, the effect OF deco
rative art run mad, but such taste and
ing enuity everywhmeviable. People
with shrewd, hard faces, boafdink-
house keepers, secondhand men, |"
eoeing the engravings and pretty water
eylors on the parlor wall, running their
greasy fingers over tile keys OF the piano,
turning chairs topsy-turvy, and shaking
tables 10 SEE how firm ontheir legs they
might sbe, = In the bay window was Q
large stand of beautiful thrifty plants OF
which I resolved to carry off at least
half. The two floors above were neat
and pleasant; but it was the second
story back that wrnng my heart. 1t
was the nursery. Toys and personal ar
ticles had of course been removed, but
there was pretty little bed beside the
large one, and two cunning little rock
lng-chairs. The windows looked out
on pleasant garden, and here was sit
ting old Mrs. Wiggan. with whom l
had little acquaintance.
"Such a charming house." said l,
lis it not a pity to break up this pretty
nestp Do you know the familyp"
Poor Mrs. Grahami She lived here
with lt, children so comfortably and
happily, two or three dodgers on her
upper floor, until q few paont hs ago
sheafost everything by the failure of a
clearinghouse. She had no relatives
in the city; has struggled on, tried to
get boarders, but the location is too re-
mote; she sees no way but To give it
up, place her children with friends in
the country, and try TO earn liveli-
hood by painting. She is said to be an
excellent artist. though I'm no judge
myselfs-zThesea are all herown pictures,
/ believe. She is shut up in the back
parior; everything taken out OF it but
chair. saw her few minutes ago.
The tear were running down her
cheeks, but there she sat, bravely
stitching on her children's winter
clothes, sewing on the last button. and
'mending the last stocking poor thing,
There are the little innocenS at play
nowin the yardm fA sA41A u oDB
Mrs. Wiggan herself (although she
had an eye on the best chamber set)
wiped away good generous tear; my
eyes were dim, and ] would gladly at
that moment have relinquished the best
bargain in sideboards. Ned, too, the
dear old fellow looked awfully sorry,
as he gazed meditatively out of the
window where the bright-eyed little
girl and the boy with fair long curls
were loading dirt into a tiny cart with
a miniature shovel. From the floor
above'came the sharp ring of the auc
tioneer's voice:
How much, how muchP Six dol
lars, did you say severn Six dollars,
seven dollars-gOne at sevenw
The auctioneer descended with his
followers into the front chamber. Be
fore / knew il Ned was there, and in his
impetuous way was bidding in fashion
to astonish The secondhand men. He
swept everything before him; Mrs.
Wiggan, to be sure, stood him little
contest on the set, and / laughed TO
see her glare at him, while he was so
absorbed that several punches with my
parasol had no effect whatever. Was
there insarity in his family?" | asked
myself. BY the time we reached the
parlor the secondhand men had skunk
away, the clearinghouse keepers looked
aghast. / made a brave stand for the
but it was of no avail; and
indeed most of us sat down leaving Ned
and the auctioneer to themselves. Every
article from the second floor down was
purchased that morning by the distin-
guished stranger.
This amusing turn of affairs rather
confirmed my hopes in regard to AIDE
laide; OF course. thought /, he cannot
rid himself entirely of those old recol-
lections; but he knows very well the
aA - l.1
n charming, intelligent, devoted wife
she will make.
AL IA d gone but Ned. myself and the
auctioneer. The latter knocked Mt the
door of the back parlor. Como in ~
said n voice, and the burly man swung
the doors aside. The mother was max
ing an effort TO rise, but the little fellow
with the fair curls was clInqling so
closely about her neck that she could
not readily free herself. As she arose
and came forward we saw the traces of
tears. the paleness of her face. the trem-
ulOusness of her whole form.
From Ned, who was standing lust be-
hind me, suddenly heard the words
" My God! is it possibleP" and turning
saw him with face most indescribab.e
In expression. Of course there was no
doubt about his being out Of his mind
too much auction had made him mad.
The fuctionccr, after opening the doors,
had been called suddenly away, and W
three now stood there-those two gaz-
ing at each other. and l at both.
. Edwinm at last said Mrs. Graham
" EdwinW with n voice and smile so
sweet and sad that did not wonder at
what folloYed.
Ned ashen az eesnd dNenly flushed III
over. NIAttisist ne cfied, stretehing
his armsI6ward her, ~I>ottie, n be-
loved, have | found yoa ngaiaF" nd Nc
claspef wAer tozhm heart - y
I'll e1Izsz teIlA d eo4 p An nEnuc-
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