The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-06-24

the house before the sale began, asked
Ned to have the goodness to excuse me
tor an hour or so.
oh, I will go with you, Mrs. Too
dies" said he, quite gayly. and ran up
stairs for his hat and cane.
So off we went to No. 81, where the
flaming flag announced the desecration
of household gods. We were admitted
by the man in charge of the sale; and
such charming abodel Not q down
right curiosity shop, the effect OF deco
rative art run mad, but such taste and
ingenuity everywhere visible. People
with shrewd, hard faces, boarding
house keepers, second hand men,
eyeing the engravings and pretty water
colors on the parlor wall, running their
greasy fingers over the keys of the piano,
turning chairs topsy-turvy, and shaking
tables to see how firm on their legs they
might be. In the bay window was a
large stand OF beautiful thrifty plants OF
which l resolved to carry off at least
half. The two floors above were neat
and pleasant; but it was the second
story back that wrung my heart. 1t
was the nul sery. Toys and personal ar
ticIes had OF course been removed, but
there was pretty little bed beside the
large one, and two cunning little rock.
ing-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 pity to break up this pretty
nestP Do you know the familyP"
o." Poor Mrs. Graham She lived here
with her children so comfortably and
happily, two or three dodgers on her
upper floor, until few months ago
she lost 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 a liveli-
hood by painting. She is said to be an
excellent artist, though I'm no Judge
myself. These are all her own pictures,
believe. She is shut up in the back
parlor; everything taken out of it but
Il chair. saw her few minutes ago.
The tears 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 innocents at play
now in the yard"
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 lie gazed meditatively out of the
window where the bright-eyed little
girl and the boy with fair long curls
were loading dirt into tiny cart with
a miniature shovel. From the floor
above came the sharp ring of the auc-
voice:
"How much, how muchP Six dol
lars. did you say sevenP Six dollars,
seven dollars-gone at sevenW
The auctioneer descended with his
followers into the front chamber. Be-
fore knew it Ned was there, and in his
way was bidding in q fashion
to astonish the secondhand men. He
swept everything before him; Mrs.
to be sure, stood him a little
contest on the set" and l 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?' l asked
myself. By the time we reached the
parlor the secondhand men Rad skunk
away, the clearinghouse keepers looked
lghast. ] 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.
of Ar,,, h.
my hopes in regard to Ade-
rid himself entirely of those old recol-
Iections; but he knows very well the
sterling worth of Adelaide, and what
I charming, intelligent, devoted wife
she will make.
All hrd gone but Ned, myself and the
auctioneer. The latter knocked at the
1 DOR of the back parlor. "Come in,"
said 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 clingling SO
closely about her neck thai 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 Just be-
hind me, suddenly heard the words:
- My God! is it posi- blep" and turning
saw him with a 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 auctioneer, after opening the doors,
had been called suddenly away, and we
three now stood there-those two gaz-
ing at each other, and at both.
"Edwin!" at last said Mrs. Graham;
. Edwinm with a voice and smile SO
sweet and sad that did not wonder at
what followed.
Ned's ashen face suddenly flushed all
over. "Lottie!" lie cried, stretching
his arms toward her, "Lottie, my be-
loved, have l found you again?" and he
;lasped her to his heart.
The queerest termination to an auc-
lion! have seen many in my capacity
Of housewife, but never one like this.
Mrs. Graham was the captains daugh-
-er." and the generous impulse of the
honest Californian had restored his old
sweetheart her home-yes, and the
heart of her faithful lover.
Mamma" said the little fellow,
shyly, . is this gentleman the auctioneer,
and will he take away all our pretty
thingsp"
No, my daring" said Ned, lifting
the child far above his head, and then
bringing the round cheek to the level
with his own lips, all your pretty things
will remain, you and mamma too"
{" And you, tooP" said BERTHE, cordially.
" like YOU"
And so these two, after years of sep.
aratinn Wera hrnnnht tosnth ha,. ..naisa