The Newark ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1877-1???, 1880-08-07

by the man in charge ofti}e sale: and
such charming abode 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,"
eyelng the engraviDgs 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 sec how firm on their legs they
might be. In the bay window was d
large stand OF beautiful thrifty plants OF
which ] resolved to carry off at least
hall. Tie two floors above were neat
and pleasant; but it was the second
story back that wrung my heart. 1t
was the nursery. Toys and personal ar
tcles had of course been removed, but
there was pretty little bed beside the
large one, and two cunning little rock.
ing-chairs. Srhc windows looked out
on pleasant garden, and here was sit
ting old Mrs. Wiggan, with whom ]
had a little acquaintance.
Such charming house." said I,
nestP Do you know the familyPo
with her children SO comfortably and
happily, two or three dodgers on her
upper floor, until a few months ago
she lost everything by the failure of a
banking-house. 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 il
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
chair. l saw her q 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
mend1ng the last stocking-poor thing.
There are the little innocents al 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 al
that moment have relinquished the best
bargain in sideboards. Ned, too, the
dear old fellow, looked awiully 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 q 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 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
impetuous way was bidding in afashion
to astonish the secondhand men. He
swept everything before, him. Mrs
Nsiggan1 to be sure, stood him little
contest on the "set," and / laughed to
absorbed that several punches with INV
parasol had no effect whatever. "Was
there insanity in his familyPn / asked
myself By the time we reached the
parlor the secondhand men had skunk
away, the boarding house keepers looked
aghast. l made a brave stand for the
sideboard, but it was of no avail; and
indeed most ofus 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 Ade-
laide; of course. thought 1, he cannot
rid himself entirely of those old recol-
lections; but he knows very well the
sterling worth of Adelaide, and what
a charming, intelligent, devoted wife
she will make.
Z All had gone but Ned, myself and the
auctioneer. The latter knocked at the
door of the back parlor. =" "Come in"
said q 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 ourls was clingling 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 Just be-
hind me, ! suddenly heard the words:
My God! is it possibleP" and turning
saw him with face most indescribable
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.
Edwinw at last said Mrs. Graham :.
g Edwinw with voice and smile so
sweet and sad that did not wonder at
what followed.
Ned's ashen face suddenly flushed all
over. Lottlein he cried, stretching
his arms toward her, "Lottie, my be-
loved, have found you againP" and he
clasped her to his heart.
The queerest termination to an aIic-
tioni haveseeT many in my capacity
of housewife. but never one like this.
Mrs. Graham was the Captains daugh-
ter" and the generous imnulse of tho
honest Californian had restored his OLD
sweetheart her home-yes, and the
heart of her faithful lover.
Mamma said the little fellow,
shyly, g is this gentleman the auctioneer,
and will he take away all our pretty
thingsP"
+ No, my darling" said Ned, lifting
the child far above his head, and then
bringing the round cheek to the level
with his own lips, call your pretty things
will remain, you and mamma too"
And you, tooP" said BERTHE, cordially.
81 like you"
And SO these two, after years of sep
aration, were brought together again.
And in such an odd manner, tool I
couldn't help thinking how differently
/ should have managed 1t, had / been
writing story instead of acting part
In real life. should have found Mrs.