Jamestown alert., 1880-11-09
might be. In the bay-window was a
large stand of beautiful thrifty nlants

h1!i. Ihe two floors above were neat
and pleasant; but it was the second
story back that wrung nv heart r.
was the nursery. Toys and personal
articles had Of course been removed
put there was pretty little bed beside
the large one, and two cunning little
rocklng,chairs. The window looked out
on a pleasant garden, and here was
sitting old Mrs. Wiggan, with whom /
had a little acquaintance.
g; such charming house," said I,
Is ltnot pity to break up this charm
ing nest? DO you know the family?"
-, Poor Mrs. Graham She lived here
With her children so comfortably and
happily, two or three lodgers on her up
per floor, until a few months ago she lost
everything by the failure Of a banking
mouse. She had no relatives in the city;
has struggled on, tried to get boarders,
but the location is too remote: she sees
no way but to give it up, place her chill
dren with friend in the country. and
try to earn livelihood by painting.
She is said to be an excellent artist,
though l am no judge myself. These
are oil her own pictures, believe. She
is shut up in the back parlor- everything
taken out of it but chair. I saw her
few minutes ago. The tears were run
ring down her cheeks, but there she
sat, bravely stitching on her children's
winter clothes, sewing on the last but
ton 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 I would gladly at
that moment have relinquished the best
bargain in sideboards. Ned, too. the
dear old fellow, looked awfully sorry, as
be gazed meditatively out of the win
dow where the bright-eyed little girl,
and the boy with fair, long curls were
loading dirt into tiny cart with min
iature shovel. From the floor above
came the sharp ring of the auctioneer's
voice:
"How much, how much? Six dol
lars, did you say seven? Six dollars,
seven dollars-gone at seven T.
The auctloneer descended with his
followers into the front chamber. Be-
fore I knew it Ned was there, and in his
impetuous way was bidding in fashion
to astonish the secondhand men. He
swept everything before him Mrs. Wig
gan, to be sure, stood him little con-
test on the "set," and I laughed to see
her glare at him, while he was so alb
sorbed that several punches with my
parasol had no effect whatever. "Was
there insanity in his family ?" I asked
myself. By the time we reached the
parlor the secondhand men had skunk
away, the boarding house keepers looked
aghast. I made a brave stand for the
sideboard, 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 dis
tinguished stranrer.
This amusing turn Of affairs rather
confirmed my hopes in regard to Ade-
laide Of course, thought I, he cannot
rid himself entirely of those old recol-
lections, but he knows very we'll the
sterling worth of Adelaide, and what a
charming, intelligent, devoted wife she
will make.
All had gone but Ned, myself and the
auctioneer. The latter Knocked at the
door 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 clinging so closely
about her neck that she could not readi-
ly free herself. As she arose and came
forward we saw the traces of tears, the
pa]eness of her face, the tremulousness
of her whole form.
From Ned, who was standing just be-
hind me, I suddenly heard the words :
"My God is it possible?" and, turn
ing, saw him with face most indie
scribable 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-tnose
two gazing at each other, and I at both.
"Edwin p at last said Mrs. Graham ;
s'Edwin |" with voice and smile SO
sweet and sad that did not wonder at
what followed.
Ned's ashen face suddenly flushed all
over. "Lottie p he cried, stretching
his arms toward her. "Lottie, my be-
loved, have I found you again ?" and he
clasped her to his heart.
The Queerest termination to an auc-
ton! I have seen many in my capacity
of housewife, but never one like this.
Mrs. Graham was the "Captain's daugh-
ter" 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,
slowly, els this gentleman the auction
eer, and will he take away all our pretty
things?''
"No, my darling," said Ned, lifting
bringing the round cheek to the level
with his own lips, call your pretty
things will remain, you and your man.
ma, too"
'.And you, too?" said BERTHE, cor
daily. II like you."
And so these two, after years OF sepa-
ration, were brought together again.
And in such an odd manner, too! I
couldn't help thinking how differently I
should have managed it, had I been
writing story instead of acting part
in real life. 1 should have found Mrs.
Graham first, and sympathizingly won
her to tell the story of her troubles.
Of course, she would haye mentioned
Ned, and, of course, should have seen
at q glance that she loved him still. And
then should have been the good angel
to bring them together, and merit and
receive their life long thanks, and, in
stead Of that, here was Barney acting
the part Of an angel without knowing it,
and my chance for q romantic adventure