The Osceola times., 1880-11-06
il not a pity 70 break up this charming

per floor, until few months ago she lost
everything by the failure Of a banking
I house. She had no relatives in the city;
has struggled on; tried to get bosrders,
| but the location is too remote; she sees
no way but TO give it up, place her chill
| dren with a friend in the country, and
try to earn livelihood by painting.
She is said 10 be an excellent artist,
/ though | am no Judge myself These
/ are all her own pictures, believe. She
is shut up in the back parlor-eyerythlng
/ taken out of it but a chair. ] saw her
| o few minutes ago. The tears were run
ming down her cheeks, but there she sat,
brayely stitching on her children's win
/ ter 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 a good, generous tear; my eyes
were dim, and ] would gladly at that
moment have relinquished the best bar
gain in sideboards. Ned, too the dear
| old fellow, looked awtully sorry, as he
| gazed meditatively out of the window
where the bright-eyed little girl, and
the boy with fair, long curls were load
ing dirt into tiny cart with miniature
shovel. From the floor above came the
sharp ring of the auctioneer's voice:
"How much, how much? Six dollars,
| did you say seven? Six dollars. seven
dollars-gone at sevens
The auctoneer descended with his
! followers into the front chamber. Be-
| fore knew 1t Ned was there, and IN his
impetuous way was bidding in a 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 laughed to see
her glare at him, while he was SO alb
sorbed that several punches with my
parasol had no effect whateee "Was
there insanity in his familyw | asked
myself BY the time we had reached
the parlor the secondhand men had
skunk away, the clearinghouse keepers
looked aghast | made brave stand
for the sideboard, but it was of no avail;
and. indeed, most of us sat down, leaving
Ned and the auctioncer to themselves.
Every article from the second floor down
was purchased that morning by the dis
tinguished stranger.
This amusing turn of affairs rather
confirmed my hopes in regard to Ade-
laide; OF course, thought |, he cannot rid
himself entirely OF those old Tecolec-
tions, but he knows very well the sterling
worth of Adelaide, and what q charming,
intelligent, devoted wife she will make.
All had gone but Ned, myself and the
auctioneer. The latter knocked at the
door OF the hack parlor.
"Come in said voice, and the burly
man swung the doors aside. The mother
was making an effort to rise, but the little
fellow with the fair curls was clinging 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 tremu-
lousness of her whole form.
From Ned, who was standing just be-
hind me, suddenly heard the words:
"My God! is it possible?" and, turning,
saw him with face of most indiscrIb-
able 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 gazing at each other, and looking
at both.
edwin" at last said Mrs Graham;
"Edwinl" with a voice and smile SO
sweet and sad that | did not wonder at
what followed.
Ned's ashen face suddenly flushed all
over.
"Lottiel" he cried, stretching his arms
toward her. "Lottle, my beloved, have
found you again." and he elaspcd her to
hls heart.
The queerest termination Of an auc-
| ton! i have seen many in my capacity
of housewife, but never one like this!
! Mrs. Graham was the Captains daught-
err" 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, lis this gentleman the auction
eer, and will he sell all our pretty
thlnGs2"
"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, "all your pretty things
will remain, you and your ma ma,
too"
And you, too?" said Bertie, cordially.
Il like you"
| And so these two, after years Of sepa-
ration, were brought together again,
And in such an odd manner, too!
couldn't help thinking HON differently
should have managed it, had | been
writing story instead of acting a part
in real life. | should have found Mrs
Graham first, and sympathizingly won
her to tell the story of her troubles. OI
course, she would have mentioned Ned
and, of course ! should have seen at q
glance that shd loved him still And
then | should have been the good angel
to bring them together, and merit and
receive their lifelong thanks. and, in
stead of that, mere was Barney acting
the part of an angel without knowing it
and my chance for romantic adventure
spoiled forever. 1t was shameful, alb
ominable, and then my plans for Ade.
laide and Ned, of couIse it WAS clear that
they never could succeed now. And yet
felt delighted.
went home leaving Ned at No. 81
What heavenly change for Mrs. Gra-
ham! How different from that OF the
morning looked the sunlight of this
afternoonl Her home intact-her little
ones safely nedr-the prospect of the
lonely garret faded away like trightiu
dream. And Ned. happy as . clam, fol
having remembered the widow and tn,
tatherless. | had them all to dinner
that night. Mrs. Graham is charming
| will say it even if Adelaide dies an ole
maid.
There will be a wedding soon at No
81 | have already received as present