Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1881-02-17
IHEHE,s AUCTION.

"AAd all must go Oan asotIiihS,
be saved - querulonsly questioned
Mrs. Arthur, her hands listlessly
folded across her lap, her air be-,
tokening utter helplessness, as she
looked pititully toward the beauti-
ful girl whom she addressed.
"Nothing, MAMMA" answered.
the latter drawing nearer as she
spoke, aud kneeling by the others
side, while she laid her finger
caessingiy upon her mothers pale
cheek-s"oplY each other but
paoa's death has taught uu how
much that is. Don't worry, dearest,
I hope the sale will enable us to
buy furniture more suitable to the
few rooms which for a time must
be our home, until 1 can secure
some pupils and get the little home
in the country, where you are to
tive, surrounded by birds and flow
ers, and forget that the red flag
ever waved from your door,"
Thy were bfave words, bravely
spoken-so btately as not to betray
the effort they cost the speaker.
Six months before Irene Arthur
reigned a belle in her fathers mag.
nificent home, wi,eh, like thunder.
bolt from a clear summer sky,
came that fathers failure and death
IN quick succession, with the les
sons experience only teaches, of
friends deserting in the hour of
need-littls by little learning the
necessity Of standing alone and
seeing hope drifting further and
further in the distance, until the
present, with it's absolute energen-
cies, reused her to action.
Ike small head, set SO regally
upon the slight, sloping shoulders,
held itself more proudly together,
as Irene buckled on her artnor for
the fray.
The hardest part was over now.
Her mother had been told the
worst which could betall them.
She must now take her from this
spot, hallowed by memory, before
the .desecrating foot OF strangers
enter it.
A few days search and she was
rewarded by finding in quiet
hoese suit of rooms which met at
once her purse and her require
ments, in sad contrast to the elc-
giant luxuriancc with which she had
been sufr ounded her life long, but
! where, at least, her mother was
saved the sight sof the red flag,
which seemed to'her to be dyed III
her hearts blood.
els there nothing you would wish
| to save, Miss Arthur 2" questioned
q voice at her side the morning OF
the saie~ - - Ses~ ~ -
She turned haughtily toward the
stranger, but something in his clear,
! blue eyes bent upon her witnessed
the words held honest meaning.
81 beg your pardon, sir" she
answered., unable to disguise
wholly the pride these latter days
had developed SO forcibly-"I have
| not the pleasure of your acquaint-
ance. aanH2 Svc oAnng -
'sIt il tor me to beg pardon: ]
forgot l might not be known to
you personally, though l. am the
auctioneer appointed by the estate.
Yonr father once did me a great
kindness, and, though | would not
seem intrusive, Il wonl1 like very
much to preserve any article you
may DESIRE" 20
"With many, thanks, sir, desire
to receive no favors," she replied
cold;y, aud passed on, to take one
f1eeting look ere she fed to the
place she must now learn to call
home, to be haunted all day by the
sound of the auctioneer's hammer
and the voice of strangers, doc
ccrating the hall.
But when, in the dusk of the
levening, a cart stopped before the
door, and que by one articles hat
lowed by association--her fathers
chair, her own desk,.lscr mothers
favorite pictures-were brought in,
her feelings 30 long repressed gave
way to burst of tears:
Who had done this thing : oFor
enc usement the honest blue eyes
tlsaE bad met her own that day rose
before her. Bnt nol such delicacy
belonged not to their owner's rank
liz life. Nor was it . strangers
work. Some one must have known
her we'll to hsve selected the few
things it had been, such bitter war
fare to. part with. r1ess
They were, indeed, slike-old
friends sent to comfort her, as, i,
the weary days that followed. hef
eyes would rest upon them in her
bitter seraggle for the daily neces-
sites Of lie for herself-the luxu-
ries which 70 her mother had Der
| on,r,o ysaeneoiksea -