The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-01-21

have funds available for the purchase of
his heroine. He resolved to have il il il
cost him f5, 200.
The day of the sale came, and the
auction.rOom was crowded. Baron
Stock had arrived early and obtained n
seat at the table where the Hebrew
dealers were. These gentlemen, who
have often their reasons for being civil
to a Judge, were particularly so to the
Baron, and made way respectfully for
him, divining that he must have come
for the Correggio, the only real gem in
the collection. The Baron, leaning
back in his chair, assumed an air of in
difference, and scarcely glanced at the
picture, though he stole sdelong looks
at it through the corners of his eyes.
1t was a little thing-not much more
than twenty inches square-the head of
golden-haired, blue-eyed girl moth
ing more, But what head and what
eyes! Our poor Baron was in love with
them, that is the plain truth.
! A few ordinary lots were disposed of
| first, then a dead silence fell upon the
room while the Correggio was passed
round the table. The Baron, who felt
himself being watched by the Hebrews,
| let it pass without notice, ard pretend
ed to be amorously admiring an arrange
ment in indigo and orange by some ge-
MUS of the contemporary school The
auctioneer began: "a beautiful and gem
! uine Correggio," said he, 1.-TWO thousand
! pounds"
1.-TWO thousand five hundredr' cried
somebody at the back of the room.
Three thousandr' said Baron Stock,
quietly.
q" Going for three thousandn'
"Three thousand fver' -Four thou
sandn' -Four thousand fiver' These
bids came in quick succession.
Give thousandr' said the Judge,
with slight CULVER in his voice.
Five thousand fiver' "Six thou
sandr' "Six thousand fiver'
"Seven thousandr' bawled Hebrew
seated opposited the Baron.
Going for seven fvei" cried the
auctioneer.
Eight thousand!' muttered the
Baron almost gasping.
Eight five" retorted the Hebrew,
like man who means to 90 on.
Baron Stock was livid. He cast at
the Hebrew a glance that would have
melted stone. The auctioneer raised
his hammer! Going for eight five!
Going! Going'-
The Baron could not afford to give a
penny more than he offered, but he
was seized with a sudden rage at the
thought that yonder Jew, who looked as
if his pouches were bursting with
rascally gold, had determined to beat
him, and he resolved that his adversary
should at least win his victory dearly.
mine thousand!' he cried. "Tenr'
was the immediate answer. Elevenr'
responded the Baron. "Twelver'
screamed the Hebrew. In this way they
forced the bids up to El5,000 where.
upon the jew began to look as if he
were getting out of his depth The
Baron was partially aechged1 Going
for fifteen thousand poundsn" shouted
the auctioneer. "Going = going -
goner'
The hammer fell on the desk, and 6
long murmur hailed the jews victory
But another jew, seated near the Baron
whispered: ''Pity, my Lord isn't it,
that such a pretty picture should go out
of EnglandP"
ais it going out of EnglandP" asked
the Judge, in a voice which he struggled
to keep firm, though it left his throat
hoarsely.
Eyes, my Lord, it's going tc
America"
"Oh," said the Judge; and he turned
away from the table with look on his
face which was deadly.
He walked out into the street, but
could not tear himself away from the
auction-room. He felt as if his life's
joy was in it. What, never see thai
thought of possessing FTP The notion
: made him groan. He could have sworr
that he had seen tears in the girls eyes
when he had last looked at her.
He strolled back into the auction
room. More than an hour had elapsed
since he left it, and the sale was over
All the pictures sold were ranged along
the walls, and there was the CorreggiC
with the jews card stuck in tho frame
Baron Stock looked around and saw
only two men in the room, two packer:
who apparently took him for somebody
connected with the establishment, fol
they paid no heed to him. The Judge
frame trembled all over He took the
jews card and crumpled it in hi
pocket; then he caught up the picture
to take one last look at it-one last
, look.
What a triumph for the painter
could he have seen this old man staring
at this picture with trimming eyes
There was no sentiment in the soul o.
| the Judpa OF thot moment INIT ono M
intense covetousness. Satan was war
ring with him. He drew the picture
closer to him; he opened his overcoat
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