The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1882-09-16


was an old cedar cabinet, brass bound
and stamped, but rusty and forlorn
looking enough in its changed for
tunes. labeled it, as / thought, for
our next days sale, as there were two
others to 60 West, and the home mar
ket was then going as crazy for any
thing old, but parents and friends, a.
either the West or North.
But subsequent events discovered
my mistake. Our Saturday sale was
big one, the rival house across on the
corner hadn't a chance against US that
daY-and by noon every article put
up was bid off lively and quick.
The crowd had begun to thin, and
was busily hopping my wet face
with fresh handkerchief-fo it is
warm work, can tell you, to cry such
sales from ten till one o'clock-when q
lady came back in the store where I
was standing and approached me
eagerly.
"Are you the proprietor, sir ?" she
asked, with nervous haste, and [
saw she was trembling.
II am the auctioneer, madam" L
said, wondering what was wrong. 81
will call the firm if you wish"
She looked around, timidly but
eagerly.
"Perhaps you can attend to my bus.
mess. understand
these-matters-ver she fall
tered. and then / saw she was poorly
clad, although well bred and timid.
I drew an old chair up into the cor
ner and asked her to sit down, and as
she did SO gratefully-poor little
woman II took good look at her.
She was still young and pretty.
Behind her hung long mirror. 1t
had grown dim hanging there and
, had misty shadow over it, and in
the two angles of the corner stood q
faded old Japanese screen and tall
chest of drawers.
The store was now empty and the
light was leaving 1t, as the sun was
creeping away from the door-sill and
mounting up to the roof, as if he had
only waited for the sale to be over.
The lady had face that touched me
ut once. She was pale and timid, but
there was that in her face that made
me take off my hat while 1 talked to
her. don't know how to express it,
but it was as if stood in the presence
of death, and the natural reverence of
that great mystery commanded ny
respect. r....
What can I do for you, madam ?n
1 asked.
She had been looking all around her
as if seeking something. 5a
sa"You sell the goods, do you mott"
she said, eagerly.
Eyes, madam"
"You would know the articles sent
here?n
Probably" ...--.---
She looked about her again and the
color came and went in her face ner-
vously.
II have just come from Clutchem &
Keep" she began in hurried tones, as
if ashamed of admitting her knowl-
edge of those gentlemen. "They-had
--some-things-I was forced-to-
part-with-" Here she paused for a
moment; then lot ked upat me With q
faint smile. "You hear this said SO
often that I will only tire you"
Somehow or other it seemed to me /
had only then understood the posi-
bihty ola heart sorrow being attached
to the exchange OF goods such as 1 had
that day sold.
81 an anxious to help you, madam"
And was 1 believe I was
growing superstitious, too; for it
seemed to me as if a ghostIy pageant
was crossing and recrossing that dim
mirror, and the old screen shook as If
signs or eobs were coming from it.
THANK you! am looking for
cedar cabinet" said the lady, gently,
(Which was among the articles part
ed with to Clutchem & Keep, and am
told it was sent here for sale, I wish
to redeem 1t at any price,
She stopped suddenly as my face
changed.
A cedar cabinet
q remembered it at once. The hurt
on my hand recalled it, also that it
had been labeled for that days sale.
She grew frightened at my hesita-
ton. a
,a ''Do not say it is gone,n she cried,
rising quickly, and grasping my arm.
"Oh, God would not SO afaict ne
Look, look everywhere for it, / beg
I pray you.n
Her hands shook so on my arm that
I could feel the quivering of the thin
fingers.
I tried to think to whom had sold
q cabinet that day, then it flashed on
me that there had not been one in
the catalo ue.
Had / made a mistake and sent it