The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-03-08
THE AUOTIONEER,s STORY,

never thought so until my attention was
called to the fact by little incident that
happened to me. | don't know as it
made me any wiser, but it made me
more.thoughtful about the joys and sor-
rows of my fellow beings. < s.~g E
had cried a dozen of pawnbrokers'
sales in my time, but / had never
thought of the story connected with my
article of sale. 1t was but joke to me;
but as / said before, something made me
think, and ever since l haven't had the
same heart to cry away the goods of the
poor creatures that want and misery
have driven into Old Two to Ones
clutches.
The city of BIS splendid market
for our business, and the pawnbrokers
give us some of our biggest sales. An
odd lot came into the wareroom one day,
consigned to us by Clutchen 6 Keep.
AS it fell to my duty to assort and label
the goods, it also fell to me to have a
part in the following story:
The consignment consisted mainly of
glass and silverware, but in the lot l
came across few pieces of furniture,
which attracted my attention from the
fact of our having an order from
Western house to pick up all the antiq-
uities afoat for bric-a-brac firm.
Here were about dozen specimens
Of uncomfortable chairs, some glasses
and cabinets, and at once labeled them
sold, that they might be forwarded at
once to our Western house. One article
alone | noticed with attention enough to
remember afterward, and then only be-
cause | struck my hand against it, and
the pain made me stare hard at the
cause of it. 1t was an old cedar cabi-
net, clamped and brass-bound, but for
lorn-looking enough in its changed for
tunes. labeled it as thought for the
next days sale, as there were two
others to go West, but subsequent
events discovered my mistake. Our
Saturday sale was a big one, and by
noon every article put up was bid off
lively and quick. The crowd had begun
to thin, and | was mopping my wet face
when lady came to the back store
where was and approached me eager
ty.
''Are you the proprietor, sir?"r she
asked with nervous haste, and saw
she was trembling.
II am the auctioneer, madam, Twill
call the hrm II you wish. .s.-.
She looked around timidly but eagerly.
''Perhaps you can attend to my busi-
ness. Lido not understand these
matters very well,'' she faltered.
drew chair into the corner and
asked her to sit down, poor little thing.
took a good look at her. She was still
young and pretty.
The store was now empty, and the
light was leavening it, for the sun was
creeping up to the roof as if he had only
waited for the sale to be over. q
The lady had face that touched me
at once; she was pale and timid; but
there was that in her face that made me
take off my hat to her. [ don't know
how to express it, but it was as if stood
in the presence of death, and the natural
reverence for that mystery commanded
my respect.
What can do for you MADAME"
| asked.
She had been looking all around her
as if seeking something.
| ''You sell the goods, doyou not?" she
asked, eagerly. s
"Yes, madam"
''You would know the articles which
| have been sent here?'
'.Probably."
She looked about her again, and the
color came and went in her face.
81 have Just come from Clutchem &
Keep. They had some things l was
forced to part with" Here she paused
for moment, then looked up at me
with faint smile. ''You hear this said
so often it must weary you"
10 I hnd lx
then understood the possibility of a
heart story being attached to the ex-
change of goods such as had that day
put under the hammer.
Il am anxious to help you madam >
believe was growing superstitious
for fancied a ghostly pageant was
crossing and recrossing the old mirror
which hung beneath the lady.
Thank you. I am looking for 6
cedar cabinet, which was among the ar
ticles 1 sent to Clutchem & Keep, ant
am told it was sent here for sale. Iwisl
| to redeem it at any price"
She stopped suddenly as my face
changed. A cedar cabinet! l remem
! bered it at once. The hurt on my hanC
recalled it, also that it had been labeled
for the days sale. She grew frightened
at my hesitation. cir.a.-
"Do not say it is gonen' she crie(
rising quickly and grasping my arm
''Oh, God would not SO afiict me! Lool
everywhere for it, [ beg you, pra.
youn'
Her hand shook SO on my arm that
could feel the quivering of her fingers
| tried to think TO whom j had sold ;
cabinet that day; then it flashed over MI
that there had not been one in the cata
logue. Had made mistake and sen
! it Westp If SO, it could berecovered.
felt glad for my error, but the poor lit
tie woman mistook my silence and brok
& down completely, and then | knew tha
/. some great cause lay beneath her desir
to reclaim the cabinet. ,-ss5H
'sIt is more to me than life or death
1t means my ehildren's honor. Listen
and you will be influenced by my grea
need to find this cabinet for me. / be
lieve it contains the certificate of m
marriage and my children's baptism
without which cannot claim my hus
bands estate in France. 1t is not th
: money / want. but my children mus
not be deprived of the right to thei
father nameph