The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-08-25
THE HUGHES GIRLS AUCTION.

The house stood on corner that had
become valuable business property, as
real estate went in the little Kentucky
village. Adjoining it was a dry -goods
store; next to that, Bulletsville's one
grocery; and across the street doomed
tobacco warehouse that seemed to look
down with an amused smile on the tiny
dwelling daring to hold its own against
the onslaughts Of traffic.
The house was an unpsinted frame one,
whose hue had become sodden black
ish.gray, further darkeDed in wsy OF con-
trast by the lines of dazzling white that
marked the six small panes of glass in
each unshuttered window. Behind the
windows were dark green shades with
broad bands of dull silver running around
the margin. There was one room up
stairs; of the two below, the front one
opened directly into a bit OF yard whose
fence seemed encrosching on the win
dow-sill; faint simmer of grass was be-
ginning to show itself in the enclosed
space, and with the single doorstep
scrubbed to nicely which showed gap
ping grains in the wood, the yard was
very respectable place to sit in on sum-
mer nights, when every one in town
came "out 'front.'"
The only homogeneous thing about the
place was large bill posted beside the
door, announcing that this desirable
house, together with its complete stock
of furniture, was to be sold at auction on
a certain date.
Every little while the door was opened
slightly, and womsn's face stole out
far enough to see the placard. In one
of these outlooks the woman advanced
over the threshold with less canton, and
reaching out large bony hand, rubbed
her forefnger against the edge Of the
bill.
She was over fifty, tall and gaunt, clad
in bleak alpaca gown cut low at the
throat in an old-time fashion which per-
mitted the use of a wide needle-work col
lar. Her nose being of the Roman va
riety contrasted oddly with small, weak
chin, and with two childish rows of thin
gray curls hanging around the sinewy
neck.
She took pin from her dress bosom
and scratched the paper; then she shook
her head and closed her lips into gray
line.
sits dry" she whispered; SITS plumb
dry, an boun' fer stick. 1 reckon-thet
I'm right glad they put it up with good
PASTE"
"Ma'y Bell" said voice from within
the house, 81 low l wouldn't stan out
thar; folks er anxious ter fin out all they
kin, an your face'll tell 'em heap more'n
we want 'em ter know
81 jes calkerlated ter see Of it looked
like rain fer ter morrer," said Mary Bell,
as she stepped back into the room, clos
the door behind her.
There was greenish gloom in the
place, for the curtains were down, bat
it could not hide the careful disorder of
everything. A rag carpet lay in neat
pie III Ou6 OOTuOIs lOuI hnlA SAOuh OlAoAhS
stood back to back in an orderly row, and
on a MAJ BILE top table in the center of
the room was collection OF small srti-
cles with numbers pasted on them ready
for the auctioneer.
In the tiny kitchen opening out Of the
front room woman stood reaching
glasses of jelly down from the top shelf
of the closet. She was somewhat older
than Mary Bell, but her counterpart in
every respect, save that there was a
squareness about the lower part Of her
face lacking in her sisters.
"This black currsn' iell 1 reckon Mis-
Amesll buy she said, placing some jars
on the table. "She's never he'd no luck
dom up fruit, an her folks goes heap
on p'sarves. L ruther some un else'd get
'ern, for never he'd no use fer Mis- Ames;
she wuz Hinee, an the ILLNESSES wuz the
no+countes' folks / most ever see"
Mary Bell sighed. "When We ergreed
ter break up an go ter boardm', he'd no
dee thet ev'ything'd hev ter be sold; 1