The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1888-01-13
THE HUGHES GIRLS.
Why Their Auction Sale Did Not
Come OFF.


The house stood ON corner that
had become valuable business prop
crty, MS real estate went in the little
Kentucky village. Adjoining it was a
dry-goods store; next to. that Bull
festivities one grocery; and across the
street loomod tobacco warehouse
that seemed to look down with an
amused smile on the tiny dwelling
daring to hold it's qWn against the on
slaughts of traffic.
The house was an implanted frame
one, whose hue had become sodden
blackish-gray, further darkened in
way Of contrast by the lines of daz-
zling white that marked the six small
panos of glass i'll each unshuttered
window, Behind the windows were
dark green shades with broad bands of
dull silver running around the margin.
There was one room upstairs; of the
two below, the front one opened
directly into bit of yard whose fence
seemed encroaching on the window
sill; faint simmer of grass was be-
ginning TO show itself in the inclosed
space, and with the single doorstep
scrubbed to nicely, which showed
gaping grains in the wood, the yard
was a very respectable place to sit in
on summer nights, when every one in
town came "out front"
The only incongruous thing about
the place was large bill posted beside
the door, announcing that this de-
sirable house, together with its COM
plete stock of furniture, was to be sold
at auction on certain date.
Every little while the door was
opened slightly, and woman's face
stole out far enough to see the placard.
In one of these outlooks the woman
advanced over the threshold with less
caution, and reaching out large bony
hand, rubbed her forefnger against the
edge of the bill.
She was over fifty, tall and gaunt,
clad in black alpaca gown cut low al
the throat in mn old-time fashion which
permitted the use of wide needle.
worked collar. Her nose, being of the
Roman variety, contrasted oddly with
small, weak chin, and with two child.
ish rows of thin gray eurls hanging
around the sinewy neck.
She took a pin from her dress bosom
and scratched the paper; then she
shook her head and closed her lips into
gray line.
Its dry" she whispered; 'it's
plumb dry, an boun' ter stick.
reckon-thet I'm right glad they pu
it up with good paste"
MAY Bell" said a voice from with
in the house, II low l wouldn't stan
out thar; folks or anxious ter fin on
all they kin, an your face'll tell 'em q
heap moro'n we want EN- ter know"
Il jes calkorlated ter see eff it looked
like rain fer ter-morrer," said Mar,
Bell, as she stepped back into thu
room, closing the door behind her.
There was a greenish gloom in tn
place, for The curtains were down, bu
it could not hide the careful disorde
of every thing. A rag carpet lay in
neat pile i'll one corner, four hair clotl
chairs stood back to back in an orderl,
row, and ON 4 marble-top table in TIL
center of the room was a collection 0
small articles with numbers pasted OF
them ready for the auctioneer
In the tiny kitchen opening out Q
the front room woman stood reach
ing glasses of jelly down from the to-
shelf of the closet. She was somewha
older than Mary Bell, but her counter
part in every respect, save that Their
was squareness about the lower par
of her face lacking in her sisters.
This black cuwan' joll i recko
Mis- Ames II buy" she said, placin,
some jars on the table ''She neve
he'd no luck dom up fruit, an he
folks goes heap on psarves. L,
ruther some I'm else d get EN-, fer
never he'd no use fer Mis- Ames; sh
wuz Hines, an the Hinses wuz tn
no.'countes' folks [ most ever see.
Mary Bell sighed. when we ergree
ter break up an go ter boardin', he