The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-05-03

on all hands. jew and gentle for once
had found a subject on which they
could agree.
Mr.. Filzroy was perfectly bewildered
and ran considerable risk of being re-
duced to the condition Somerset had
suggested previously. The latter
who was an old hand, came to his res
cue.
Don't be fool, Fitzroy, If they are
really yours. keep a cool head on your
shoulders. They tell me kilograms have
been on the go all over Europe about
those vases today. They are worth a
mint of money. Don't part with them
to any of these sharks.
On the steps of the hall the barrister
would have taken twenty pounds for
his chances from that days sale with
cheerful alacrity.
Mrs, Fitzroy was looking very white
The sudden turn affairs had taken was
almost too much for her.
Don't faint, my dear, remarked her
husband, The advice was needed. She
felt very like it. But woman's buttress,
curiosity to see the end, Sustained her,
If a woman were not curious she
would die more often than she now
does.
The sale began. Count Mirabeau's
collection was sold first. The junior
partner was the auctioneer. The counts
china was indeed magnificent and duly
appreciated. The bidding was active
and the prices adequate. Nevertheless,
throughout there was q restless feeling
of Impotence. More was coming
The bonnie bouch was kept to the last
thing.
There was a pause. Then, amidst
loud applause and great excitement, to
which it may be imagined the Fitzroys
were not wholly insensible, the two
vases were placed before Mr.. Woods,
the auctioneeT, in full view of the audi
ence. When silence supervened, Mr..
Woods said;
Gentlemen, we know next to nothing
about this china which stands before
you and of which you have just testified
your approval, We cannot give you its
detailed history. All we know is that
these vases have been hidden away in
country rectory IN the Midlauds for
forty years and more. Anything furth-
er back seems tote absolutely uncertain.
One thing, however, we do know abso-
lutely-the tinting IS the real Rose du
Barri. We thought there were only
five vases in Europe, the finest existing
examples of this beautiful ware. We
now know there are seven. The sixth
and seventh stand before you gentle
men.
Another round of applause greeted
The bidding began. Mr.. and Mrs.
To ,n hn
noticed, breathless with suppressed ex-
cItement, No one needed them. They
again played second fiddle to their own
property.
Five hundred pounds was the first
bid for the pair, A cheer empasized the
spirited start. A cool thousand was,
however, soon reached. Then there
was a pause amid silence which could
be felt and almost heard, Only three
bidders were left in. Every one under
stood that they were gathering their
forces for the final conflict.
1t is against you.my lord, the auction.
eer remarked quietly.
The hint was taken, and the bidding
began again.
Fifteen hundred guineas, An un.
answerable argument, The hammer
falls, The crowd cheers. The wealthiest
nobleman in England is the purchaser.
Mr.. James Fitzroy is the Weather by
one thousand five hundred pounds.
Mrs, Fitzroy marks her appreciation
of the gravity OF the situation and her
own good luck in true feminine fashion
by promptly fainting.
1t reads like romance, yet happens
to be perfectly true London World.