The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-08-13
THE HIGHEST BIDDER.

| uuL HOuc DIS Dl4S anu SoltdiliiS iO
young girl of is had more suitors or knew
better how to refuse them and still keep
them at her feet.
Now, Peggy had stepmother and no
father. and like the traditional stepmother,
this one was hard to live with. Perhaps
Peggy was n little to blame herself, for she
strongly objected being dictated to, even
| when, as Mrs. Hildreth would inform her,
at was only for her own good; but as it was
| only the week before she had been heard TO
say she SHOULD be glad when that witch
was well married and out of the house," we
can hardly blame Peggy for not having I'M
| questioned faith in Mrs. Hildreth's desire
| for her good.
One afternoon, when thes two had had
few words of anything but an amiable ma
ture, the servant announc ed caller for
Miss Peggy. Mr.. Jack lie size OF the Sew
enth Regiment it appeared IT ON the card.
and Peggy fastened TO meet him, looking,
with her sparkling blue eyes and golden
| curls, gowned in short-waisted white mus
| lin tied up under the arms with q broad
sash, like an animated Kate Greenaway
| picture.
"Uh. Jack, I'm so glad you've come! Mrs
II. and have been having it again. although
/ came out ahead" with laugh.
LAS usual, | see. But what were you
| quarreing over this time?"
Well, III tell you. called that young
| which, and as lie is diStantly related to Mrs
Ii. she naturally objected. We argued the
matter to some length and then she told me
| to prove my statement or take it back. |
said could, aud that she would agree with
me if she had only heard him propose the
| other night.
1T was done in this way" and Peggy
stood up at an angle of 40 degrees and toyed
with an imaginary eyeglass: "'Weally.
| Miss Hildweth, you WEAKLY must do me the
| Rtl-pNtTpma kindness N
| and au-estates, dOncherknow, and then
after that she gave in, and Peggy took two
| waltz turns and then sank into an easy-chair
and said:
Now. Jack, let's have it. know you've
| brought some good news by the disagreeable
| way the lines in your forehead run"
We'll, you've guessed Alright so just
| catch your breath while | relate all | know.
| The Seventh intend giving bail on the 81
of next month, and Eve come over to invite
you early, so there can be no mistake about
your going with me-"
Really; honor bright; cut your throat
Oh, how lovely. How nice of you to come
over and tell me before the other girls know
| anything about itP'
"Well, as long as you don't thro me
over at the last minute for Oyerale or any
of the " Wainwright boys | shall feel repaid.'
Peggy actually cOlured, for HOwarth Over
ale was one of the few men whom she could
not bring to her feet Not a very handsome
man, but tall and distinguished looking, bear
| ing himself like the true, honest soldier that
he was. He had often watched Peggy Hill
dreth from ataI and contraSted her with the
| pale, tired, invalid sister he had at home in
far-away Montana. Jack Leslie had pur-
| poSely mentioned Overale just to tease
| Peggy. He had always known her, aud as
| she peStered him when it suited her mood,
he once in n while retaliated.
1t was war TO the knife between the two
! until Jack lett and then Peggy went up
stairs TO pull over some old trunks of her
own mothers to see what she could fnd
| suitable to wear to the bail. She came
across a beautiful white brocade with tiny
| pink rose buds embroidered over it.
Now" she Soiioquized, this would just
suit me made mp with little Of this Honi-
| ton lace. Mrs. Hiidreth will faint with hor-
ror al the idea, and say I'll look like my own
grandmother. Then, perhaps, somebody
| Will fall in love with my own grandmother
| Now FL put ii on aud dance the minuet
| with somebody's grandfather | wished the
| somebody's grandfather looked like Howarth
| 0yeralle, the hateful old thing. I'd like the
fun of refusing him. Now, Peggy, wait a
moment. If Mr.. Overalle should ask you to
accompany him to Montana, and spend
duh existence with an invalid sister and an
old mother, would you, after ali, refuse?
| Oh, bother, it too warm to get into discus
| sons with ones self"
And doing the sweet, old-fashIoned gown
up into bundle, Peggy Sauntered down TO
| the village dresSmaker, and, after leaving
there, decided she'd just run in and see if
Widow fuckers boy was recovering from
slow fever
Ii was poor little cottage into which
| Peggy wendell her way, and the widow her
| self looked half-fed.
"Idon't believe you've had any dinner to-
day." thought Peggy, land as you're too
proud to ask for it, L have too plan"
why. don't you take walk while I sit
by Jamie and tell him stores?" she said,
aloud. And, by the way, if you're going
by my house just step in and get my CAPE
and tell Hannah to give you your dinner. 1t
will save you cooking here"
The widow gladly went, and Peggy amused
herself and jamie inventing stories.
| While in the middle of one she glanced up
and beheld HOwarth Overalle standing In the
doorway with look of rapt admiration on
his face.
do you come here 0ften?" was his first
Never" she replied. while Jamie's eyes
dilated to such an extent one would know
she was not telling the truth.
| what are you here fOr?" he asked.
"My laundry" was the brief reply.
He saw her home through the twilight,
ever in her gown for the Third"
The evening came and with it Jack Leslie
for Peggy. and when he saw her he ex-
claimed:
why, Peggy Hildreth. you lovely little
pictured Pm almost tempted to carry you
off by main force, you look SO beautiful
well, you needn't" serenely remarked
Peggy. as she gathered her opera cloak
around her and let him put her into the car
| rage.
Words of admiration could be heard from
all sides as she entered the hall with her es-
cort. And she did look lovely. The golden
curls were gathered on to the top of her
head, and the beautiful brocade was mod
ernized. Slippers had been made to match
the gown, and although Peggy took only
8 boot, she had squeezed her foot in 10 2,
l,.f. s
over in one giving way when she was dane
ing with Captain Van Leaten.
Now" said Peggy, philosophically, 81
am finished for dancing. All can do is to
flrt"
mo such thing" said the Captain. 81
Shall send for some more slippers;' and he
| was as good az his word.
| When they came Peggy was surrounded
by admirers aud holding up the pretty
broken slipper she said:
Now what DO you bid for itP'
"a box Of gloves" said Jack Leslie
Two boxes" said Captain Van Leaten.
'.I'il go you one better and offer three
boxes and a five-pound box of candy" ex-
| claimed an ardent admirer.
Peggy saw Mrs. Hildreth gazing at her In
horror. and with her eyes dancing with
merriment, she said:
Come quleklyl Bid away! I'll marry
the highest bidder"
"a diamond bracelet"
| diamond pinP'
1.-TWO tickets for Pattiw
And so the bids ratified on, and Peggy
found herself the center of large and ad-
miring circle, and she began to wish she was
well out OF 1t all.
At that moment Mr.. Overalle appeared.
and stepping forward quickly said
u offer overall" And Peggy laughingly
called: Gomez and started waiting with
the highest bidder.
The circle then disbanded murmurlng,
''Tricked :" ''puns not allowed" aud SINH
lar remarks, but Peggy was happy, and
when half an hour later she met the pos
SCISSOR Of her slipper in the conservatory,
and he asked her il she would confirm her
remark and marry the highest bidder, she
only said in half-laughiDg manner, but
with serious look In the blue eyes for
once: Il always keep my word."-Star-
Sayings.