Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1895-11-07
BLISS BOUGHT AT AUCTION.
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Come, Courtney, lend me your ears
for half an hour, for I'm in pickle"
exclaimed Fred Sawyer to his friend.
Come up to my quarters. I have
something to show you, and-no jok.
ing-1 need your advice"
&c you take it, it will be for the
first time" laughed good-natured
Courtney. LEAD on, and don't lose
any time in relieving this suspense.
Pm not fond of riddles, you know"
why, yesterday dropped into the
saleroom at London station. You
know. they Sell off the uncalied-for
luggage at intervals and sale was
just going on. A number of boys were
there, and we each commenced to bid
for trunk. selected rather small
one, and-Here we are! Come right
In, and view the burden Of my woes"
He led the way into a pleasant
apartment, and pointed to a small
leather trunk which stood in the mid
die of the room.
"Open it, if you want to-" he said.
t"I've had enough of the COMPOUNDED
thing. Its full of woman's stuff, and
what do you suppose can do with II?
haven't an aunt or cousin In the
wide world e
"Keep it till your married, Fred.
These seem to be> good Clothes" said
Courtney, peeping into the box, and
lifting dainty garments, with a half
reverent touch, in spite of his laugh
ing face.
Triumph! The idea of such advice
from you! Why, old boy, I shall not
marry for ten years-five anyway
and I'm not going to risk keeping
these things here and being taken for
a lady burglar. Mrs. McGaffrey would
find them, in spite Of everything
smell murder in the air, and hunt
around for the skull bones. No, I'll
| dump the trunk in the river; that's
what I'll do.''
"Phaw! You're too sensible for that.
These things cost money, lots of it. I
imagine, and you paid something for
them, in the bargain. You might sell
them to the secondhand. No, I've
got better scheme than that. Why
not 60 through the trunk systematic
ally, find out the owners name and
address-there are surely letters or
l Wl1lC " uCl, OACAAutD
her the whole thing for a reasonable
l-sum:"
''Do an act Of charity, and yet turn
know you are Scotch. But 1 must go
back to the store, and. Here! you
have all the time there is; suppose
you go through it for me? All I ask
is that you will keep Mrs. Mccartney
out Fare-dieu!" And off he went.
Courtney locked the door; but the
smiles soon left his face as he pro-
ceeded with his task. He wondered
If the little, battered trunk had been
lost in some of the dreadful catastro-
Plies he had read Of; he imagined the
owner killed and her body, as well as
luggage. unidentified in the horrible
Excitement.
They were girlish things-dainty
wells and ribbons, ginghams, silks,
and snowy linen. He fingered over a
small, worn slipper, and felt thrill
akin to that awakened in Cinderella's
prince.
mo clue yet" he m1rmured. "Per-
haps there are letters in this box"
Its catch was bent, but he wrenched
1t open, and out few-a photograph!
He sat down plump in box Of laces
and stared. On the other side were
his initials, and date he had been
trying three years to forget, "June 2,
$780,
"Nell Burr's trunk" he exclaimed.
ooh, my little girl, what has happened
| to you? Maybe someone. No,
here are your initials on this belt
buckle. and your gloves were No. 6.
and this slipper will Just fit your dear,
little foot"
| The young man grew excited and
raptllrcus over each article; presently
he lifted a package Of letters from one
corner.
"AIy. own-and they express the
greatest happiness life ever brought
Inc. They are like the leaves that
futter down in the November rain. I
onder why she kept them. How
many there are"
| christening the cord. he turned the
letters over, and found many Of the
envelopes scrubbed upon by a famil-
lar hand. There were items jOtted
down to be remembered in answering,
and scraps Of poetry which had, not
long since, reached his eye, ana been
iUpon tile last one-for they were all
lnumberet!-.was written In ink this
| girlish confession: "Al Courtney, I
love you, but will never marry anyone
so inconstant."
Resting his head on the empty tray
in silence, he exclaimed
II was fool-a consummate fool!-
and now, perhaps she's dead"
A noise 0utsidearoused him, and In q
bewildered way he surveyed the gar
/ dido 0NA
gazcd mournfUlly at the beautiful hat
through which he had run one foot,
and the box of laces he had unc0h-
| sciously used for cushion. Fred
would he coming In n few minutes.
i IIo i,nnan sanaNkinR the fhinRa With