The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1897-06-10

AN INCIDENT OF AN AUCTION or OLD
CHINA AND eRlCiA-6RAC.

Determined to lave II So Cup and Sau.
GERHARD to TEL which Felt Worse
When 1t Was All Over.
1t was the tlird day of an auction
sale of the china, bric-a- brac and furni
ture of the last representative of an old
New York family, and the auction room
was crowded to the doors with dealers
in antiques, connoisseurs, speculators
and people who had just dropped in to
fish up bargain in glass or china if an
opportunity offered There We're a large
number of women present, ard they
were principally bargain seekers.
Thee auctioreer seemed used to such
crowds and continued to call out the
bids monotonously despite the amusing
situation that arose every time he
reached an article which one of the
women had marked to buy for herself.
Things had been quiet for time when
the auctioneer reached No. 706 on the
catalogue, which was a cup and sau-
Ger of Sevres china. 1t was very pref
ty bit of Sevres, cleverly decorated and
frail enough to suit the most artistic
fancy. 1t was such piece as might be
purchased at any fine china or glass
store for So, and it certainly would not
have been reasonable to expect more
than "a for it at auction SALE The auc-
tioneer didn't expect more, and under
ordinary circumstances he wouldn't
have got SO much, but these were not
| ordinary circumstances. 1t happened
that two bargain seeking women had
marked that cup and saucer for them
selves. They were only separated by
dozen seats and an aisle through the
maze of camp stools, and, Of course,
neither had any notion that she would
have very much competition for such a
trifle. They were well dressed women,
and one was quite young. They sat in
their seats without word, while a
cloisonne jardiniere worth 500 was
knocked down to dealer for $40, and
they never ventured bid OIL bits of
| Worcester, Dresden, Coalport and other
kinds of china, which were sold for RI
diculously low prices. But when the auc-
tioneer wearily remarked in his profess
sional tone: "What m offered for this
cup and saucer? Guarantee goes with
every piece. Gimme a bid, please" he
was amazed at two shrill voices which
called out simultaneously:
"One dollar
The two women peered across at ono
another.
Then the younger said in emphatic
tone:
IA dollar and half"
The auctioneer took in the situation.
What more could an auctioneer want?
Two women pitted against each other.
Sleepy a moment before, he was all life
now. ~
IA half morer'he exclaimed scorn-
fully. Really this is ridiculous. can
not take less than dollar bids"
1.-Two dollars. :" eaid the older wom-
an.
Three said the other woman.
The women sized each other up again
while the auctioneer exhorted.
''I'll fix her now," said the older
woman to friend. "Five dollars"
''Six," said the younger one.
"Why, the spiteful thing! I don't
believe she wants that cup at all. Well,
she just sha'n't have it. Seven dollars. /"
| This time the younger woman hesi-
tated. Every eye was on her, for the
whole crowd was interested She pressed
her lips together, and, assuming an in.
different expression, made the bid IS,
while the auctioneer nearly fell off his
chair. Every head in the room turned
with the bid to the older woman.
Don't you bid another cent" said
her friend.
"1'll just make this one bid. She
doesn't want that cup. It's just spite,
but I'll do her up now., Ten dollars. " she
exclaimed. and with triumphant smile
she glanced across the room.
That smile was too much for the other
woman. 1t made her more determined.
"Oh. she needn't think I'm afraid of
a couple of dollars, she remarked in a
husky whisper to the pale faced man
who had come with her to the auction
and had been trying to get low enough
in his seat to be out of sight of the eyes
focused on his companion at every 9TH
er bid.
'Let her have it, said the man. "It
isn't worth the money"
"Let her have it? Well, guess not
Do you think I'll let her beat me like
that? Eleven dollars" IN shaky voice,
but with a sweet smile.
Fine piece. Very fine Sevres. Worth
big money" chanted the auctioneer
well, never!' exclaimed the older
woman. "Of all the impudence ever
heard of! Oh, I'll fix her now!''
Let her have it, urged her friend.
Cora Stone, do you mean to tell me
you mean that? Would you have me
give in to that doll faced child? I'll
show you how I'll give up to her. Fiji
tcen dollars. -
This was staggerer. The young
woman looked troubled. She raised the
BID half, and the auctioneer took it,
Because he saw the end was near A