The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-18
RIvALRr At THE AUCTION.
what Hsppeuod when Tive women Each De-
termtned 90 Have = eS Cur and saucer.

What Mappenod when TIVE women Each De-
termined TO Have = es Cup aud Saucer.
It was tho third day Of an auction sale OF tho
china, bric-A-brac, and furniture OF tho last rep.
rescntative OF an old Now York family, and tho
auction room was crowded TO tho doors with
dealers In antiques. connoisseurs. spectators,
and people who had Just dropped in to Ash up q
bargain In glass or china IL an opportunity Of.
fercd. There wcrc a large number of women
present, and they were principally bargain seok-
ers. Most of them had marked out the most
valuable bits on their catalogues as desirable to
possess, and seemed to take II az a personal
matter when they were outbid. They would look
Indignantly ut any ono who bid against them,
and some OF them commented audibly on the sit
uation when the price got beyond their roach.
Tho auctioneer seemed used to such things and
continued to call out tho bids monotonously.
despite the amuainR situation that arose every
time no reached an article which one of tho
women had marked to buy for herself. Things
had boon quiet for n time when tho auctionoer
reached No. FOG on the catalogue, which was a
cup and saucer Of Sbvres china. 1t was n very
pretty bit of Sevros, clevorly decorated and frail
enough to suit the most artistic fancy. II was
| such n piece rs might be purchased at any fine
china or glass store for 80, and 1t certainly
would not have been reasonable TO expect moro
| than 81 for It at auction sale. The auctioncer
didn't expect moro. and under ordinary
circumstances he wouldn't have got so
much, but these were not ordinary cir
cumstanccs. 1t happened that two bar
gain-ssckine women lSd marked that cup
and saucer for themselves. They were only
separated by a dozen seats and an aisle through
tho maze Of camp stools, and, OF course. neither
had any notion that she would have very much
competition for such q triic. They were we'll
dressed women and one was quite young. They
snt In their seats without a word, while a cloi-
some jardinierc worth 800 was knocked down
to a dealer for $50. and they never ventured a
bid on bits Of Worcester. Dresden. Coalport, and
other kinds OF china, which were sold for ridic-
ulorsly low prices. But when tho auctioneer
YEARLY remarked in his professional tone:
"what m I offered for this cup and saucer !
bid. plense.'' he was amazed ut two shrill voices
which called ont simultaneously
The two women peered across at one another.
Then the younger said In emphatic tone:
The nuctioneert took in the situation. What
more could an auctioneer wanti Two women
pitted against each other. Sleepy a moment te.
IA half more!' he exclaimed scornfully.
nRsnllS this s, + ridiculous I cannot take less
Two dollars said the older woman.
Three" said the other.
The women sized each other w again while
sIli dx her nov" sa,d the older woman to a
"SWfhyy. the spitefSi thing i don't believe she
wants that cIp at al. Well, she just shan't have
This time the younger woman hesItated
Every eye was on her, for the whole crowd was
Interested. She pressed her lips together; and
bid IS, while the auctioneer nearly fell of his
chair. Every head in the room turned with the
"non't YOU bid another cent" said her friend
IN Just make &c this s; one bid bid, ,H s5 a. doesn't hoes a t wan wan
1 Tsn d sSP a rs a sSe sRRoisi% S%s .n and % w fi1 at er f9m
plant smile she glanced across the room.
That smile was too much for the other oma
"Oh. she needn't think I'm afraid of a couple
of dollars" she remarked. in a husky whispeI
to the suction. and had been tryips 70 get low
enough in his seat to he out Of sight q the eyes
let her have, it." said the man. at isn't
worth the money" .u
think I'll LET her beat me like thati Eleven dol
lars in a shaky yoice, but Sith a swTSt smile E.,
ssot ali the .mpudenoe / over heard of: Oh. ri
a.Let her have IT" urge her friend;
doll.facea child + III show YOU how Ri give W
to her. Fifteen dollars"
lo dass t Mos I s'ae sSs Raised if The f I'D a hs T2% and
the auctioneer took It. because he saw the END
was nenr. A point had been reached when bid
were cheered. and the side remarks caused roar,
of laughter. The price reached S17. and the biz
was the older wonian's. The pale man urged hi
compnnion not to hid, but those cheers rang II
her ears. and every eye was upon her.
"And n half" she said.
"Then take il. YOU spiteful thing" suddenl!
yelled the older woman. right at her connection
Then she rose to her feet. Come. Cora.
shan't stay in such a place another moment,
and she founced out, followed by Cora.
The younger woman looked badly ratified. Sh'
handed out S17. so to the clerk and took the chi
and saucer. Then she went out. looking yer,
much enba rrassed over the affair and wonder
ing. probably, what had ever made her pay sucl
q price for such q thing.