Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1899-10-12
HIS VICTORIA CROSS.

any inauiring numismatist look through q
file Of the Times to refresh his memory on
the present value Of Victoria Cross, his
search would only lead to wondering disap'
pointment. As matter Of fact, the speci'
men from the Huntley collection was
knocked down at so Insignificant price
that ii was never included in any report, and
when the covetous heir to the Huntley es.
tate, in something of fume, demanded the
reason of its being given away, be was curt
liz informed that 1t was sold TO the highest
bidder, and there the matter ended
The auctioneer was never given TO long ex.
plantations at any time, and besides he had
become disguised with his task before the
four days OF the Huntley sale were over and
so was in an unusually cheerful frame Of
mind. The one little incident in the whole
sale that had been refreshing was that same
Victoria Cross, and to have his methods
questioned in the sale Of that bit OF silver
was enough to arouse his temper.
The fourth and last day OF the Huntley
sale was dragging slowly on. The incidents
of the bidding were as commonplace and un.
entertaining to most Of the men who sat half
YEARLY round the baize-coyered table and
looked languidly at medal after medal a.
they were TO the auctioneer himself The
professional raillery which had marked the
earlier hours had eyaporated long ago. Il
was three o'clock and a hot day IN the latter
half Of July. There was nothing left for
people to buy excepting a collection Of
curios. They were going one at time 70 the
half dozen bidders The auctioneer was out
Of patience because Of the time it took 10
sell them. lie had put the entire coliec
ton up together, but failing 70 get a bid
above the reserve price had bad to sell them
separately
The score or 50 OF buyers was As varied
crowd as any event could vel br ng 20
gether Lord Wentiocke was q well-knowB
collector, who never missed an important
sale; next to him sat a man without cuffs
who bought al the most expensive lots
without apparently looking at them; 0p
posite was a jew. who made all his bids by
furtive w.uks. aud who endeaFored. by
amusing sallies, to distract bis competitor
attention at critical moments, and between
him and the British museum representative
a turbaned parsee. buying on behalf Of
Calcutta art gallery. Two schoolboys bad
strayed in and looked on silently, or com.
pared notes Of admiration in apprehensiv,
whispers.
At last the auctioneer pulled himself 10
gether Surely this will rouse you. gentle
men, Il anything will. he said. LOT lsi.
4 Victoria Cross, presented 10 Private |
Thomas Young for conspicuous bravery al |
Aiagdala. Purchased by Mr.. Huntley from |
Messrs. Link, and by them from the orig |
nal holder. What shall ] say
II seemed that the national collection wa. /
not IN want Of a specimen: Lord Nentlocke
never by any chance opened the bidding, and /
he jew always waited a little to find on.
who was interested. Some one else started /
With ten pounds, and 10 the twinkling Of an
we the cross had advanced 10 go. and then
lung for a moment
Il was then, in the pause marking what
would probably have been the half way
point, that the silence was broken by the
poorly-clad woman who had sat. nervous
md unohserved, near the door.
"Oh, SIR she cried In voice that was
ialf a sob. Il don't understand, but ! could
'nly save two pounds, and-and am BIZ
mother"
There have been many scenes Of psyche
ogical suspense at Wethebey's Million
tires have plunged recklessly for historical
relatives and legatees have car
led on their wraugles and snaried across
he table tor the possession Of heirlooms. 4,
,ut never in the annals Of that famous house
las there been so vivid moment a. when
he mother Of Thomas Young, the man who | .
lad displayed conspicuous valor at Mag
iala, stood forth IN her neat aud pathetic
poverty and timidiy held out the two
l)unds' worth Of hot silver for which she
lad starved and drudged in order to ~ ,
leem her sons medal.
he silence was only for a second. SOM
me down the table, woefully out Of touch
silh the wave Of feeling. gave an amused /,
lugh at the absurdity Of the thing. and
nNious to share the exquisite Joke With the
uctioneer looked up with a merry smile a.
Ie called out: 'Twenty-onel" q
The jew was on his feet in an instant
shut up, you blamed fool" be shouted furi
usly, can't you seeg'
The auctioneer-it was Mr.. A.. even
be most courteous and sympathetic Of b., !
.roiession-queily tapped his rostrum once
T twice. Gentlemen" be said, "this il an
nusual incident, and ! think we will al
gree that some way must be found out OF
ne difficulty. So far the prices have beer
cry satisfactory, and should il happen by ,
~ means cannot make any suggestion. ,
entlemen-but should Il happen that in Z
lis one instance the price is not maintained :
do not think that the vendor viii have any
ause for complaint. To my firm myself
'lA be responsible The bidding
hen ! last took il. stood at f20. that wa.
ord Neutlocke" 2
Mine. too, said the man without cuffs c
.ad1ly surely you heard met thought I
on took mine" /
J. be gentleman is quite right" said the {
eW, rubbing bis hands deliehtedly n
card him myself-before Lord Wepilocke.
anything. lie had never spoken NOR, .
}yious lie, or one which passed SO unques
oned -
As the matter is in dispute. have no
'ton but 70 start the lot again. said the
.etioneer. with infinite relief. but. Ia
Is you completely into my confidence. /
usi inform you that have against il are
rye, merely nominal, as il was thought al
e time Of five pounds"
Guineas," said Lord Wentlocke. quietly.
q when the hammer Tell. as il did with
i seconds pause, il was amid en-
usiasm which rivaled the scene when tbs
nous Petition Crown created q ,.,s.,l -