The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1901-06-07

pot and then at his grim white face.
Neither ever knew how near they had
been to happiness.
And now the auction was on. Half
the goods had been sold, and as artl-
Gle after article came up to the barrel
where Mr.. Garfield was bidding them
off to try and touch their stern hearts.
When the little red wooden cradle
had been put up, and both OF them
had insisted on helping to bring it
forward, he had stopped to wipe his
his eyes. Some Of the more discrimi-
mating in the crowd had read the
misery on the faces of the old people
and had seen through their attempt to
appear unconcerned. Many were
moist-eyed.
Someone handed up the worn.out,
new-fanglcd coffeepot. No one but
Joe and Betty knew the history off
They watched with eager faces to see
how much it would bring. The most
that anyone would give was four cents.
Settled misery showed through the
calm of Betty's countenance. The
bidding was little dull, and Joe
shambled forward with the old arm
chair that he had sat in 50 long. 1t
was the chair that Betty had brought
out to the door for him on summer
evenings for forty years. 1t was the
cnair that she had placed for at the
warm hearth when he came in from
the woods Of winter evening, chilled
and tired. 1t was the chair that had
been a factor in almost every scene
of their married life. 1t waited for
them the day. forty years before,
when he had brought her, young and
rosy bride, to the farm that his ances-
tors had left to him. 1t was dear to
him, and he knew that it was dear also
to her, for he had seen her sitting in it,
knitting, by the sunny south window
for more summers and winters than
his excited fancy could now count.
AS Mr. Garfield lifted the chair to
the attention OF the crowd he saw Betty
start forward with white, eager face
Then she stopped, and the rich blood
mantled her face like the face of a
blushing school girl. She hesitatcd a
minute, and then pushed her way
through the crowd.
"Don't sell pas chair" she cried. 81
want to keep it."
An unfeeling neighbor-for there
were some in Oxford county-laugh-
ell under his breath. "What does she
want it for ~
Everyone heard it. Joe turned as
pale as death and held breath. No
one had ever dared to treat Betty that
way before. Betty was pale, too.
Lawyer Garfield saw his opportunity
and said:
because she loves him! What do
you suppose?'
The man laughed again.
Course | love him." said Betty
stoutly. "Ain't he the father of my
| children? | amt ashamed to own |
love him."
| Again the man laughed. Lawyer
Garfield blessed him under his breath.
Joe Stevenson pushed angrily
through the crowd, demanded to be
shown the man who had laughed at
Betty. He had forgotten that he was
about to desert her himself. He had
defended her all his life. He would
do it now. Lawyer Garfield pulled
Betty and Joe. into the empty bedroom
and shut the door.
Joe Stevenson, there is time to
stop the auction. You both love each
other. For Gods sake kiss her and
make up"
| Betty was standing with downcast
eyes, her cheeks still flaming from the
anger the laugh had given her. All
Of sudden she put her apron to her
face and sobbed.
Ladies and gentlemen" said Law
yer Garfield, when he again mounted
the barrel and turned toward them,
'Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson have decided
not to sell any more goods. They will
continue housekeeping. (There were
tears in his honest blue eyes.) Those
who have bought goods and wish to
keep them may take them. But the
money will be refunded to any who
wish to return Them
The people understood, and moth
ing was taken away. When all the
money had been returned there were
four cents left over. The man who
had bought the cotfeepot never re-
turned it.
1t was with great deal of satisfac-
tion that the eighbors on the surroun-
ding mountain farm saw the blue
cloud of smoke rise from the chimney
of Joe Stevenson the next morning
Portland Transcript.
What distance is meant by a
mule yard?' Duff asked Mut as
they passed place where they were