The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1902-11-07
A BARGAIN IN KISSES.

BY TOM MASSON.

| took the critics OF their feet and II
was well in hand and going on" be-
fore anyone had time TO take breath.
The minister's daughter was the auc
! tiOneer A bamboo cane, with striu
! Of red bunting on II, was her wand of
service. Tall and stately ana beauti.
| ful, her eyes flashing with the fun, she
stood by the chair and waved her flag.
"Now, ladies ana gentlemen" she
cried, here is Miss Kitty Jones. How
much am | offered for sweet kiss
What! only S2f For shame! DO you
| appreciate what you are gcttingf Five,
did you say Now make II six. Six
il is. Seven from the gentleman on the
right. Seven, seven, seven eight,
eiGht-will some one make II niner
That's right. lOu'll never regret IL.
Nine nine. Now ten That's better.
Ten II is. Come. gentlemen, bid up"
The excitement ran high. Deacon
Bradbury Simpkins. forgetting what
fate awaited him at home, hid so on
Susie Perkins. whom his good wife had
once designated as sassy" Rudd Gas.
Teton, the best golf player in town,
was a great help in bidding up" and
so also were Jack Clubbcrly and Billy
Sparks
The ninth and last girl was none
other than the minister's daughter her.
self. ON the table 10y her side lay u
collection box. holding over $500, the
proceeds Of this unusual traffic. Per.
haps the consciousness that she had
succeeded, that those poor little tots"
would get their outing, was enough 10
make her Oblivious of herself
At any rate, she was calm and beau.
tifully collected as she stepped on the
chair. disdaining the helping hand that
n spectator held out to her.
Ladies and gentlemen" she said.
with your kind permission | will hc
my own auctiOnc@r and | will spare
you the usual compliments. | am here
TO raise all the money ! can for the
poor children. ana | am selling a kiss
to the highest bidder. How much am
| Offercd%'
Twenty five dollars"
THE first bid. ladies ana gentlemen.
is $50. WHO VIII make IL thirty? Thir-
~, ii is, thirty thirty thirty five. thir-
ty-dve. Is thrtyfve the highest bid?'
The tall, innocent youth now stepped
to the front. Ii is but Justice to the
boys from the club to say they did no:
recognize him.
"Ill make II forty" ne said
The auCtionCer was uumOvcd.
IL am offered SO" she said Gen
tlcmen. bid UP. Forty, forty, forty
going at forty going, going. gone.
Young man. the kiss is yours AT $40"
There was slight pause. Il tluttcr OF
interest This nice.lOQking, gentleman.
ly appearing hoy. with $40 to bid for n
single kiss-whO was he? At any rate.
it didn't matter much, he was only
boy
What relief" whispered one OF
the committee. "to think her reputation
has been saved 10y n young thing like
that. Why. it doesn't mean anything
To hc kissed hy him. An act OF provi.
dcnCe. | verify believe"
Almost as If in reply the boy turned
half around. rs the figure OF Mike
Dady slowly forced its way through
the circle.
81 was bidding for some one else"
said the boy. holding out the money.
Yes" said Mike, his cool, insolent
eyes sweeping the crowd. "IIc was
bidding for me He was my-what do
you call it?-proXy I'll take the kiss,
IL you please
A dead silenCe-an awful pause.
For the first time that evening
flush spread over the face of the min
iStPr's daughter-a flush that made its
way from her firmly rounded throat
up over her cheeks TO the line Of fair
hair on her forehead.
She looked around the crowd almost
appealingly. Was there no one to help
her in this dilemma? Suddenly her eve
lighted on a figure that stood half con-
cealed from view-a short. squat figure
and there came 20 her voice ring OF
triumph.
You shall be paid, she said. The
money. please"
II was handed to her. and she put the
bills In the box.
Then she turned 10 the figure she had
seon-the old family Colored cook. black
as the ace of spades. who had come TO
witness "de proceedins." Come here.
nanny she whispered. and drawing
her close and putting her arms around
her, she kissed the black face re-
sounding smack.
Then she turned To the gambler
And here" she said. lis my proxy.
| Take your pay. Brandur Maya.