The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1901-1903, 1902-11-30

up. Don't let anyone else get II. to the
limit Of your understand? lPIl be
there in time"
The boy, fresh and fair and Innocent
looizing-as the run of boys in ''gilded
bells" are apt to be--was off in trice.
and In ten minutes more had added his
Individual unit to the circle around the
main centre Of osculatory interest.
II is highly probable that IL such a
really scandolous proceeding as thaS
auction had been premeditated an6x
vertised beforehand Il would have BE-,
promptly squashed by the pillars Of
the church. But the suddenness of it
took the critics Off 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 a strip
OF red bunting on 1t, was her wand of
service. Tall and stately and beautl-
full, her eyes flashing with the fun. she
stood by the chair and waved her flag.
Now. ladies' and gentlemen" she
cried, here is Miss Kitty Jones. How
much am | offered for "A sweet kiss?
What! Only 50? For shame! Do you
appreciate what you are getting? Five,
did you say? Now make It six. Six
II is. Seven from the gentleman on the
right. Seven, seven, seven = eight
eight-will some one make Ii nine?
That's right. You'll never regret it.
Nine, nine. Now ten. That's better.
Ten it is. Come, gentlemen, bid up"
The excitement ran high. Deacon
Bradbury Simpkins, forgetting what
fate awaited him at home, bid $40 on
Susie Perkins, whom his good wife had
once designated as sassy" Rudd Cas-
Teton, the best golf player in town.
was a great help in bidding up and
so also were Jack Clubberly and Billy
Sparks.
The ninth and last girl was none
other than the minister's daughter her.
self. On the table by her side lay a
collection box, holding over 5000, 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 to
make her oblivious OF herself.
At any rate, she was calm and beau
tifully collected as she stepped on the
chair, dlsdalnlng the helping hand that
a spectator held ont TO her.
Ladies' and gentlemen" she said.
with your kind permission | will be
my own auctioneer, and l win spare
you the usual compliments. l am here
TO raise all the money l can for the
poor children, and / am selling a kiss
to the highest bidder. How much aim
| offered?"
Twenty-Five dollars"
THE first bid ladies and gentlemen.
is 500. Who win make it thirty? Thir-
ty, it is, thirty, thirty-thirty-f thir-
ty-hve. Is thirty-five the highest bldg"
The tall, innocent youth now stepped
to the front. 1t is but Justice to the
boys from the club to say they did not
recognize him.
'I'll make it forty he said.
The auctioneer was unmoved.
Il am offered SO" She said. "Gen.
tlemen, bid up. Forty. forty. forty
going ut forty = going, going, gone
Young man, the kiss is yours at $40"
There was a slight pause. futter of
interest. This nice-looking, gentleman
ly appearing boy, with $40 to bid for u
single kiss-who was he? At any rate,
it didn't matter much, he was only n
boy
What relief" whispered one OF
the committee. ITO think her reputation
has been saved by young thing like
that. Why, 1t doesn't mean anything
to be kissed by him. An act OF provi-
dence. verify believer
Almost rs IL in reply the boy turned
half around, as the figure of Mike
Dady slowly forced its way through
the circle.
II WAS bidding for some one else, .
said the boy, holding out the money.
Yes" said Mike, his cool insoleni
eyes sweeping the crowd. HE was
bidding for me. He was my-what dc
you call its-proxy. I'll take the kiss
II you please"
A dead silence-an awful pause.
tut tue uESt tiuie tndl evening d
flush spread over the face of the min
ister'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 ono to hell
her in this dilemma? Suddenly her ey,
lighted on figure that stood half con
cealed from view-a short. squat figur,
and there came to her voice ring o.
! triumph.
You shall be paid" she said. "Tht
money. please"