Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1902-10-23

man on the right. seven, seven, seven
eight, eight-will some one make it
nine? That's right. You'll never re-
gret 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 Castleton, 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 9TH
er 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 obliyious of herself.
At any rate she was calm and beau
tifully collected as she stepped on the
chair, disdaining the helping hand that
a spectator held out to her.
Ladies and gentlemen" she said,
.swith your kind permission I will be
my own auctioneer, and I will spare
you the usual compliments. l am here
to raise all the money l can for the
poor children, and l am selling kiss
to the highest bidder. How much am
l offered"
twenty-five dollars"
''The first bid, ladies and gentlemen,
is $25. Will you make it thirty? Thir-
ty it is, thirty, thirty -thirty-fiye. Is
thirty-five the highest bid?"
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.
''Ill make it forty" he said.
The auctioneer was unmoved.
81 am offered $40" she said. "Gen-
tlemen, bid up. Forty, forty, forty,
going at 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
single kiss, who was he? At any rate it
didn't matter much. He was only
boy.
''What a relief" whispered one of
the committee, "to think her reputation
has been saved by a young thing like
that! Why, it doesn't mean anything to
be kissed by him. An act of Provi-
dence, verify believed"
Almost as if in reply the boy turned
half around as the figure of Mike Dady
slowly forced its way through the cir
Gle.
'T was bidding for some one else,"
said the boy, holding out the money.
Yes" said Mike, his COOL insolent
eyes sweeping the crowd. ''He was
bidding for me. He was my-what do
you call it?-proxy. I'll take the kiss, if
you please"
A dead silence-an awful pause.
For the first time that evening a flush
spread over the face of the minister's
daughter, 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
appealinglys Was there no one to help
her in this dilemma? Suddenly her eye
lighted on a figure that stood half con-
cealed from view-a short, squat figure
and there came to her voice ring Of
triumph.
"You shall be paid" she said. "The
money, please"
1t was handed to her, and she put
the bills in box.
Then she turned to the figure she
had seen-the old family colored cook,
black as the ace of spades, who had
come to witness ''de proceedin's. !"
"Come here, nanny" she whispered.
and, drawing her close and putting her
arms around her, she kissed the black
face resounding smack.
Then she turned to the gambler.
''And here" she said, sis my proxy.
Take your pay, sir!"-Tom Mason in
Brandur Magazine.