Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1902-11-11

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 4 sweet kiss 7
What. Only two dollarss For shamel
Do you appreciate what you are get
tingi Five, did you say: Ncw make it
six. Six it is. Seven from the gentle
man ON the right. Seven. seven, seven
Eight, eight--wilI some one make it
nine? That's right. You'll never re-
greet 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 great help in bidding
up" and so also were Jack Clubberly
and Billy Sparks.
The ninth and last girl was none 9th
err than the minister's daughter her
y
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 heir 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, disdaining the helping hand that
a spectator held out to her.
Ladies and gentlemen she said,
with your kind permission win be
my own auctioneer. and / will spare
you the usual compliments. | am here
to raise all the money | can for the
poor children. and | am selling kiss
to the highest bidder. How much am
l offered!
twenty-five dollars
'sThe first bid, ladies' and gentlemen,
is $25. Will you make 1t thirty? Thir
ty it is, thirty. thirty thrty-five. Is
thirty-fve 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.
''I'll make it forty" he said.
The auctionecr was unmoved.
Il am offered $40,'' she said. "Gen-
tlemen, bid up. Forty, forty, forty,
going at orty-going, going, gone.
Young man, the kiss Is yours at $40"
There was a slight pause. flutter Of
interest. This nice looking, gentleman
ly appearing boy, with $40 to bid for q
single kiss, who was he? At any rate 1t
didn't matter much. He was only a
hoy.
ssWhat a relief" whispered one of
the committee ito 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 believer
Almost as if in reply the boy turned
half around as the figure of Mike Dady
slowly forced its way through the cir
Gle.
Il was bidding for some one else,"
said the boy, holding out the money.
Eyes" said Mike, his cool, insolent
eyes sweeping the crowd "He was
bidding for me- He was my-what do
you call t?proxy. I'll take the kiss, if
you please"
A dead silence-an awful pause.
For the first time that evening 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
appealingly. Was there no one to help
her in this dilemma? Suddenly her eye
lighted on figure that stood half CON
cealed from view--a short, squat figure |
land there came to her voice a ring Of
triumph.
you shall be paid she said. 1.-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'sv
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, "is my proxy.
Take your pay. sir" Tom Mason In
Brandur Margarine