Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1903-02-12

} fresh-looking youth of II, handing
him a roll of bills, you go over 10
/. the church fair, and if the sky pilots
daughter is going to be paid for a
! sweet kiss, push up in front and bid
up. Don't let anyone else get it,
to the limit Of your wad-under-
stand? I'll be there in time"
The hoy, fresh and fair and inno-
cent looking-as the run of boys in
"gilded hells" are apt to be-was off
In a trice, and in ten minutes more
had added his individual unit to the
circle around the main center of
osculatory interest.
It is highly probable that IL such
a really seandalous proceeding as
this auction had been premeditated
and advertised beforehand it would
have been promptly squashed by the
pillars of the church. But the sud
denness of il took the critics off their
feet, and it was well in hand and
"going on" before anyone had time
TO take breath.
The minister's daughter was the
auctioneer. A bamboo cane, with a
strip Of red bunting on il, was her
wand of service. Tail and stately
and beautiful her eyes flashing with
the fur, she stood by the chair and
waved her flag.
"Now, ladies and gentlemen" she
cried, here is Miss Kitty Jones.
How much am I offered for a sweet
kiss2 What! Only two dollars?
For shamel Do you appreciate what
you are getting? Five, did you say?
Now make IL six. Six 1t is. Seven |
from the gentleman on the right. |
Seven. seven, seven-eight. eight
viii some one make it nine? That's /
right. You'll never regret it Nine, 4
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 ten
dollars 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
other than the minister's daughter
herself. On the table by her side lay
a collection box, holding over 5000,
the proceeds of this unusual traffic.
Perhaps the consciousness that she
had succeeded, that those poor little
tots" would get their outing, was
enough to make her oblivious of her
self
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 I viii be
my own auctioneer, and | win spare
You the usual compliments. ! am here
TO raise all the money | can for the
poor children, and am selling a kiss ;
to the highest bidder How much am
I offered?"
twenty-five dollars"
"The first bid ladies and gentlemen, :
Is twenty-five dollars. Who will make
L thirty? Thirty il is, thirty, thirty
.hirty-fve, thirty-fve. Is thirty-fye :
he highest bid?"
The tail innocent youth now stepped
10 the front II is but Justice to the
Boys from the club to say they did not
recognize him.
"I'll make Il 40." he said.
The auctioneer was unmoved.
I'm offered $40" she said. Gentle
men, bid up. Forty 30, 40-going at
iO-going, going. gone. Young man,
.he kiss is yours at $40"
There was a slight pause. a flutter
u interest. This nice-looking gentle
manly appearing boy, with $40 to bid :
'or single kiss-who was he? At any Il
ate, it didn't matter much, he was
My boy I
"What a relief" whispered one Of o
he committee. "to think her reputa- e
ion has been saved by young thing n
Ike that. Why. it doesn't mean any a
hing to be kissed by him. An act Of S
verilly believed" e
Almost as If in reply the boy turned $
lalf around, as the figure of Mike d
lady slowly forced its way through q
he circle. n
81 was bidding for some one else" q
aid the boy, holding out the money.
yes" said Mike, his cool. insolent "
We sweeping the crowd. "He was ?
'idding for me. He was my-what do D
on call it?-proxy I'll take the kiss, e
You please" o
A dead silence-an awful pause
For the first time that evening flush
verspread the face Of the minister's
aughter-a flush that made its way W
rom her firmly rounded throat MP h
yer her cheeks to the line Of fair hair is
n her forehead. r,
She looked around the crowd almost n
ppealingly Was there no one 10 helm c;
er in this dilemma? Suddenly her is
ve lighted on a figure that stood half C,
oncealed from view-a short, square in
gure-and there came to her voice a OF