The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-25
EUenfs of the Past
Ueek in the City
Personal Menfion@
Fnom hsnceforth Sir. smith-Iones win


enter into no conspiracies OF however inno-
cent character. She is convinced that IL
Is the better part for woman to walk in
the narrow path of straight-dealing and
leave schemes OF even the mildest nature
to her husband or brother.
There is a reason for Mrs. Smith-Jones's
sudden and pronounced aversion to con-
spiracy. The reason lies in an auction
which took pace IN the northern part OF
town few weeks ago. It was Mrs. Smith
Jones's auction. Mrs. Smith-Jones had
lovely home. and from the point OF view
of her friends and neighbors she had moth
ing 70 sigh for. Her house was charmingly
furnished, her hot water heat heated on
the most peryerse days. and her cook
stayed by her.
But Mrs. Smith-Jones's viewpoint was
not that OF her friends and neighbors.
Her house and its duties became weari-
some to her. She ionged for small cozy
nat. where the cook lady should cease
from troubling her and the ice man should
permit her to be at rest. To assure herself
OF the certainty or her dream she proceeded
10 rent her house. though she had as yet
no promise of nat. and fats. as every
home-seeker In Indianapolis knows. are
difficult OF attainment But her determi-
nation carried the day and she succeeded
in securing the lease OF desirable fat.
The next and last step in the move was to
dispose OF her worldly goods. for the fiat
like heaven offered no haven. The natural
solution OF the problem was the auction.
So the auction was planned. And with
IL planned the conspiracy. The apple of
Mrs. smith-Jones's eye. before her fat
seeking days. was her dining-room furni-
ture-her table. her buffet. her chairs and
her china cabinet. With the exception of
the latter piece. all the articles were of
heavy mahogany. handsomely carved, and
worth more to Mrs. Smith-Jones than the
many dollars which they had cost. She
had treated them with the utmost consid-
Grafton. No housemaid was permitted to
dust them; Mrs. Smith-Johess hands kept
the shining wood speckIess. The china
cabinet was mahogany, too. but its style
was OF much earlier vintage than the
other pieces. and Mrs. Smith-Jones had
intended to replace it with handsomer
one. more In keeping with the other pieces.
But now, instead Of replacing anything she
desired to get rid of everything. But her
fondness for her dining-room furniture still
fingered. So she called in her nearest and
Mary Ann. there is just one thing 1 am
worried about 1 want to sci all my things,
and don't care much IL they do go for
less than they are worth. But my dining
room things are too handsome for that,
and If you see them going too cheap. you
bid them In for me. and I'll store them
rather than sell them at too great a sacri-
fee"
Mrs. Robinson promised she would. She
shared the feeling of her friend in regard
TO her dining room fixtures, and was
willing to do small thing like that for a
friend.
The day OF the auction came. Pictures.
rugs, couches, davenports, bedroom flrni-
ture. and what not were sold. Finally the
auetioneer came to the beautifully appointed
dining room. The shining round table was
offered for sale, and after little bidding
IL went at cruelty small price. Mrs Smith
Jones looked anxiously about the room. Yes,
there was Mrs. Robinson, absorbed In the
study OF one OF the chairs. Well, she would
look after them at least. The chairs came
next and Mrs. Smith-Jones's strained ears
failed to detect any bids in Mrs. Robinson's
voice. before the final disposal Of the chairs
for ridiculous sum. Mrs. Robinson was
now studying the carving on the buffet
Mrs. Smith-Jones was moved to hope; she
was reservins her bids for that last, best
beloved piece then. She would have liked
10 reach Mrs. Robinson to tell her not. to
hesitate for fear Of going too high, but she
would not push her way through the throng
OF women. The bidding on the buffet began:
II ceased without word from Mrs. Robin
son while poor Mrs. Smith-Jones forced the
tears back at the sacrihcial sum the thing
brought
Then the auctioneer came to the china
cabinet One woman ventured a bid of So
Mrs. Robinson smiled superior smile and
mentioned s12.
The other woman wanted the china cabi-
net so she kept on bidding. Mrs Robinson
did her duty womanfully, and kept on bid
ding just little higher. Finally the oppos-
Ing woman said "Twenty-one dollars with
an air or inality; and Mrs. Robinson added:
twenty-five dollars"
That was tbs end OF the bidding on the
dining room furniture. Mrs. Robinson
waited until 1t was all over, then she
sought her friend for the words Of praise
which she felt should be hers for Ter clever
ness.
"oh. I could murder you. Mary Ann"
walled Mrs. Smith-Jones.
But she didn't She merely paid the auc-
tic 1eer his commission and accepted her
china cabinet meekly. And in the fiat which
she now occupies the only reminder of the
former glories Of her dining room is a china
cabinet for which she has no use except as
IL represents q full stop to all plots and