The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1903-04-10

ity of this tantalizlng female quite
paralyzed him. But only for an in
slant. A determination to fight to
the bitter end swiftly took possession
of him. Eight dollars he spluttered
while whisper and smile ran through
the little company.
Hiram noticed the agitation. A
feeling of trepidation filled his heart,
and he wondered if his antagonist had
given up the contest.
The auctioneer loudly expostulated
upon the sudden abatement of the bid
ding.
els it possible he puffed, "that this
handsome table is going for only So?
Consider, ladies' and gentlemen, before
you lose this grand opportunity to
adorn your homes with this substantial
article Of furniture. Grasp while the
chance is ripe" And here the auc-
tioneer leaned in state of exhaustion
upon the table which creaked and
swayed in a frightful manner under
the pressure.
"Eight- fifty came in rather weaker
accents from his rival, aad the voice
further impressed Hiram with its ex-
asperating familiarity.
Hiram's hopes sank. Would he
capitulate, and to woman! No, not
be. He gritted bis teeth together.
"Nine dollars" he said with the air OF
martyr, and gazed around him with
look of scorp.
The auctioneer, del4 ed with his
phenomenal success, vanity attempted
to coax another bid. Finally, with
the sarcastic remark that "the table
was going for nothing at all,'' be
knocked it down to Hiram for 50.
After the auction Hiram placed his
prize in the wagon with the feeling Of
a Napoleon after his Waterloo.
Indeed, the sight of the table so
offended him that he placed the horse
blanket over it to hide the obnoxious
thing from his eyes.
Symanthy, a neighbor had informed
him, had gone ahead with Deacon
Browns wife. Hiram was relieved
for, somehow, he dreaded to meet her.
During the journey home he wondered
who the woman was that had contended
against him with so much spite. As
be drove up to the house Symanthy
came down to the gate to meet him.
"See what l have bought you," be
said, forcing a smile as he uncovered
the table.
A look of dumbfounded surprise and
dismay overspread Symanthy's face.
A look like thunderbolt came into
Hiram's face as he noticed the varieties
of her expressions.
"Ain't you pleased?' he spluttered.
eyes" said Symanthy, smiling in
spite of herself, "but-"
"But what!' he snarled.
Hiram was ordinarily a peaceful
man, but the apparent unappreciative-
ness of his wife after his noble battle
at the auction certainly exasperated
him.
"Blast it ALL" he cried, enforcing his
utterance by banging the dash board
with the whip, which caused the mare
to jump, "if you only knew the con
founded time had battling with that
heathenish female bidder, perhaps
"Yes," F." broke in Symanthy excitedly,
aand if you only knew what a time l
had with that horrid, pig-headed male
bidder, over that very table,"
"What?" roared Hiram, rising frouL
his seat, an expression of comical dis
may on his face as the horror of the
situation dawned upon him, "you
we're"
Yes said symanthy, as if deter
mined to brave it out, 81 was the other
bidder Hartford Times.
why" asked the old man, address
ing his son-in law, who had failed in
business, ''do you think | should set
you on your feet?'
Because once did you a great
favor" replied the addition to the fam
lily circle.
"Favol!' exclaimed the old man.
"When did you ever do me tavor?'
"You seem to forget, sir" calmly
answered the other, "that | took your
daughter off your hands,"
Stubb-"Yes, the Gossip Sewing
Society is going to meet tonight. My
wife says they are going to rip up old
quilts and make them into rugs"
Penn-"What will they do when
they fnish ripping up the quilts?"
Why, they'll rip up every