Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1906-08-10
At the Old
Horse Sale
By Sara
Beaumont Kennedy
Copyright, 1906, BY Sara Beaumont Kennedl


You must not go in there. 1t is no
place for you" There was more than
protest in his voice. There was posi-
tive command, which, perhaps, was the
reason why she walked directly under
the auctioneer's red flag into the ex-
press office, already thronged with idle,
curious buyers.
II never was ut anything more ex-
citing than n dry goods bargain safe.
This will be positively like Monte
Carlo"
"Our uncle will disapprove"-
'Of course he will. He disapproves
Of most things I do since you took up
the role Of social mentor for the fam
lily. That year abroad spoiled you.
Adolphus. You have never been en-
durable since you took to patent up
pers and monocle. Now, Nick would
have brought me in here without a
word of remonstrance and lent me
every penny out Of his pocket II |
needed 1t to bid with-lent me even his
car fare and walked home uncom-
plainingly and carried my parcels"
IF he had not happened to see an
old woman or lame cat to help over
the crossing, In which case, very likely,
he would have laid the parcels down
and quite forgotten to pick them up"
Perhaps, for Nick is bit absent
minded. but he is perfectly adorable
when 1t comes to giving girl her own
way
my brother is happy In winning
your good opinion. 1t ls my misfor-
tune
mo, It's your fault; you are so
frlghtfully conventional. Dear me,
what curious peopler'
'"They are the drift from the street.
None of our set ever
There. the auctioneer Is beginning
again. 1t will be perfectly delightful
to buy something and not have the
least idea what it is-so weird and
mysterious"
Nellie, surely you are not going to
bid out loud in this crowdw
II certainly am. There is no harm In
1t, and l am sick to death of the right
angle rules by which you and uncle
measure my life. Wonder what that
woman found in her parcels2 There
goes up bandbox. shall bid on
that"
"Nellie. don'tr he first commanded,
then entreated vehemently, but she
was as deaf adder that stoppeth her
ears.
Fifty cents" she called, In answer
to the auctioneer's challenge, at the
same time stepping upon an empty box
by the wall, so that she was In plain
view of the whole crowd.
"Seventy-fve cents!" screamed a
feminine voice across the hall
"One dollar" flashed back Nellie. her
color rising her eyes shining, for her
cousins voice came up to her in agi-
tated whispers.
"One fifty" came from her opponent
1.-TWO dollars" cried Nellie, pushing
Adolphus' hand from her sleeve
''Three dollars" shrieked the other
woman, nervously counting the change
In her purse. No one else was bid
ding. the entire crowd having centered
Its attention on the nervous woman
and the "swell' girl, and there were
cheers and counter cheers as the bids
rose dollar by dollar until at last the
coveted box was knocked down to Mel
lie.
She was still laughing ana flushed
with her triumph when they emerged
from the door over which few the red
flag, but Adolphus felt miserable and
compromised, and this feeling was not
abated when he saw the astonishment
in the eyes Of Miss Curtis, whose Ian
dau happened at that moment to pass,
for Miss Curtis was the personifica-
tion of rigid conventionality. He count
ed the meeting as one more misfortune
In an unlucky day.
Nellie's excitement waned Us they |
walked, and by the time they entered |
her uncle's gate she was strangely ST. |
lent. Adolphus evidently took this for |
a hopeful sign, for presently he cleared
his throat, adjusted his monocle and
began:
Nellie, we must talk seriously. The |
time has come
mo, 1t hasn't come" she said, in |
terrupting him good naturedly, 80 stop |
right there. l don't know whether |
this Is lecture or proposal of mar |
riage-your private talks with me VI
brate between these two subjects
but I am in no mood for either For
heavens sake, Adolphus, throw that |
glass away. l hate to be spied at like
thatv
With reproachful sigh he removed
The offending glass and said: mick not
only lectured you yesterday; he posi-
lively scolded you, and''-
And l deserved 1t, but 1 answered
him back spitefully, like the little beast
am, and he-he hasn't even noticed
ne since" She turned her head SO
hat he did not see the qulver Of her
'ed lips, the passionate protest of her
eyes.
All their set knew that her dicta-
.orial old uncle intended she should
marry Adolphus, who satisfied his So
,ial ambitions. while Nick, who cared
lothing for society, smoked pipe and
'orgot to have his trousers creased,
was thorn In the old mans side.
Between these two were constant dis
agreements, which Nellie had hitherto
to make up, but yesterday
here had been 4 quarrel Of unusual
'iolence. and there was even some tall
# Nick's leaving the house. 1t WIS
# this she had been thinking as she
ollowed her purchase home.
"Adolphus," she said as they mount
q the steps, cant you do something