Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1906-01-18

Blngs felt MS nslplessness oilVefly :
So absorbed was he in this thought
as he picked his way along the shady
street that he failed to observe the
widow a block or so ahead of him. A
deep gloom enveloped Bings' soul that
bright June morning.
"Oonfound it !" he muttered, "If
something doesn't happen soon. III
"GoiDg-going-gone T.
Bings pricked up his ears and has
tened his steps. An auction, and he
not to know it2 Turning corner, be
came full upon familiar scene just
as a table was knocked down to the
highest bidder. Bings' eyes gloated
over the unusual display of household
goods spread before him.
Fifty cents" bid a voice in the
crowd, as the auctioneer held up an
article. 1t was Whitlock's voice
Bings' wrath famed up, and before
he had time to think he was bidding
furiously against his rival. Fast in
the grip of bargain fever" and whet-
ted on by Whitlock, Bings rapidly
became possessor of various articles
that were OF as much use to him at
that period of his existence as a ce.
lestial harp and pair of wings
Had Bings intercepted the exchange
of winks between Whitlock and the
auctioreer, he might have been more
cautious. As it was, the barrlcade
around Bings grew and grew.
"Going-going-gone J. shouted
the auctionser. Dirt cheap at that,
Mr.. Bings, Here, Sam, wheel this
perambulator around to Mr.. Blngs.'
Perambulator Heavens had he
bought perambulstor2 Bings wip-
ed his perspiring brow and glared de-
family around.
why, Billy Bings cried a laugh
ing feminine voice at his elbow.
What do you want with a perambu-
lator p
Bings' exasperated gaze encounter
ed that of Mrs. Marston, a merry
faced woman. By her side stood the
pretty widow, with the coveted cher
ub ciinging to her hand.
Bings turned fiery red and caught
at his hat, or where he supposed it to
be, only to find that he was tanning
himself with it. Making an embar.
rassed bow, he begsn to mop his
perspiring face violently.
Here's your p'rsmb'lat'r," said
Sam laconicaliy, pauslng in front OF
Bings. Bings turned facinated eyes
on the thing, which seemed to him to
have greatly increased in size during
its progress from the auctioneer q
stand.
"And a baby's high chair" an
nounced another laughing voice, as
the speaker craned forward and in
spected Bings' barricade.
There was a general craning oi
necks
"And little red rocker" e1claim-
ed another.
"a doll-and doll carriage"
"a child's cot"
"Footstool, work basket, sewing
chair and sewing machine, " enumer'
ated Whitlock, pushing nearer
"Great Jupiter, BingsI What does
this mean?" with mock severity.
Poor Bing, thanked his stars that
none of them knew of that cradle in
the attic, the result OF former absr-
ration. He gazed helplessly around
at his tormentors, then at his barri.
cade. What on earth had induced
him to bid on all that stuff?
He had made himself so ridiculous
in her eyes, he'd not stand a ghost Of
a show now. The only thing left for
him to do was to make his escape as
best he could.
Bings glanced furtively around
but all avenues were closed by laugh
ing faces. He grew desperate. Just
as he was contemplating dash for
liberty along the line of the least re-
sistance the miracle that be had been
SO skeptical about happened
A fractions horse, woman g &C. sam
a scene of confusion, and when Blngi
came to he found his arms were
around the pretty widow, who was
clasping the dimpled cherub to her
breast and sobbing hysterically on
his shoulder, "Oh, Billy-dear, dear
Billy Save me, save mel
At these inspiring words Bings'
courage rose to the occasion, his bash.
fulness slipping from him like a cloak.
Before the sstonished eyes of the
whole staring crowd he bent and