Evening journal., 1910-06-07
AN
ODD AUCTION
BY ANNA WOODBRIDGE
Copyright. 1910 by American Press
Association
Br anna WoODBRIpCE

In antebellum days in the south
when the owners of the great planta-
tons formed a rural society such as
one finds today in the country districts
OF England Edmund Dexter. a young
graduate of Harvard college, went to
Georgia to tutor the children Of plant
er named Bernhard. Among Dexter's
pupils was Carey Bernhard, girl of
seventeen Since Dexter was but
twenty-three the relation OF teacher
and pupil was hardly a safe one II
there were objections to the little god
Of love coming ia to weld their hearts.
The said god did step in, firing shafts
that grievously wounded Miss Bernhard
and Mr. Dexter. AS soon as the at
tachment was discovered Mr.. Ben
kard dismissed Dexter. The lovers
were in an agony over their separation.
but what could they do? Dexter had
no income except what he received
from the girls father. and when that
was cut Off he was obliged to shift for
himself
Dexter took his departure, telling the
girl he loved that if fortune favored
him he would come back and should
he find her single he would claim her
/ But he would not advise her to wait
for him. because he was not visionary
and saw no probability of his being
able TO take her from her luxurious
home The girl was more hopeful and
declared that If she could not marry
the man she loved she would not mar
ry at all.
Ten years passed. Carey Bernhard
had developed into splendid woman.
She hadSeceived many offers, but had
not married She never spoke Of the
young man who had carried away her
virgin heart with him. She entered
into the amusements in vogue among
the planter society in which she lived.
Her father did not urge her to marry
indeed. he dreaded lest she should.
The only suitor he favored was a Unit
ed States senator twenty years her
senior who had made himself promi
nent in the anti-slavery agitation shat
was then in full force.
The civil war passed over the land.
leaving the south in a broken condi-
ton. Mr. Bernhard. now General Ben
kard, had lost his slaves by emancipa-
ton, but. being a man of energy. had
done what he could to repair the dam
age TO his plantation and. hiring his
old hands. had done his planting and
raised his crops But It was all he
could do financially TO keep his head
above water.
There was a great deal of poverty in
the south in those days. and every
device was resorted TO to keep many
who had lived in afiuence from starv.
ing. A ball was given on the Bernhard
plantation for this purpose. the ladie:
who managed it resorting TO dinferen
methods by which to raise funds TO
charity. Among these was one whicl
would have been expected to prod
excellent results if the young men o
the south had not been impoverisheg
by the war 1t was this: A man could
only gain the privilege of dancing with
any lady he desired for a partner BY
bidding for It,
Senator - after the failure Of the
cause he had advocated continued a
suitor for Carey Benkards hand. More
shrewd than most OF his compatriots
at the beginning of the war. he had
sold his slaves and put the money in
blockade runners. Nearly all his ships
had passed in and out without cap
ture. and instead of being poor. Ike
most OF his neighbors. he was wealthy.
There were no invitations to General
Benkard's ball. all being free TO attend.
1t had been arranged that bids should
he received for the privilege of opening
the ball with Miss Carey Bernhard.
The men surrounded an improvised
auctioneer's stand. and offers were
called for Senator - started the
bidding by an offer of $500. No other
bid was expected. and the matter was
considered closed when a man in the
throng cried. zone thoussndr'
The senator started. Those looking
on we're surprised Who among the
men OF that region could offer 50
much? Senator - raised his bid to
$1,000. He had scarcely spoken the
words when his antagonist, who seem
ed to be a stranger, for no one knew
him, said quietly. Five thousand"
Senator - felt it essential as a
suitor for Miss Benkards hand that
he should win If it took half his for
tune. The amounts we're raised 2
thousand every bid until $4,000 was
reached, when the stranger bid $780,
900.
The senator retired from the con-
test on the ground that his opponent
might not be possessed of as many
cents as he had bid dollars, whereupon
the stranger displayed certified checks
to the amount Of half a million.
The name signed to the checks was
Edward Dexter.
Dexter was recognized by Carey Ben
kard the moment she saw him. They
opened the ball together. and later he
made a formal application OF her IA
ther for her hand. Dexter gave an
explanation Of his affairs as follows
The owners OF a newly discovered
mine in the west had offered 1t to east
4 ern capitalists. Dexter. being prac
s teal chemist. had been sent to exam
inc the property. and on his report
i company was formed for its develop
ment. Dexter acquiring a portion O