Sisseton Posten. [volume] (Effington, Sud Dakota [S.D.]) 1902-19??, 1911-03-09
The Highest
Bidder
A Washington Birthday
Story
By ClARISsA MACKlE
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1871


The gray clouds lowered over its
messy roof. and the naked elms creak-
ed dismnlly In the bitter wind The
small porch was on "A line with the
ancient fence and the land stretched
away I'm the rear-gnarled old fruit
trees. acres uf wornout pasturage and
line OF dark cedarS against the hort-
fon.
Austin Ely and his bride descended
from the station stage that had
brought them To the steps OF their
future home. Their trunks were
dumped In the small porch. the box
OF supplies that Austin had prepared
ere they left the city stood at the door.
and the stage rolled away with the
driver peering curiously back nj them
over his fur clothed shoulder.
Austin looked up and down the lone.
" road with lts scattering OF equally
dismal houses and shivered. He bent
down and gathered his wife into his
strong young arms Dorothy. dear.
you tog' he demanded wrathfully. "A
poor beggar like me ought never to
marry Well. you know, dear. IL isn't
fair TO you TO start out In this old
rookery"'
Dorothy placed her gloved hand over
his lips. II won't hear word against
your Uncle Bob's legacy. Just think
OF owning and occupying the oldest
house I'm the state. Why. tradition
says George Washington slept here
once when II was the best known
tavern on the post road DO get out
that huge brass key and let us 20 in.
II IL bitterly cold out here!'
Austin brought out the key and
thrust Il In the lock. III you had only
let me come ON ahead and open up
the old place. Doruthy-have II partly
furnished and warm fire for you
! tut. tutr' admonished Dorothy.
crowdIng Into the marrow hall IN h!s
wake. "You know very well I'm per-
fectly crazy over old houses. and
would never forgive you IL you denied
me the pleasure OF rummaging out the
old stun In this place Oh. isn't that
the dearest old room. and see. Austin.
the enormous fireplacew She waltzed
gayly across the une, N floor, her teeth
chattering with the cold.
Her husband forced up the small
paned windows and threw back the
heavy wooden shutters. letting In the
cold light OF day. IL was long low
room. the walls hung with an ancient
striped paper, The furniture was very
old. and Its possession would have
made a collector Wild with Joy. A pair
of long settles, n large mahogany buf-
fet. n great round table TO match with
the accompanying chairs, wers placed
on the wide polished boards now
covered thickly with dust. The large
fireplace contained brass andirons, and
on the chimneypIece were brass can
dlestlcks-a long row OF them-a dozen
in all
Lets have n FIRE at once" suggested
Dorothy eagerly. I'VE can make this
room our headquarters till we are
settled"
"It will be fine and dandy when
spring comes" said Austin obviously,
''but I don't know what you're going
to do In the meantime. Dorothy. Here
Il Is the 22d OF February. and April In
n long way or Won't you be ionelyT"
Dorothy smiled away his wistful
glance. Lonely where you are?" she
said. And, besides, think OF all the
chickens we're going tn raise and OF
nls the money you're going 20 make
next summer with your eggs and your
broilersr'
III we only had $500" he sighed.
everything would come out all right"
Come 10 the garrct with me and
see II we can't find another small
table for the south window. | can sit
there and sew while you're writing at
the big secretary think you're going
20 drag in here from the hall"
Together they mounted the steep
stairs 60 the low attic. redolent OF
cedar shingles. where innumerable
wasps crawled stickily to and fro.
There are chests and chests and
chests, Let me peep inside this old
hair covered one. Austin; I'm sure II
belonged 10 some eighteenth century
belle No. I'm not a bit cold How could
I be with these great warm chlmneys
jutting out into the garrett Ah"'
Dorothy's ecstatic cry was echoed
by Austin's prolonged whistle OF
amazement nj the beautiful garments
divulged by the lifting OF the lid Of
the hair trunk.
1.-TWO white wigs-one for you and
one for me-' she cried delightedly.
tossing one 10 him and placing the
other, a towering erection Of puffs and
curls. over her own sleek hair
Austin crammed on his wig Just in
time 10 see his wife's rosy face beam
ing at him from under the whiteness
OF the other simultaneously they bent
I'm stately greeting.
Good morrow. Mistress Washing
ton" said Austin mischievously.
"Ah, Mr.. Washington Dorothy
dipped splendid courtesy and sudden
" turned 10 the chest. 'Oh. let MS put
on these perfectly gorgeous garments,
Austin. We might as well enjoy our
selves until the man brings the coal"
Dorothy slipped into blue bro
cade. admired the towering mass Of
white curls above her forehead and
waited while Austin arrayed himself
in the same manner. I'VE arc fright