Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1911-03-03
The Highest
Bidder
A Washington Birthday
Story

Copyright By American Press Asso-
citation. 1911

citation. 1911
.Sss.s 1. = 1. -. I, ...'sfs.ss
The old house looked grim and cold
in the chill light Of the February day.
The gray clouds lowered over its
messy roof. and the naked elms creak-
ed dlsmaily in the Ntter wind The
small porch was on line with the
ancient fence and the land stretched
away in the rear -gnarled old fruit
trees. acres of wornout pasturage and
a line Of dark cedars against the hori-
zon.
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 at them
over his fur clothed shoulder.
Austin looked up and down the lone
ly road with its scattering Of equally
dismal houses and shivered He bent
down and gathered his wife into his
strong young arms. Dorothy. dear,
what sort Of a place is this to bring
you tor he demanded wrathfully. "A
poor beggar like me ought never to
marry Wen. you know, dear. it isn't
fair to you to start out In this old
rookery"
Dorothy placed her gloved hand over
his lips Il won't hear word against
your Uncle Bob's legacy. just think
OF owning and occupying the Oldest
house in the statel Why, tradition
says George Washington slept here
once when it was the best known
tavern on the post road. Do get out
that huge brass key and let US go in.
1t is bitterly cold out here!7
Austin brought out the key and
thrust il In the lock. IF you had only
LET me come on ahead and open up
the old place. Dorothy-have It partly
furnished and a warm fire for you
tut. tut admonished Dorothy,
crowding into the narrow hall 10 his
wake. "You know very well I'm per-
feet,J crazy over old houses. and I
would never forgive you If you denied
me the pleasure Of rnmmaging out the
old stuff in this place. Oh, isn't that
the dearest old room. and see. Austin.
the enormous firepiace." She waltzed
gayly across the uneven 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. 1t 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, large mahogany buf-
fet, a great round table to match with
the accompanying chairs, We're placed
on the wide polished boards now
covered thiclzly with dust The large
fireplace contained brass andirons. and
on the chimneypiece were brass can
dlesticlls-a long row of them--a dozen
in ALL
Lets have a fire at once" suggested
Dorothy eagerly I'VE can make this
room our headquarters till We are
settled"
at will be fine and dandy when
spring comes, said Austin duhionsly,
-but don't know what you're going
to do in the meantime. Dorothy. Here
1t is the 22d Of February. and April is
a long way OF Won't you he lonely z
Dorothy smiled away his wistful
glance. Lonely where you areT she
said. "And. besides. think Of all the
chickens we're going to raise and Of
all the money you're going to make
next summer with your eggs and your
broilersT'
"If we only had $780," he sighed,
everything would come ont all right. =
Come to the garnet 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
TO drag in here from the hall"
Together they mounted the steep
stairs to the low attic, redolent Of
cedar shingles. where innumerable
wasps crawled stickily to and fro.
'sThere are chests and chests and
chestsl Let me peep inside this old
hair covered one, Austin; I'm sure II
belonged to some eighteenth century
belle. No. I'm not bit cold. How could
be with these great warm ehimneys
jutting out into the garrett Ah,'
Dorothy's eestatic cry was echoed
by Austin's prolonged whistle Of
amazement at the beautiful garments
divulged by the lifting of the lid Of
the hair trunk.
1.-TWO white wigs-one for you and
one for meF' she cried dellghtedly,
tossing one to 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 TO see his wife's rosy face beam
ing Mt him from under the whiteness
Of the other. simultaneously they bent
in stately greeting
"Good morrow Mistress Washing
Ton" said Austin mlsehievously.
sAh. Mr.. Washington Dorothy
dipped splendid courtesy and sudden
" turned to the chest. "oh. let US 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
eade. admired the towering mass o.
white fcuiis above her forehead and
waited whise Austin arrayed himself