The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1911-03-21
The Highest
Bidder
A Washington Birthday
Story
BY CLARIssA MAcKIE
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

l. by OAAfdSoA MAINE 3
+ Copyright by American Press Asso- !
citation. 1871 T
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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 elnls creak-
ed dismally In the bitter wind. The
small porch was on a 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 curlously back at them
over his fur clothed shoulder.
Austin looked up and down the lone
" 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 place is this to bring
you tor he demanded wrathfully "a
poor beggar like me ought never to
marry. Well, you know, dear it isn't
fair to you to start out in this old
rookery"
Dorothy placed her gloved hand over
his lips. II won't hear a word against
your Uncle Bob's legacy. Just think
Of owning and occupying the oldest
house in the state! 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 hereY'
| Austin brought out the key and
thrust it in the lock- IF you had only
let me come on ahead and open up
the old place, Dorothy-have 1t partly
furnished and warm fire for you"--
''Tut, TUT" admonished Dorothy,
crowding into the narrow hall in his
wake. "You know very well Pin per-
fectly crazy over old houses, and
would never forgive you If you denied
me the pleasure of rummaging out the
old STUFF in this place. Oh, isn't that
the dearest old room, and see, Austin,
the enormous fireplacei" She waltzed
gayly across the uneven floor, her teeth
chatterfng 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 a long low
room. the walls hung with an ancient
striped paper The furniture was very
old, and its possession would have
made collector wild with Joy. A pair
of long settles, large mahogany buff
fet, a great round table to match with
the accompanying chairs, were placed
on the wide polished boards now
covered thickly with dust The large
fireplace contained brass andirons, and
on the chimneypiece were brass can
dlesticks-a long row of them-a dozen
In all.
Lets have fire at once" suggested
Dorothy eagerly. I'VE can make this
room our headquarters till we are
settled"
1T will be fine and dandy when
spring comes" said Austin obviously,
"but don't know what you're going
to do In the meantime, Dorothy. Here
it is the 22d Of February, and April is
long way off Won't you be lonely?"
Dorothy smiled away his wistful
glance. Lonely where you areT she
said. "And, besides, think Of all the
chickens were going to raise and of
all the money you're going to make
next summer with your eggs and your
broilersl''
IF we only had $780," he sighed,
Everything would come out all right"
Come to the garnet with me and
see If 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
sta:rs to 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 1t
belonged to some eighteenth century
belle. No, I'm not bit cold. How could
/ be with these great warm chimneys
jutting out into the garrett Ahv'
Dorothy's ecstatic 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.
'Two white wigs-one for you and
one for mev' she cried delIghtedly.
tossing one to him and placing the
other, towering erection Of puffs and
curls, over her own sleek hair.
Austin crammed on his wig just in
time to see his wifes rosy face beam
ing at him from under the Wilderness
Of the other. simultaneously they bent
in stately greeting.
"Good morrow, Mistress Washing
ton," said Austin mischievously.
"Ah, Mr.. Washington Dorothy
ulPpCu Il SDiCh-Au COuk ICCy anu oAN0CA-
ly turned to the chest. ooh, 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 a blue bro
cade, admired the towering mass of
white curls above her forehead and
waited while Austin arrayed himself
in the same manner. Eve are fright
fully foolish. know" she said, rather
YEARLY, ''but ] simply must do some
thing interesting or shall be horribly
homesick tonight.
"Then let us go down and eat our
supper in these things" suggested
Austin hastily. Don't be homesick,
Dorothy: please don't, or shall be
tempted to weep on your shoulder and
throw up the chicken business alto
gether."
Dorothy paused before him, looking
very lovely In her ancient garb, her
sweet eyes serious and thoughtful
"Austin Ely, tell me truthfully, did
you want to go into the chicken bust
ness or are you merely doing 1t to pro-
vide home for meT
Austin walked over and kissed her
face. ''I'll confess to a weakness for
the CITY," he admitted sheepishIy Il
wasn't cut out for farmer, Dorothy,
although I do love to be with you all
day long here in the country. There is
something about the life and hustle Of
the city that calls me. I wish we