The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-04-30
ing dance was to be auctioned mingled
with the crowd

|
with the crowd.
The committee had desired TO make a
first sale OF the hand OF Constance
Runlet, but Constance would only con.
sent that her turn should be the last
instead of first This was considered
mistake by the committee. for they
believed that much or the money to be
devoted to the purpose would have
been spent, and since Constance was
considered the prize OF the evening il
they began with her they thought they
could excite a bidding that would draw
forth goodly sum.
Every young man OF that region OF
the slightest means had been invited.
and all were present. There We're no
northerners, for this was too near to
the war to admit OF determination with
the enemy. but every southern man of
responsibility within fifty miles. rich
or poor had assembled. some OF them
suitors for one OF the young ladies TO
be auctioned. not only for the dance.
but in marriage.
When the hand of Constance was
put up some one started it at $50. A
man dressed as Mephistopheles made
a second bid of hundred dollars. A
third person offered a hundred and
fifty. Mephistopheles astonished every
one now by bidding $500. Here the
bidding ceased for awhile. but the
auctioneer did not make the sale. 1t
had been arranged that number Of
married men. in order to be ready to
stimulate the bidding in Miss Run
let's case, should form a pool to be put
in one mans hands TO be used for this
purpose. Presently a man in Louis
XIV. costume raised the last bid to
$500 Mephlstopheles made 1t a thou
sand.
Now n wealthy widower was In the
pool. who had long wished to marry
Constance, and the bidding Of the fund
had been placed in his hands. He
doubled Mephistopheles' bid. The lat
ter raised his a thousand. making the
amount offered $4,000. Louis XIV. and
Mephistopheles from this point con-
tinued to bid against each other till
finally the latter offered $4,000.
BY this time the bidders interested
everybody; but, being masked. no one
knew who they were. Cries of "Un-
mask" were raised, and finally, after
consultation with others who had
made up the pool. Louis XIV. raised
his mask. Mephistopheles remained
concealed. This only tended to in
crease the excitement.
Louis XIV. was recognized as Gen
cral Bernard, who had distinguished
Himself on the Confederate side dur
ing the war. He was fifty years old,
we'll off and considered desirable
partner for woman over twenty-five
Years old lie had been spoken of In
connection with Constance and hts
appearing in this role was received
it'll intense interest. Since Mephis-
tJpholes continued TO bid the gen
cal did the same. Finally, when the
mount offered reached $4,000, after
n conference among the members OF
the pool Colonel Runlet approached
Nlephistophees aud asked him who
lie was.
''Incognito." replied the other
II must request you. sir. to give some
evidence of your ability TO make good
your bid in case you are accorded the
privilege for which you are contendlng."
MephistOpheles thrust his hand into
pocket of his doublet and took out
a certified check for 100000 on bank
In the nearest city. The colonel with
drew and reported what he had seen.
Then the bidding continued.
General Bernard continued to raise
his bid $1,000 ut every offer. and
Mephistophees continued to go thou
sand higher. Since the latter seemed
determined TO win at any cost the gen.
eral kept raising him till Mephistophe-
les had bid $4,000. Then the general
nodded to the auctioncer. signifying
that he did not care TO go any further
in egging on his opponent. The amount
he had gained for the poor was quite
enough and had not cost him cent.
Then IA cry arose for Mephistopheles
to unmask.
"Not without Miss Runlet's ORDER"
he said.
tOhSNnh't uuNuu'tu uuu EtuutSttN
him TO make himself known.
He threw off his cape. then his doub-
let, revealing the uniform of United
States army officer. with the silver leaf
OF lieutenant colonel on his shoulders
Then, casting aside his mask. he stood
revealed TO all as middle aged stran-
ger whom no guest recognized. Con-
stance gave cry Of JOY. and he took
her in his arms.
Lawrence Desborough had gone north
and had become n northern man. The
Colorado gold fever at that time oc-
cupied the attention OF the nation. and.
putting his money into what miners
needed, he sailed around the Horn and
sold his stock at an enormous profit.
AS commission merchant he had ac-
capital which he invested in
mining property. When the war broke
Dut he volunteered in the Federal army.
Before the surrender one of his mines
had made him very rich. AS soon as
he learned Of this he came to claim his
former love.
His appearance In United States uni