The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-03-25
TO HIGHEST BIDDER
BY lola FORESTER.


Interested in the final fate of the Win
dySool estate, yet as he saw the broad
advertisement of the local auctionecr
in the little weekly paper he felt pc
cullar twinge of what some have called
heart strings.
After breakfast he took the small
chummy roadster and made the three
and one-half mile run along the shore
road to the grounds.
1t was large square house, built
in the Italian villa style. The view
out to sea was splendid.
And here he turned the corner of
the path and found girl watching
him intently from the summer house.
The two gazed at each other in sur
prised silence for moment and rnen
she beckoned TO him 10 approach
not in a friendly way hut imperiously.
when are you going to sell this
placer"
I'm not going to sell it at all. in
tend to buy IT," lie answered cour-
teously.
She frowned and paused. Evidently
his appearance inspired confidence. for,
after a quick second glance, she ex-
planned:
81 have come from Italy. This was
my fathers house. Perhaps you know
of him?"
Dexter's eyes were steady and keen.
He knew more of Seward Coates than
his daughter did, he fancied.
MY father is dead" she added
| without emotion "He was in the war.
My mother is very beautiful but she
has no head at all for business, so
] am managing things now"
Dexter nodded his head gravely.
"We do not wish TO sell Windygool
at all. I shall pay the taxes and live
here"
Let me send you a couple of COM
petent. trustworthy old helpers. and
pay off these taxes. and look ont for
things for you. l knew your father.
and have several of his paintings my
self. l should be glad, indeed, to have
you for a neighbor."
4 He left her still in the old summer
house, resting. roses in her lap and
peace in her dark eyes. Before sun
down old Jerry and Roxy. his wife
were installed, and a telegram had
come back from Boston announcing
that Mrs. Coates would arrive in the
: morning. Dexter reviewed his day s
activities and laughed to himself.
He leaned back his head in the deep
leather chair. thinking how as a young
ster he had loved to visit Coates. and
how good he had been to the boy who
admired his work and adventurous
: life.
Now there would be no auction, no
wiping out of the old story, no packing
away of the paintings from the broad,
low walls.
1t was six weeks later. He was
busy writing about dusk in the living
room when suddenly Francesca stepped
| into the room from the long windows
{ that opened on the veranda.
q She had lace scarf around her
head and was out of breath. She held
crumpled in her hand long. folded
paper and handed it to him with eyes
: that sparkled tragically.
. II found that in his desk. OF course
4 we did not know We will leave al
f once. my mother says, and we apollo
> gize"
! He opened and read it, inwardly
cursing the big-hearted irresponsibility
of Coates. Unreservedly he gave Win
! dygool, in the event of his death. to
y my very dear friend and neighbour
i. Courtney Dexter, who appreciates IL
G as I do"
+ 'But this is not legal" he protested
$ at is not even witnessed. Don't think
e of it at all. You know and l know
. your father was impulsive and err
ratio"
! She raised her hand to stop him
2 81 would obey anything nj all hp told
: me to do. This is in his writing, and
r we were nearer to each other thar
you could even know, Mr.. Dexter
Dexter looked at her with sudder
intensity and longing. S'ncc she would
stand firm then he would tel her H
crossed to his des,i hunted in the Ions
center drawer ana fond Seward
!, Coates last letter 70 h'p writer
from Sorrento before he went to tn,
e front. He gave it to her and watched
l. her face as she read.
e 'For death is nothing hut a tran
sition to higher beauty. but for thos,
we love it is tragedy SO I am askin.
: YOU to meet and know my daughter
\ Francesca. TO me she is the flowe
} of life, and of all men | have known
, would intrust her happiness to YIN
most of all. This is merely a sha
into the blue from troubled mind
!, yet what is to be will be. salute yn'
: with all good wishes and remem
ORANGES. COATES =
There was deep silence in tn
quiet room. Francesca had covere,
r her face with her hands. lie drew he
n head to his shoulder tenderly.
ot 81 would not beg you TO marry m
ID for the world. even though he wishe,
II ii, if you did not love me you~SclI
Windygool was to 90 to the hgheS
" bidder And Love took it, He wal,
IS oil hI1t she was still silent only h