The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1948-10-07
The Highest {, S M.s... zz S.,',

crowd drifted toward the little era
die. The auctioneer held 1t up. who
will start this off at five dol
lars?" he cried "a gen-u-wine an
tique. Do I hear a bid? Five, did
you say, Miss Derbyshire?" She nod
ded shyly.
The child touched his arm. He
brushed her off impatiently. But
this was her moment. She didn't
mean to lose it. She became stub
born, and stubbornness made her
brave. Daring the stares of all these
people who disliked her, she spoke
up, Paw give me quarter. want
to buy the cradle"
go away, little girl" said the
auctioneer. "You don't have
enough money to buy this" He
turned back to the crowd. A we'll
dressed man, stranger in the
community, bid the cradle up to
ten dollars.
"I have ten dollars" droned the
auctioneer. "A ten = ten - ten
who7l-make-it-fiteen -" He
looked at Miss Eliza and caught her
timid little nod. The price went up
to fifteen.
The little girl had gone to the
edge of the crowd. She was crying,
loud, uninhibited walls. Several peo-
pie tried to quiet her, but to no
avail. Over the bidding, which went
up and up and up, came the broken
hearted cries of the child.
Someone whispered, "She's one Of
Tad Parrish's brood. No mother,
poor kid. Runs wild. He drinks so
much he never knows where his
young ones are"
"a hundred dollars, Miss Derby
shire?" said the auctioneer. Long
practice kept the surprise out OF
his eyes. She nodded. He turned to
the stranger. "a hundred and temp"
he pleaded. The man shook his
head. He was through. The cradle
belonged to Miss Eliza.
She picked it up in loving
fingers. She took it to her car and
placed it on the front seat.
But her joy in possessing the
much desired toy was clouded by
the cries of the child.
She walked toward the small girl.
She looked down at the dirty. tear
stained face, at the wise eyes that
knew, even as they cried, the tears
would do no good. Thoughts ran
through Miss ELIAS head Thoughts
about juvenile delinquents, unwant-
ed children. And suddenly she knew
that she, Miss Eliza Derbyshire, res
pected, well-to-do-spinster Of the
town of Layton and this dirty
seven-year-old nobody were very
very much alike under the surface.
They were both so bitterly lonely
that they relied on the possession
of tangible things, such as toys, to
given them a sense Of fulfillment.
81 have lot Of toys at my house."
said Miss Eliza tirnidly. I'D like to
have you come and play with them
often. And" she added when the
child didn't rebuff her, IT'D like to
sew. I'd make a dress for you"
The child began to smile, the
smile of an old woman, who had
known hardship and sorrow and
even despair.
"And you may have the cradle,
too," said Miss Eliza grandly. The
words cost her a bitter twinge, but
a great weight lifted from her heart
as she said them.
THANK you, ma'am," said the lit
tie girl simply. "I'll give you my
quarter"
The sale was over. Old Mr.. Wag-
oner sat on his front porch and
talked things over with the auo
tioneer.
He smiled. Things sold good" he
said proudly. He shot a stream Of
tobacco juice accurately at a near
by rose bush. And who would have
thought that blamed cradle would
go so high? I made that fifteen
years ago for my granddaughter.
ELY. Copied it from an old cradle
of my maw's. Guess done . pretty