Part 19 (1/2)
”Three. Three-fifty. Four,” ran up the bids in rapid compet.i.tion until seven dollars were bid for the roll. It was bought by the discreet lady. At that moment Jean, who had been everywhere, appeared upon the scene.
”Oh, did you buy those pieces of matting?” she observed. ”Mother told me to tell the auctioneer not to bother with them 'cause she didn't think there were two yards of any single pattern. I didn't get here in time though, I'm sorry, but I had to stop on my way.”
”Not two yards of any one pattern? Why there's yards and yards in this roll. Do you mean to tell me 'taint all alike?”
”I guess not. It's pieces that were left from our house and all the rest was burned up.”
Just then Jean spied Constance and flew toward her leaving the discreet lady to discover just what she _had_ paid seven dollars for.
On her way she ran into Jerusha Pike, who laid upon her a detaining hand. ”Jean, you're exactly the child I want. Where is your sister Constance? I want to see her. Is your mother here?”
”No, Miss Pike, mother didn't come. Connie is right yonder. See her?”
Off hurried Miss Pike to the tree beneath which Constance stood watching the progress of the sale, which was now in full swing; the auctioneer feeling much elated at the returns of his initial venture, was warming up to his work. Eleanor, with her Aunt Eleanor, who was much in evidence this day, was seated behind the auctioneer's raised stand, and thus quite sheltered from observation.
”Constance Carruth, you are the very girl I must see. _You_ can and will tell me what I wish to know, I am sure,” cried Miss Pike, in a stage whisper.
”If I can I will, Miss Pike,” answered Constance with a mental reservation for the ”can.”
”I want you to tell me what your poor dear mother most values among the things she has here. There _must_ be some treasures among them which she cherishes for sweet a.s.sociations' sake. Name them, I implore you. I have never forgiven myself for the accident which befell that priceless mirror. If I can bid in something here for her let me do it, I beg of you. There is no one else to do it, and _you_ are far too young to be exposed to the idle gaze of these people.”
”But Miss Pike, Eleanor and----”
”No! No! I cannot permit either of you to do this thing. Your dear mother would be shocked. _I'll_ attend to it for you, if you will only tell me.”
”But,” began Constance, and was interrupted by the auctioneer's voice calling:
”_Now_, ladies and gentlemen, here is a _fine_ set of garden tools in perfect order.”
”Oh, they were daddy's. That is the set mother felt so bad about selling, isn't it, Connie?” broke in Jean, who had not been paying much attention to the conversation between her sister and Miss Pike.
”There! What did I say! I was confident of it! _Now_ is my opportunity to make reparation. _Nothing_ shall balk me.”
”But Miss Pike; Miss Pike; you must not. Aunt Eleanor----”
But Miss Pike had rushed toward the auction stand.
Meanwhile Eleanor had been saying: ”I wish we had not offered that garden set at all. It was father's and mother really felt dreadful about selling it. I fully intended to have it put aside without saying anything to mother, but there was so much to attend to that I forgot it, and now it is too late.”
”Not in the least, _I'll_ bid it in,” and rising from her chair, Madam Carruth prepared to do her duty by her niece. Just then Miss Pike appeared from the opposite direction.
”How much am I bid for this garden set? All in perfect condition.”
”Ten cents,” replied a strident voice.
”Scandalous!” cried Miss Pike. ”_I'll_ bid one dollar. It is sanctified by the touch of a vanished hand.”
”Indeed,” murmured Madam Carruth, who could see Miss Pike, although that lady could not be seen by _her_. ”Well, I guess _not_.
One-fifty.”