THE FIRST SALE
Order was being brought out of chaos in the Rummage rooms, where twenty
ladies were working industriously, sorting, pricing, and marking the
multitudinous articles heaped upon the counters. Not only District No.
5, but the village had emptied itself, glad to be rid of the
accumulations of years. Nearly every room was occupied, and the
committees were showing great skill in assigning things to the different
departments. The antiques had a niche by themselves; the quill wheel,
the warming-pan, the foot-stove, the brass kettle with Peter's
boot-jack, and many more articles of a similar character were placed
together. Jack's sister had responded quickly, and a large box had
arrived with articles curious and new, which elicited cries of delight
from the ladies in charge, who marked them at a ridiculously low price,
less even, in some instances, than had been paid for them, and labelled
their corner "The New York Store."
Scarcely was this completed when the drayman arrived from Crompton Place
with the doll house and the two trunks, the last of which were pounced
upon first, as Ruby Ann had reported what was in them. Her description,
however, had fallen far short of the reality, and the ladies held their
breath, as one after another of the beautiful gowns was taken out for
exhibition. Few had ever seen anything just like them. Homer Smith had
prided himself upon being a connoisseur in ladies' costumes and had
directed all of Amy's, taking care that there was no sham about them.
Everything was real, from the fabric itself to the lace which trimmed
it, and which alone had cost him hundreds of dollars. And now they were
at a Rummage Sale, and the managers did not know what to do with them.
It was scarcely possible that any one would buy them, and it would be
greatly out of place to exhibit them in the dry-goods department with
Mrs. Biggs's brown and white spotted gown which she had contributed
rather unwillingly, insisting that it should not be sold for less than a
dollar. Ruby Ann suggested that they be carefully folded in boxes and
laid away by themselves for inspection by any one who had a thought of
buying them. If they did not sell, and probably they would not, they
were to be returned either to Amy or to the Colonel,--the latter most
likely, as Amy had expressed so strong a desire to be rid of them. Her
suggestion was acted upon, and the dresses laid aside, and the attention
of the managers turned to the doll house and its occupants, Mandy Ann
and Judy, the latter of whom was greeted with shrieks of laughter.
Here was something that would sell, but what price to put upon it was a
puzzle. No one had any idea of the original cost. Mrs. Biggs, who had
joined the working force and whose voice was loudest everywhere,
suggested ten dollars, with the privilege of falling, but was at once
talked down, as low prices were to be the rule for everything, and five
was quite enough. There were few who would pay that for a mere
plaything for their children, so the card upon it was marked five
dollars, with the addition that it had once belonged to Mrs. Amy
Crompton Smith. It was then placed conspicuously in a window before
which a group of eager, excited children gathered, and to which early in
the afternoon Peter came leisurely.
The Colonel had asked him several times why he didn't go, and had
finally grown so petulant that Peter had started, wondering how much
he'd have to pay and what excuse he was to make for wanting it himself.
His instructions were not to lie, but get it somehow without using the
Colonel's name. Finding Ruby Ann alone, he began, "I say, do you make
any sales before the thing opens?"
"Why, yes, we can," Ruby answered. "Several antiques are promised, if
not actually sold, your boot-jack with the rest. Could sell another if
we had it. Any particular thing you want?"
"Yes, I want that house in the window and the two women in it,--Mandy
Ann and Judy. It's marked five dollars. Here's your money," and he laid
a crisp five-dollar bill in her hand.
"Why, Peter,--why, Peter," Ruby exclaimed in surprise, with a sense of
regret that more had not been asked, and a feeling of wonder as to why
Peter wanted it. "Are you buying it for yourself?" she asked, and Peter
replied, "Who should I buy it for? I knew Mrs. Amy when she was a little
girl and played with it and slept with that nigger baby Judy. I've
bought it. It's mine, and I'll take it right away. There's a drayman
now, bringing a worn-out cook-stove and an old lounge."
"Oh, but, Peter,--please leave it till the sale is over. It draws
people to look at it, and then they'll come in," Ruby said, while others
of the ladies joined their entreaties with hers.
But Peter was firm. He had bought the doll house and paid for it. It was
his, and in spite of the protests of the entire committee which gathered
round him like a swarm of bees he took it away, and an hour later it was
safely deposited in the Colonel's room without Amy's knowledge. The
Colonel was delighted.
"Bring it close up," he said, "but first take off that infernal card
that it belonged to 'Mrs. Amy Crompton Smith.' That's the way they'd
marked my trousers! Give me Mandy Ann and Judy. I haven't seen them in
more than twenty years,--yes, nearer thirty. Upon my soul they wear
well, especially the old lady. She was never very handsome, but Amy
liked her best," he said, laughing a little as Peter put Judy in his
lap.
He did not know that he had ever touched her before, and he held her
between his thumb and finger, with something which felt like a swelling
in his throat,--not for Judy, nor for Amy, but for poor Dory, thoughts
of whom were haunting him these days with a persistency he could not
shake off.
"What did you give?" he asked, and Peter replied. "Five dollars,--just
what it was marked."
"Five dollars! Heavens and earth!" and Judy fell to the floor, while the
Colonel grasped his knees with his hands and sat staring at Peter. "Five
dollars! Are you an idiot, and have none of them common sense?" he
asked, and Peter replied, "That was the price, and I didn't like to beat
them down."
Ruby Ann isn't easy to tackle, and Mrs. Biggs was there with her gab,
if she is my niece, and said I got it dirt cheap."
"Go to thunder with your Ruby Ann and Mrs. Biggs and dirt cheap!" the
Colonel roared. "Who said I wanted you to beat 'em down? Why, man, I
told you I gave thirty for the house and five for Mandy Ann, and here
they have sold the whole caboodle, Judy and all, for five dollars! Five
dollars! Do you hear? Five dollars, for what cost thirty-five! I
consider they've insulted Mandy Ann and Judy both. Five dollars! I'll
be--"
He didn't finish his sentence, for he heard Amy's voice in the hall. She
might be coming, and he said hastily to Peter, "Put them in the closet.
Don't let her see them, or there'll be the old Harry to pay."
Peter obeyed, but Amy did not come in, and after a moment the Colonel
continued, "We will keep them here a while. I dare say she'll never
think of them again. She doesn't think much. Do you believe she will
ever be any better?"
The Colonel's voice shook as he asked the question, and Peter's shook a
little as he replied, "Please God she may. A great shock of some kind
might do it."
"Yes, but where is the shock to come from, hedged round as she is from
every rough wind or care?" the Colonel said, little thinking with what
strides the shock was hastening on, or through what channel it was to
come.