“I only hope she accepts,” he said. “Minnie is proud.”
Soon it was time for the auction to start.
First the auctioneer put up a barrel of dishes. Only two persons made a bid, for the china was old and not very valuable.
The entire barrel sold for fifty cents!
Next the man auctioned off a bedstead and a rocker. These brought only a few dollars. A chest of drawers and a dining room table went for three and five dollars.
“This is terrible!” Mr. Vincent whispered to Miss Gordon. “I am going to bid on the next item.”
The auctioneer offered an old clock. It was shabby in appearance and the carpenter knew for a fact it never had kept accurate time.
All the same, his opening bid was five dollars.
“Five dollars!” shouted the auctioneer, his hope reviving. “Five dollars! Who will make it six?”
Before anyone could raise Mr. Vincent, Mrs. Myles stepped forward. She whispered a moment with the auctioneer.