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The articles sold embraced a great variety of things useful and ornamental. In the main they were made up of watches, silver plate, jewellery and wearing apparel. There were garments of every kind, quality and condition, upon which money to about a fourth of their real value had been loaned; and not having been redeemed, they were now to be sold for the benefit of the pawnbroker.

The company bid with animation, and article after article was sold off. The interest at first awakened by the scene, new to the young merchant, wore off in a little while, and turning to his companion he said–“I don’t see that much is to be gained by staying here.”

“Wait a little longer, and perhaps thee will think differently,” returned the Quaker, glancing towards the young woman who has been mentioned, as he spoke.

The words had scarcely passed his lips, when the auctioneer took up a small gold locket containing a miniature, and holding it up, asked for a bid.

“How much for this? How much for this beautiful gold locket and miniature? Give me a bid. Ten dollars! Eight dollars! Five dollars! Four dollars–why, gentlemen, it never cost less than fifty! Four dollars! Four dollars! Will no one give four dollars for this beautiful gold locket and miniature? It’s thrown away at that price.”

At the mention of the locket, the young woman came forward and looked up anxiously at the auctioneer. Mr. Edwards could see enough of her face to ascertain that it was an interesting and intelligent one, though very sad.

“Three dollars!” continued the auctioneer. But there was no bid. “Two dollars! One dollar!”

“One dollar,” was the response from a man who stood just in front of the woman. Mr. Edwards, whose eyes were upon the latter, noticed that she became much agitated the moment this bid was made.

“One dollar we have! One dollar! Only one dollar!” cried the auctioneer. “Only one dollar for a gold locket and miniature worth forty. One dollar!”

“Nine shillings,” said the young woman in a low, timid voice.

“Nine shillings bid! Nine shillings! Nine shillings!”

“Ten shillings,” said the first bidder.

“Ten shillings it is! Ten shillings, and thrown away. Ten shillings!”

“Eleven shillings,” said the girl, beginning to grow excited. Mr. Edwards, who could not keep his eyes off of her face, from which the veil had entirely fallen, saw that she was trembling with eagerness and anxiety.

“Eleven shillings!” repeated the auctioneer, glancing at the first bidder, a coarse-looking man, and the only one who seemed disposed to bid against the young woman.

“Twelve shillings,” said the man resolutely.

A paleness went over the face of the other bidder, and a quick tremor passed through her frame.

“Twelve shillings is bid. Twelve shillings is bid. Twelve shillings!” And the auctioneer now looked towards the young woman who, in a faint voice, said–

“Thirteen shillings.”

By this time the merchant began to understand the meaning of what was passing before him. The miniature was that of a middle-aged lady; and it required no great strength of imagination to determine that the original was the mother of the young woman who seemed so anxious to possess the locket.

“But how came it here?” was the involuntary suggestion to the mind of Mr. Edwards. “Who pawned it? Did she?”

“Fourteen shillings,” said the man who was bidding, breaking in upon the reflections of Mr. Edwards.

The veil that had been drawn aside, fell instantly over the face of the young woman, and she shrunk back from her prominent position, yet still remained in the room.

“Fourteen shillings is bid. Fourteen shillings! Are you all done? Fourteen shillings for a gold locket and miniature. Fourteen! Once!—“

The companion of Mr. Edwards glanced towards him with a meaning look. The merchants for a moment bewildered, found his mind clear again.

“Twice!” screamed the auctioneer. “Once! Twice! Three—-“

“Twenty shillings,” dropped from the lips of Mr. Edwards.

“Twenty shillings! Twenty shillings!” cried the auctioneer with renewed animation. The man who had been bidding against the girl turned quickly to see what bold bidder was in the field: and most of the company turned with him. The young woman at the same time drew aside her veil and looked anxiously towards Mr. Edwards, who, as he obtained a fuller view of her face, was struck with it as familiar.