The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-08-21
So 90 A YEAR, IN ADVANCE.

happy. Its a hard life keeping boarders---
If was only as well of as Deacon Ban
croft"
\ Still the widow kept up her thinking, and
by and-by, her face frightened up. She
had an idea which she resolved to put into
execution at the very earliest moment
What 1t was the reader will discover in tho
| sequel.
! Henry said she to her son the next
morning. Il went you to step at Deacon
BhncrGits as you go along to school, and
ask him if he will come and see me in tho
course of the morning or afternoon, last as
! he finds 1t most convenient
| Deacon Bancroft was not little sur
prised at the summons. However, about
eleven o'clock, he called in. The widow
had got on the dinner aud had leisure to
sit down. She appeared 4 little embarrass-
ed.
Henry told me that you would like to see
me- he commenced. &0
sYes. Deacon Bancroft, do, but am
very much afraid you will think very strange
of it-at least Of what have to say to
! yoH.'
! The deacon very politely promised not
to be surprised, although at the same time,
his curiosity was visibly excited.
Suppose said the widow, casting down
her eyes-rnind, l. am only supposine the
case-suppose person should find pot Of
gold pieces in their cellar, would the law
have right to touch it, or would it belong
| to Them
The deacon pricked up his cars.
"A pot of gold pieces, widow? Why. un-
! questionaply, the law would have nothing
to do with it.''
'And the one who formerly owned the
I ly,st
could he Deacon inquired the widow, fur
ther, with apparent anxiety.
NO madam, certainly not-whcn the
house was disposed Of, everything went Will,
| it, as matter of course.'
! Il am glad to hear it deacon. You won't
think strange of the question, but it hap
| pened to occur to my mind, and thought
would like to have it satisfied
'tersainly5 widow, certainly said tho
deacon abstractedly.
! And deacon, as you are here, hope
you'll stop to dinner with US. 1t will be
| ready punctually at twelve'
well, no. said the deacon, Il am obleec-
ed to We, but they'll be expecting me home'
At any rate. deaeon,' said the widow.
taking steaming mince pie from the oven,
! you won't object to taking piece of my
mince pie; you must know that | rather
| pride myself on my mince pies.'
The warm pie sent forth such a delicious
odor, that the deacon was sorcly tempted,
and after saying, well, really, with the in
tention of refusing, he finished, by saying,
'On the whole, guess will, as it looks so
NICE
The widow was really good cook, and
the deacon eat with much gusto the gener-
Gus slice the widow cut for him: and, after
little more chatting upon important sub
jects, withdrew in some mental perplexitv.
| 'Was it possible thought he, 'tbat the
widow could really have found Il pot Of gold
in her cellar? She did not saw so, to be
| sure, but why should she show so muclr
anxiety to know as to the sproprietorship of
treasure thus found, if she had not happen
ed upon somef' To be sure, so far as his
knowledge extended, there was no one who
occupied the house, would be in the least,
Likely to lay up such an amount of gold;
but the house was one hundred and fifty
years old, at the very least, and undoubtea-
iy l'ad many occupants, of which he knew
nothing. 1t might be, after ALL The Wild
ow's earnest desire to have him think it was
only curiosity. likewise gave additional
probability to the supposition.
q will wait and watch,' thought the dca-
con.
1t SO happened that Deacon Bancroft was
one of the directors in a Savings Inslitu-
ton. situated in the next town, and accord
lngly used to ride over there once or twice
month to attend to meetings of the board.
On the next occasion of this kind. widow
Wells sent over to know if he could carry
her over with him. as she had a little bust
ness to attend to there.
The request was readily accorded Ar
rived in town. Mrs. Wells requested to be
set down at the bank.
'1Ia, hal thought the deacon; shat means
something.'
to come hack, and find out, rs he could,
readily, from the cashier, what business sho
had with the bank.
The widow tripped into the Office, looking
very nonchalant.
Can you give NE small bills for Ave
dollar gold piecc?' she inquired.
with PLEASURE was the reply.
'By the way said she, sthc bank is in
quite houshiHg condition, is it not?'
'None in the State en- a better footing,'
was the prompt response.
'Iou receive deposits, do you not?'
'fes madam, we are receiving them every
day.
DO yon receive as high as-a FIVE thou
sand dolars?'
no. said the cashier, with some surprise:
'or rather we do not allow interest on ~
large a sum. One thousand dollars IS our
limit. Did you know of any one who
'lt is of no consequence said the widow
hurriedly: q only asked for curiosity. Ev
the way. did You say how much interest you
allowed on such deposits as come within
your limit:'
'Five per cent. madam
tThank you, only asked for Curiosity
What 4 beautiful morning it is!''
And the widow tripped lightly out
Shortly afterwards the deacon entered.
Flows business now, Mr.. Cashier:' he
asked
sAbout as usual.'
Had any new deposits lately?'
None of any magnitude
Il brought over a lady this morning who
seemed to have business with you.'
'The widow Wells?'
! sYes.'
Do you know, asked the cashier, swheth-
er she has money left her lately?'
None that know Of said the deacon,
pricking up his ears. sWhy2 Did she de-
posit anv?'
'No; but she inquired whether We reeev-
ed deposits as high as Eve thousand dol
lars.'
'Indeed!' CALCULATED the deacon. sWas
: that all she came for:' he inquired mo
ment afterwards.
! sNo: she exchanged gold piece for some
/ kills.
/ 'IIan ponderod the deacon, refectiyely,
! sdid she give any reason for inquiring:'
'Nc; she said she only asked from eurios-
ity.'
Hrather Think said the deacon ecmpla-
| Gently. q can see into Il milistone about
| as far as most peoplc'-a statement, the
Literal truth of which, ! defy any one to
question, though, as to the prime fact of
| peoples being able to see into milestone
at all, doubts have now ard then inirnded
! themselves upon my mind.
Next Sunday the widow Wells appeared
a. church in new and stylish bonnet,
which led to some such remarks rs these
'How much vanity some people have, to
ho