Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1864-10-14

work SO hard" she Murmured, 81 3 81 lie
quite happy. It's hard life keeping
boarders. If l were only as we'll off as
deacon Bancroft"
Still the widow kept on thinking, and
shortly her face frightened up. She had
an idea. which she resolved to put into
execution at the earliest practicable mo-
mcnt. What it was the reader will dis.
cover in the sequel.
Henry" she said to her son, on the
the morning of the next day, II want you
to stop at Deacon Bancroft's as you 60
along to school, and ask him if he will
call and zee me in the course of the
morning or afternoon just as he finds it
III ,st convenient.
Deacon Bancroft was not a little surpris-
ed at the summons. However, abeut
eleven o'clock he called in. The widow
had got on the dinner, and had leisure to
sit down. She appeared a little embar-
riSsed.
Henry told me that you would like to
see me-" he commenced.
." Yes, deacon Bancroft, I do but |
am very much afraid that you will think
strange of it-at least Of what l have
to say to you"
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 to the hoor-"mind am
only supposing the case-supposing per.
son should 6nd pot of gold pieces in
their cellar, would the law have a right
to touch it, or would it belong to them ?
The deacon pricked up his ears.
"a pot Of gold pieces, widow ? Why
unquestionably, the law would have moth
ing to do with it,
And the one who formerly owned the
house could not come forward and claim
it. could he ?' enquired the widow, with
apparent anxiety.
mo, madam, certainly not-when the
house was disposed Of everything went
with it as matter of course"
II am glad to hear it, deacon. You
won't think strange Of the question, but
it happened to occur to my mind, and
would like to have it satisfied
"Certainly, widow, certainly" said
the deacon abstractedly.
"And deacon. as you are here, hope
you'll stop to dinner with us it will be
on the table punctually at twelve"
Well, ro, said the deacon. I'm oblig
ed to ye, but they'll be expecting mt
home.
At any rate, deacon, said the widow
lifting his steaming mince pie from th'
oven.
You won't object to taking piect
Of my mince pie you must know that
rather pride myself on my mince pies.
The warm pies sent forth such a
delicious order that the deacon was sorely
tempted, and after saying, well, really
with the intention Of refusing, he finished
by saying" E" On the whole, guess | will
as it lonks SO nice"
The widow was really good cook
and the deacon ate with much gusto the
generous slice she cut for him, and, after
little chatting upon unimportant sub
jects, he withdrew in some mental per
plexity.
Can it be possible thought he, that the
widow has really found a pot Of goll in
her celer She did not say SO to be
sure. but why should she show so much
unxiety to know as to the proprietorship
of treasure thus found, if she had no
happened upon some ? To be sure, so far
as his kncwndge extended there was nc
nne who had occupied that premises who
would be in the least likely to lay up suol
an amount of gold, but the house was one
hundred and fifty years old, at the very
least, and undoubtedly had many occu,
pants Of whom We knew nothing. 1t
might be, after all. The woman's earn
est desire to havo him think it was all
curiosity likewise gave addition proba-
bility to the supposition.
| will wait and watch, thought the
deacon.
1t SO happened that deacon Bancraft
was one of the directors in u saving Ia
stitution stu ted in the next town, and
accordingly used to ride over there once
or twice month to attend 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 business to attend to
there. The request was readily accorded
and arriving in town Mrs. Wells request
ed to be set down at the Bank.
Ha ha thought the deacon, " that
means something.
lie said nothing, however, but deter.
mined to come back and 6nd out. as he
readily could, from the cashier
what business she had with the bank.
The widow tripped into the Office, look
ing very nonchalent.
Can you give some small bills for a
five dollar gold piece she inquired.
With pleasure was the reply.
BY the way, said she, the bank is in
quito fourishing condition is it not ?
None in the State on better footing,
vas the prompt response.
You receive deposits, do you not ?
Yes madam, we are receiving them
every day.
Do you receive as high as-as five
thousand dollars ?
No said the cashier, with some Surprise
or rather VIC do not allow interest on 80
large sum. One thousa.. dollars is ou,
limit. Did you know of any one Who
1t is OF no consequence, said the widow,
hurredlY. ! oniy asked for cnrinsity By