The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1868-06-04
TREASURE TRovE.

"Humph! it's not the earrings
nor the tucker that she's worrying
about" observed the mother,
glancing up sharply from her in
spection of gay chintz. "She's
taking ON about that lad, Frank
Duncan, who, neighbor Burnwell
told us, is to leave the day after
morrow TO seek his fortune, as
he says"
"And l hope he'll find it" said
the farmer. gravely. "He's a good
enough lad, and I'd have nothing
to say against him if he'd give
less time to books and more to
work, SOS to make money enough
for a wife to live on. When young
Duncan comes back with five hun
dred dollars, Jennie I'll think
better of him; but no daughter Of
mine shall lmarry a penniless man."
AS the farmer spoke, ho was
slowly and carefully untying a
q we'll worn leather wallet, which
he had taken from the upper draw
er of an old fashioned bureau with
brass handles, which stood in q
corner Of the large kitchen. From
n goodly sized bundle of notes he
selected one often dollars which he
handed to the peddler.
"I'ye no change" he replied to
some remark ofhis wife. They're
all tens and twenties-one hundred
and twenty five dollars in all, be
adied, IN q tone Of satisfaction
"Jekyl's done a good job wi the
cattle this year, and il the crop
turns out well, you shall have
something better than that chintz,
Hetty, for Christmas time-and
you TOO, Jennie, lass.
The peddler'S small, keen, black
eyes glanced furtiveiy at the notes
as the farmer smoothed them out
upon his knee and replaced them in
tho wallet.
"Here's hundred, clear, for
the bank" he observed, as he
tied the wallet securely with its
red-tape strings. "I'll take il
down to Logansville, Thursday
Meantime, lletty, put it away in
the little box there"
Mrs. Hallett deposited the mon.
ey carefully in q tin box and re-
placed the wallet in tho bureau
drawer, which she locked, hang
ing the key on nail which was
driven in the back of the bureau
itself.
jennie having selected her ear
rings and piece Of lace for
"tucker" sat down to sew the lat
ter on tho neck of her best blue
delaine dress. There was to bt
u "bcc" at neighbor Burnwell'i
that evening, and a dance after
and though in no dancing mood
she would go. for she kcnw tha
Frank I'uncan would be there ant
this their last meeting ere he left t
seek his fortune" in the city.
Poor girl it was her first sorrow
and we all know how hard ar,
such to the young, with their help
lessness, their inexperience, ant
their ignorance of life. As sh,
sat on the side Of the little bee
; sewing the lace on tho blue dress
she looked and felt very sad. Mucl
as she loved her parents, she coul(
; not help thinking them cruel ant
unfeeling in this instance, whel
they must know how dearly sh'
loved Frank, and that she coult
never be happy without him, H
was SO clever, SO handsome, 81
good-and they objected to hin
because he was poOr AS il she
Tor Frank either, minded poverty
Oh, If he had only that Eve hun
Ldred dollars How in this worl,
$ could Frank make that onormou
sum
Her mothers voice calling t.
a supper, aroused her. With coun
r try hospitality, the good damo ha
added some extra dishes to th
I usual evenings meal and she look
), cd o little disappointed at tn
peddler's nonappreciation Of th
good things set before him. Ii
seemed absent and restless; an
declining the proffered nights lod
ing, said he must go fright on
TO Logansville tonight, in orde
to meet friend whom he expecte
IT IT there. So, after joining in with
fervent "ameu" to the hosts after
~ grace, and thanking them IN
pious strain for their hospitality
he shouldered his pack and re
sumcd his journey. From tn
window, Jennie, looking listlessl
out, saw his tall form disappear {
a bend of the road about mil
3 distant, and dreamily heard he
fathers remark
81 don't fancy that stranger
5 Somehow he don't look to me lik
Is a ge nu.ine peddler-not shar
enough at bargaining, not interes
cd enough in his business. An
then noticed he never looks yo
,srl right in the eye-always q ba
II sign"
Well" observed histhrifty wifi
''s II can't say liked him best f
n n his easy bargains. He don't NAL
i, much profit by 'em, though,
N guess, from that old camlet coat
his, with its patched elbows an
old fashioned long tails fappin
: about his heels, can rememb'
my grandfather had just such al
other. But Jennie, girl, if you
ssSI going to the bee, it's high time
* bestir yourself, Why, it's nit
ns e, six o'clock Already"
IL.
1t was o still, moonlight sur
u.... ,,;cxl,t oa Tonn;a Hallat wall