Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-04-01
CHAPTER II.

The wife pondered a long while, and finally re,
piled:
LETS take it down in the cellar and hide it.
Then We shan't be robbed of it, nor We sbant lose
it, and when he comes we shall have it for him. "
'Then suppose he should never come, Heppy?'
sThen, we will leave it for our children, and
they may use it.
"Heppy my delight, you are right"
So they went down into their narrow cellar, and
having looked all around they finally removed a
stone from the wall, put the purse in-having first
rolled it up in many thicknesses of stout paper
and then put the stone back as it was before.
On the following day the cobbler watched for
the stage, and when it came be went to see if the
old gentleman had come back. This be did every
day for two months, but no old man came.
At the end of that time Jereb was taken sick.
He was very poor, too. Many night the chill,
dren went supperless to bed.
"Jareb," whispered Heppy with frightened
look, ''there is gold in the cellar
'Don't don't! O, never speak Of it again y
gasped Jareb, in agony. 'Tve thought Of it
Ay, there's gold there; but 'tisn't ours, Heppy."
II didn't mean we'd take it, Jareb. I didn't
mean to take it Jareb. I didn't mean to take it,
cried the wife. 81 only thought you mustn't die. "
II shan't die, souls delight. But I would die
| if we took that Tisnt ours, Heppy.'
After many days Jareb Gropp was able to walk
about
One pleasant Autumn day, as he hobbled along
on crutch and staff he saw the stage coach coming.
It passed him and he saw that same white haired
old man on the box with the driver. The poor
cobbler hurried on, and when he reached the tav-
ern, be found the old man standing in the hall.
"Ah! this is the merry cobbler?' asked the
stranger.
II am the cobber who mended your boot last
Spring, sir" said Jareb.
eyes, know" added the old man, ''and the
driver tells me that you have been very sick.
81 have been sick, sir All, was made ner-
vous first, and then caught cold. Yes, have been
very sick. =.
''The driver tells me that your family suffered
much during your Illness.
"Some-some, sir. But that isn't the thing
now. Didn't you lose something the day you came
to my shop?
sLose !' repeated the old man, starting. ibid
you find anything?'
eyes, sir.
"Was it purse?'
"Yes, sir.
"Of green silk2''
eyes, sir.
"With fifty golden guineas in it 2"
II don't know what was in it l found 1t, and
if you will go down with me you shall have it. "
The stranger regarded the cobbler for some mo-
ments in silence, and finally said he would 60. SO
Jareb led the way to his little cot.
"Here my love-" said the cobbler, addressing
his wife, ''let US have candle-the gentleman has
come for his purse. y
"We haven't got candle, Jareb but l have
something that will answer
And thus speaking Heppy went out, and when
she returned she brought with her pine knot,
which she lighted by the fire. Jareb took this and
turned toward the cellar, and the stranger followed
him.
II can get it, SIR
"Go on: I'll follow you.
The cobbler said no more, but hobbled down the
narrow steps, and when he came to that part OF
the wall where the purse had been concealed he
asked his companion to hold the torch. The lat
ter did so, and then Jareb removed stone and
drew forth paper parcel, all damp and mildewed.
They returned to the upper room, where Jaret
unfolded the stout paper and produced the purse
uninjured.
Here, sir here is your purse, just as l found
it."
The old man emptied out the broad gold pieces
and counted them-just fifty Of them. He re-
turned them to their purse, and looked into Jarebs
face.
"Have you suffered for want of money during
your Sickness" he asked.
"Nluch, much, was the answer.
"And you had this gold by you all the while p
1T wasn't ours, sir. Oh, I may have suffered,
but not as I would have suffered had have taken
that. 1t wasn't mine, it was yours. Take it, sir
and when you remember poor old Jareb GropI
and his seven children, and his own wife, you will
say they weren't very learned, but you say they
were honest.
''Gropp?-Gropp?-Gropp?' repeated the old
man. fixing his gaze not upon Jareb, but his wife
"You are not from England are you?" turning te
Jareb.
"Yes, sir," answered the cobbler.
"From what part?'
"From Daventry, among the hills Of Northamp
ton."
"And what was your name before you were
married ?" the old man asked Of the good wife.
"My maiden name was Hepsbath Munson
sir"
"Were you from Daveptry?"
"No, sir; was from Kibworth, in Leicester
shire. I went to Daventry to live when l was SIX
teen."
"You never had a brother2''
eyes, sir. I had one-George-h went OFT t.
India, and there he died. Poor George he wa
good boy-he was very good to me. lie was
smart young man when he went away.
], "How do you know that he is deadT'
because we never heard from MIN, sir.
t "Hepsbatb," " cried the old man, starting to to hi
feet, 'look at me !! look at me, say See 20,
can't tell me who am. l remember OF hearing
that you had married man named Gropp, but