The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-09-11

hWChuy mOsltneu' TUT scNtIu HlOHells
he stood gazing lixcdly at his powdered
hand, then turning to the youth, who all
this while had been gazing earnestly,
eagerly, at the lace 0' the Seer, spoke as
follows:
South from here thousand feet,
Beneath 4 bush with briars sweet,
An iron chest with broken lid,
Contains the gold Of Capt. Kidd.
The youth needed no second bidding.
Starting impaticntly forward he soon reach
ed the bush Indicated by the words Of the
Seer, and began digging for what might be
beneath. The soil being light and sandy,
he was not long in scOoping out a large
opening. Occasionally he would pause to
wipe the perspiration from his face, and
then again return to bis task with renewed
ardOr Suddenly the shovel, in its descent,
strikes something which gives forth ring
ing sound, as. when two metals meet. See
how his eye brightens at the sound how
the earth lies away from around the object;
and with what wild shout Of exultation
be bcholds the iron chest, with the broken
lid. Now comes the Strangest part of this
strange scene. Stepping quickly out of the
excavation which he had just made and
without even touching the chest, he began
hastily to throw back the earth which he
had Just worked SO diligently to dig out.
The hole was soon filled; the ground
carefully brushed over, and the surface
spread with dry leaves and grass. Even their
Ootsteps were carefully oblitcruted, Then
the youth, taking up the gun and joining
the Seer they returned the way they
came.
Just as the warm sun was passing away
behind the western hills, the two strangers
called at our door for the team. They
seemed inpatient to be gone. Refusing our
offers OF hospitality, they took their team
and drove away.
Let US follow them. They do not re-
turn by the road they came, but drive of
in another direction, following an old road
leading through the low woods, and of
towards the south. They seem, although
apparently entire strangers to the country,
perfectly familiar with its every road and
by-path. Perhaps the magic knowledge Of
the Seer directs them. For nearly an
hour they rode on in silence, Mt which lime
they had reached the outskirts Of small
village.
Here" said the youth, breaking the
long silence, az think we may secure what
we desire, as this appears to be shop just
here on our right pointing at the same
time to small country store short dis
tancc from them.
"Ycs," replied his companion. "Goyou
and sec what can be accomplished"
The shopman, who had just lighted his
lamps, for II was already dark, looked up
in some astonishmcnt to meet the eyes oil
stranger, who pleasantly inquired II he
could purchase trunk. The man replied
that his trade did not generally include
such articles, but that at present he fortu
nately had two or three on hand, which, il
they suited his customer, were at his dis
posal.
al will look at them" said the youth.
"IIcre they ure," replied the shopman
and going to the rear Of his little building
he drew out into the light several stout
looking trunSs,
this one will answer" said the youth,
and selecting the stOutest one, he paid the
price demanded, and throwing it over his
shoulder walked away. Joining bis com
paniOn, who congratulated him upon his
succcSS, be dropped his burden into the
carriage, sprang to his seat beside the other,
and putting lash to their horse, they drove
rapidly or a narrow road leading direct
ly to the sea.
In deep, lonesome valley, short dis
tancc from the Atlantic beach, and sur
rounded by high sand hills and dwarlish
oaks, stands, or did at the time of our
story, a small old-lashiOned single story
farmhouse. Its occupants, an old man Of
some seventy years, aud bis wife, lived there
alone, and between what he could find
upon the beach, and the poor farm, he
managed to keep starvation from the door.
On this pleasant evening they had finished
their la6OB for the day, and were just pre-.
pairing to retire, when they were startled
by knock at their door, upon opening
which, the old man was somewhat sur
priscd to see youth standing before him
who politely said, "GOod evening, SIR"
Returning the salutiOn, and requesting
his visitor to enter, the old man inquired,
"Who are you ~
"0nly traveller, who has become tired
with long and tedious journey y,and desires
a conveyance of some sort, to carry him to
the next town"
al haven't got any carriage for YOU
"0l! my good sir, don't wish for
carriage, | saw farm wagon in your yard
as came in, and surely, you must possess
a horse ofsome sort"
"Ycs, | have horse and cart, but who
is to bring them back; l can't go, for I'm
too Oldln
"As to that" said the youth, "it can
be easily arranged. will send man to
bring It back. or will return with II myself.
You shall sustain no losS.n
"Ah but how am | to know that I'm
afraid I'd never see you or the horse again"
Overcoming the smile which covered
his face for a moment, the youth replied :,
"Well, il you cannot trust me, presume
you will allow me the team providing ] de.
post with you d sufficient amount to cover
the value Of horse and cart then, should
not return, you will lose nothing, and II |
do, and your team has not suffered at my
hands, may claim my money again Z"
The old man, whose love Of gold had lost
none of is arlor with increasing year.,
now seemed all attention. as he replied,
"0h! If that's the talk. why perhaps l
might let you have it. How much are you
willing to give "
"Whnt do you consider your team
worth Z"
"Well, say one hundred dollars" well
knowing when he said it, that such sum
was very much more than it's value
nnt In urnr n .hrnrrn nll fnlln,r. nnd