Weekly Trinity journal., 1871-07-22


and let you sleep in it, with that confounded
copper box for bed fellow
Thus twenty years were numbered with the
past, and changes had been made in Leroy Bank
The cashier had died, taken his own life, and |
was now at his desk. Marville, the president of
twenty years ago, still retained his position,
though in his SEVENTEEN year. The twenty years
left their mark behind, my cheeks were growing
furrowed, and my hair, once dark as night, was
now grey.
Still that little box remained in the vault and
had long since given up all hopes of seeing it
claimed.
One day Marville entered hurriedly, and
throwing his gold spectacles on the desk ex.
claimed:
John, have seen Lionel vascini |"
sprang to my feet-Lionel vascn re-
membered the name. | believe that not a day
had passed during those twenty long years, that
had not repeated that name a score Of times
Lionel Vascini the man of the copper box.
"Lionel Vascin p shouted.
ayes sir; it is he," replied old Marvine,
q the same grizzled mustache, the same grey
| eyes, ana identical red scar.
"Where is heT'
"At the morgue."
Dead2
| "Dead -
grasped my hat, and hurried from the bank
in the direction Of the morgue. | entered among
the dead. | glanced at them and passed on.
Here lay girl, her features beautiful in health
there young man, whose boated face told that
he had been in the water. Suddenly paused
before me lay man. the cold water from above
falling upon him. One look satisfied me- 1t
was Lionel Vascn.
Poor fellow, said /, he will never claim the
box; and | turned to my guide and nodding
toward the body said
d" How did he die ?"
" He was seen to jump from the pier last night,
and when he was fshed out he was dead"
" His clothes-I would see them"
The clothes of the deceased man were handed
to me. searched them. In pocket found a
comb, knife and purse. In the latter article !
looked, expecting to find the receipt had writ
ten twenty years ago, but it was not there
Do you recognize the body 2" asked the man
"0h, yes; tits Lionel Vascni, an Italian
will send coffin for it tonight
left the horrid dead house, and returned to
the bank.
"Well, " said Marville, as entered.
" have seen him"
"Now, then, what shall we do with the box ?''
"Just as you say, John, )" said he again 81
hox moth 20 Jo ,,., "a. r I
force the thing open and sec what it contains I"
"Curiosity often tempts me to do so but my
word is given, will keep the box unopened till
my death, should it remain unclaimed until that
time"
The president smiled and walked away
stormy day eight months after | had found
Vascini in the morgue, man of about thirty
years of age entered the bank and bowed res
pectfuly.
"You are the teller, sir?'
"No, sir, the cashier"
"Where is Mr.. Howard, the teller ?"
" Here; you behold him in the position of
cashier" replied
"You were teller nearly twenty-one years
age? ??
ayes sir"
"Then have business with you. Here" and
he drew from his pocket a folded paper, and
handed it to me.
unfolded it, and started. saw a name
never to be erased from my memory-Lionel
vascini had recognized my own receipt.
" Is that satisfactory p asked the man, as |
looked up.
eyes, sir, entirely So"
stepped into Marvlles room, called him in
while proceeded to the vault. Returning with
the little box laid it on the desk
"Ah that is it, though behold it for the
first time, he exclaimed, and he drew forth bis
knife and letter.
" He opened the letter and read aloud "The
twelfth nail from the southeast corner" He
took the box, and struck the nail designated
with his knife, but no lid opened.
Turn the box over" said Marville.
The man did so, struck as before, and 10
with noise like the crack of a percussion cap,
lid few open.
Eagerly we bent forward to see the contents
of the little box, which had not seen the light
for so many years.
What dazzing.sight met gaze The 5o1
soas filled with diamonds Of The first water. We
uttered an exclamation of astouishment, but the
man silently regarded the treasure.
Gentlemen" said he at last, 81 thank you
for guarding this box for so many years, and
pray you to accept these as your reward and
before we could utter syllable, he took from