Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-12-04
"To make our Fortune he said gaily as

was huIfVNi uaIN entry lEhteu uy q dark
red lamp which gave ghostly and murder
Gus light. Paul went up the winding stairs,
and found at the top a door with placard,
on which was printed with a common pen
"MApANE pAunREY, sErnEss."
Paul tapped No answer lie tapped
again
Enter !" said hoarse voice
lie pushed the door open and went TO-
The room was bare Of furniture, except an-
other red lamp which she'd its bloody glare
over the gray walls, and black, antique
chair in which sat a tall, gaun, woman She
was robed in loose, falling habit Of black
from head to foot. Tier face Of which Paul
could see little but the chin, was deathly pale
Now aud then be caught a glimpse Of pair
Of keen eyes, which he thought were both
fierce anl threatening
She did not bow or rise lie remained
standing before her. Tho very assumption of
authority which this implied impressed and
awed Paul
" | came to consult YOU he slammered.
The black covered head nodded Il is un.
necessary to explain yourself further Your
name is Paul Forbes You desire to know
by what means you may obtain certain
treasure
Paul was terrified The other mediums
that he had consulted had never told him act.
ual facts.
When do you hold a seanoe p
Now !" in hoarso grating voice. 3" /
need no trumpcry tables, nor cards, nor ma
ehincry Do you ask whether can see into
'uturi'y2 You have a scar on your shoulder
beneath your clothes, an unhealed wound be-
low your knee. Ii can tell you about
these things that Others eyes cannot see, you
can afford to trust inc for the truth Of what.
ever els may say. Ask what you will and
will answer
How am | to obtain the treasurer" said
Paul.
" low should know what treasure you
mean2 But pause" The figure moved ber
hand slowly to hcr forehead, mutcred for a
few moments, then slowly took it down and
looked pierciugy at the terrified Paul.
"The pot Of gold awaits for you, enough
to give you fortune and power. Here are
the directions by which you are to obtain it.
she then placed small Zip Of paper in his
hand
Is Ga these conditions, she said, in hol-
low whisper " that you solve the mystery Of
this paper alone. You are to receive no as
sistance iu reading it; if you do all is lost
Bcgone you are answered"
Paul placed his money in her outstrelched
hand aud went stumbling down the stairs uu.
der the red lamp.
The next morning by daybreak he was
knocking at the door Of his uncos chamber
a" What is this p showing him paper full
Of figures, lines and diagrams.
" Don't read it to me, Only tell me what
sort Of a puzzle it is"
The Lieutenant raised himself on his elbow
smothering yawn. 1t seems to be a mathe-
matca puzzle, Paul tho description of some
locality, think. | won't interpret it to you
1t would need a good typographical engineer
to do that. Where did you pick it up ~
Paul muttcred out something and disap.
peared
week after the Lieutenant returned to his
regiment. He noticed Paul busy every night
with his mathematics and his slate and pencil.
The dream book was laid on the shelf
Several months after, Mrs Forbes, writing
to her brother said
d" | have something to tell you of Paul
which know will please you. Much to my
surprie he took the first prize in mathema-
ties ; at school last term. Finding prize
taking agreeable, presume, he has devoted
himself to all his studies with renewed ASST.
duty. But mathematics appear to be pas
sion with the boy. lie told me that he de-
signed stu1ing Typographical engineering, the
very profession would have chosen for him.
| cannot tell you how thankful | am for his
sudden change"
The Lieu enant laughed but made no other
sign.
He heard from his sister, but at long in
tervals, as he was stationed on the frontier
but every letter brought accounts Of Paul's
ucessant steady labor in the one direction.
Whether the hope of the treasure still ur.
ged him on, or whether he found that mathe-
mathics were his proper work and that for
which his talents and real tastes best fitted
him. we cannot say. But is is certain that
at the end of three years he was ready to en-
ter the highest class in Practical Surveying
Of the Polytechnic College.
A year later, Lieutenant Calderwood was
seated in the door Of his tent when two or
three strangers dashed up, and stout, beard
cd, bright.eyed young fellow jumped off his
horse, caught him by the shoulders, shock
him, laughed and ended hy kissing him like
girl.
Paul Forbes Bless you, boy How
did you come here p
Paul jumped to his feet, turned ro !, and
then burst into shout Of | lighter.
You were the seeress? | know you
were
The Lieutenant nodded "Do you be.
grudge the dollar for his prophecy ?' be said.
" As look back now, don't quite approve
Of my manner of teaching you your lesson,
but you have shown yourself better scholar
than feared"
Been appointed Assistant Surveyor Of
this Territory, sir. Attached to the expora-
ton party under General Hay. | can't tell
you all now, only that | have the position
for ten years, Mt fine salary, and mother
and Clara are snug and happy as they were
before What do you think Of that Uncle
Jem ?"
Uncle Jem wrung his hand Think
Why, that you must have worked hard 10
achieve so much, Paul"
Yes, yes, 1t took hard work 7" holding,
" It's queer, too, what trines will drive a fell
low on a road, eh?"
Several months aiier the Lieutenant came
upon Paul one day, who was looking at bit Of
yellow paper, covered with figures aud lines.
| DO you know" said he, looking up,
% there's puzzle that took me years to make
out | did it Just before left home and
found the answer TO it-nothing."
The Lieutenant smiled Hard, healthlul