National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-07-19
Scip's Secret.

AND well he might: for less "shlning
mark" than Old Orley, or one apparently
less worth the expenditure of ammunition,
could hardly be imagined. lie had
grown as old, seemingly as he could get.
His withered face left Time 70 room to
edge in another wrinkle; and his palsied
limbs shook so many different ways that
the opposite motions in manner neutral.
lied each other, and served to steady the
old man up. He was Il miser withal,
thought by some to be of untold wealth,
its repository being n secret OF Old Orley's
own, or lying between him and his colored
man Scip, the only human being he was
ever known to trust. The scene, we had
forgotten to mention, is laid in the Old
Dominion, and the time dates back of the
"Amendments."
Scip. whom Old Orey had taken for
bad debt, was nearly as old, but not as
decrepit as his master. A sort OF attach
ment had sprung up between them. Iso-
ated from the rest of the world. Old Or
ley's social instincts found in Scip their
only outlet Scip, in return, who had
experienced more cuffs than kindness at
the hands of former masters, reqiited his
present treatment with the loyalty so
common to his class.
All things must have an end, and even
Old Orley's came at last. Scip stood by,
in his last moments, rendering kindly
offices, and protfering such words of com
fort as he could command. "IIe would
be glad" he said, 'to go long wild Ole
Massa, for company, an wait on him whar
he was gwyne, for he knowed his ways
bettern strange darkies would.r But 1t
wasn't so ordered Old Orley had to make
the journey alone
Scrip's new stairs was a problem to
more than himself Old Orley had neither
kith nor kin. Was Scip his own master
now, and, by virtue of being left in pos
session, that of the rest of the dead miser's
effects?
There was much division of opinion on
the subject. The two leading men of the
neighborhood Col. Fluhe and Capt.
Scope, shook their heads over it.
''Not that it makes much difference
said the Captain: for the real estate isn't
worth the taxes, and Scp would eat his
head off in a week.
''Jest So assented the Colonel, who,
nevertheless, lost no time in taking the
''advice" of Lawyer Burkitt, which was
to the effect the dead mans property "es-
cheated" to the State.
"And the wust kind O. cbeatu' call
it" muttered the Colonel to himself, who
had entertained sort of indefinite notion
which he had hoped the lawyers opinion
would confirm, that, under the circum-
stances, the title to Old Orley's posses
sions would vest in the fortunate finder.
And having no doubt but the old miser
had left mint OF money hid away, he
had set his heart OH gaining track n it,
by hook or by crook. Scip he felt con
WINGED, was the only one who knew the |
secret. But wosld he TIL? There was
one way to get the truth ont of him, and
that was to tlog it out; but the right to
DO so must first be secured.
Learning from Lawyer Burkitt that it |
was the States Attorneys business to
bring escheated property to sale the Col
Dnel at once applied to that official to do
his duty, which the latter grudgingly did |
protesting there wouldn't be enough to
pay exDenses, let alone fees; nevertheless,
being candidate for a second term, he
'elt constrained to made show of zeal.
When Scp was brought to the block,
here was the lveliest kind of bidding
Col. Flutfe and Capt. Scope, secretly bent
N the same project, had each resolved to
become the possessor of Scip and his
ecret at whatever cost.
The Captain struck ont with stiff
acer OF five hundred, while the Colonel
countered with another. Then
ame sharp. sustained fire OF hundreds;
hen a rattling vollev of tifties; then the
Ioonel spurted hundred. The Captains
'lood was now up, and raising the las bid
wo hundred and fifty dollars at jump,
lirly distanced his competitor and came ,
ut winner. Sclp had as lief been knocked ,
own to Old Nick as either of them; still, ,
e felt not little proud of having brought ,
hundred dollars. when the {
larket price oflikely young fellows wasn't !,
yer a thousand. :
The same day Scip was summoned to I
he presence of his new master, whom I
e found Tipping flies from the wainscot +
18th his riding-whip, by way of keeping
is hand in.
ado you know where your master kept Z
is money, Scipl" asked the Captain. !
CptC uoeS, Sdlu rtlp. n
"Can you take me to the spot ~ Y
"Spec' | kin. s.
''You must conduct me there tonight, n
clip, and swear never to breathe word n
Dout it to mortal. If you break your .
lth"-with crack of the whip like a y
stol. shot-"rll fog the black soul out "
YOU Do you swearl"
IL does-Jy H0key ("
AT late hour, Scip, lantern inihand,
1t not light, and spade on shoulder, ii
d the way to a secluded spot in the rear g
the hovel lately tenanted by Old Orley. IL
.riking a match he lit the lantern, and "
osely examining the ground, stopped al
,ar a broad stone, which he showed p,
ide. The removal of few spadefuls of Ol
nth disclosed the top of a wooden 0ox Il, L.
,out foot square. III
''Dat's it," said Scip.
The Captain was on his knees in an
stant-it was not the first time he had n,
lelt to Misunderstanding his mails from q,
e flesh in impatient efforts to force the n,
* from its bed. n
"What are YOU doin' thar ~ shouted a e,,
ice, followed close by its owner, Col ~
el Fluffe, who had dogged his late com e.
titor's steps. r.
"And what are yon doing hereg" oc
grily retorted the Captain. III
"Detectin' of a robbery, apparently u
'orted the other. W
The two exchanged plances for mo- ''
mt. Neither would have rated the
hers life at pins fee: but in beth, the
ssion for money was stronger than pc
tired. Ei
"What interest have you in the matterS' AN
length said the Captain, doggedly. 81:
"a taxpayers interest in public prop fol