Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-05-07
TIE BAG OF GOLD.

MONEY is great trial." said the
widow Peckington, impressively. 81 de
clare did not know what care meant be
fore brother Gabriel died and left me al
(he money"
"Well, Cousin Clarissa," observed
George Merrilton, who was assidously en-
gagged in entangling the widows work to
The very best or the very worst of his
ability, & in case you find yourself une
quail to the strain, all you have to do is to
leave me the five thousand dollars. "
" The first thing in the morning" went
on HRS. Peckington unheeding Mr.. Mer-
iltcn's modest mint, land the last at night
I'm thinking about it. First | put it in
Deacon Elijah Horizons bank, and then l
drew it out again-banks aren't nOways
safe nowadays And then | buried it in
the east cellar, close to the apple bin,
and then came the deluging rain and |
lzuowed the cellar would be three inches
deep in water So up il came again, and
Ghei I could not rest in my bed for fear
of fire So | got it changed into gold,
and guess it's safe enough"
g In the bottom Of your big red Chest?"
mischiev0usiy hazarded George.
g No matter where, sir, said the widow,
nodding her head.
ooh but you might tell u.s." persisted
Mefrilton. 1--WE are all your own folks,
Cora and l."
Cora Dallas sat stitching quietly in the
corncr-the pretty orphan whom good
Mrs. Peckingtou had taken out of the
orphan asylum " 10 bring up'' five years
before
II don't expect to leave you nothing, y
Mrs Peckington had said, " for I've rela-
lions Of my own, but I'll give you. dis
lriCt school education, and a decent bring
ing up, and good chance to do for your
self"
And Cora had accepted the good DANES
offer with meek gratitude.
She had grown very pretty in the last
few years, this solitary child of nobody.
Dark-eyed, with hair full of deep chestnut
golden shadows, a peach-blossom skin,
where the rosy blood glOwed brightly
through on the slightest provocation, and
a mouth like HebG, it seemed as if nature
had made a solemn compact with herself
20 atone for all social Sights thai might
Oe cast across Cora Dallas path.
g Well, !" said Mrs. PeCkingtOn, seriously,
:" / don't mind telling you, but mind you
1trl't repeat 1.-THE bags hung halfway
lp ~sae chimney, on an iron hook"
:" Bat suppose the chimney should take
ire" said Merilton.
'tEtwon't keep it well swept and be
SIDES, if it should, it takes pretty good
heat to melt gold"
Upon my word, Cousin Clarissa," said
Merrilton, you are a second Machiavelli."
Who in pity sakes was he?" asked
Mrs. Peckington. There's NelghDor
Simzins at tue door-jump and let him in,
To II In al
possessed. y
And Neighbor Simkins came ina
broadfaced, jovial agriculturist, who lived
on the next farm, and was suspected of
matrimonial designs on the heart of Widow
Peckington.
Set by, Mr. Simkins," said the widow,
Hospitality, putting another moss-fringed
log on the FIRE; "seems like we're going
to have another spell Of weather"
And while the widow and her middle
aged lover discussed the weather, George
took occasion to help Cora get down a
half bushel of red apples from the garnet,
and was unnecessarily long about it, too
a should think you would be ashamed
of yourself, George Merrtlton," said
Cora, dimpling and blushing, and trying
TO look very angry, in which she sue
ceeded very inditferently.
What for?" audaciously demanded
George. " One doesn't get chance to
kiss d pretty Girl every day in the year
What would Mrs Peckington say?''
al dare say she's doing the very same
thing herself down stairs with Jehorum
Simkins"
And Cora burst out laughing at the pre-
posterous idea, just as the widow came in
TO hustle around after ounce jelly and
apple butter, ana to tell Cora to mix up a
batch of mullins, for Neighbor Simkins
was going to stay to tea.
And then Mr. Simlzins took his leave
with a roguish twinkle of his eye toward
the young people, and Mrs Peckington
went over to spend the evening with Mrs
DOttletOrd, her pet crony, and Cora sat all
alone in the freight, sewing and signing
and thinking. For George Merrilton had
gone home early to secure Mr.. Simkins
companionship part of the way through
the lonely roads which already were be
coming ve.,ed in snow.
The tall, old-fashioned clock in the
angle Of the old-fashioned kitchen chin
ney had just struck midnight when Cora
Dallas was reused from her sleep by q
sheeted form at the foot of her bed-tall
and narrow, clad III white-but no ghost
nevertheless, but Mrs. Peckington's self
What's the matter?" cried Cora
abreaJhleSsly.
Mymoneym gasped the widow, way.
ing her hand tragicallY in the air.
. But what of it?"
It's stolen"
Are you sure?" eagerly demanded
Cora
LAS sure as am that you're STARING al
me now. felt up the chimney for it The
last thing afore l got ready to go to bed
and-it was gone"
In vain proved all search. Neither IN
chimney, nor down cellar, nor in any
imaginable corner was the bag of goId
pieces to be found.
Mrs. Peckington," said Cora, huskily
e If must have been stolen"
Eyes" said Mrs. Peckington, whose
Inns were now compressed, and there wa:
something in her manner that Cora never
before noticed, as she called the white
headed farm boy, and told him to rur
over and ask Farmer Simkins to step tt
the Peckington place that morning.
"And you may as well stop for Georg
Merrilton, as you come back" said she
When he was gone she came close u
60 Cora Dallas.
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