The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-12-03
Grand

His face became very white. Grand
mother was standing by his side.
"Never mind" she exclaimed;
"grandson will go back and look for it
and 1 dare say he will find il, too.
-Four thousand dollars don't lay long
on any road, however unfrequented, and
the one we travelled tonight has always
some one passing over it. No, the money
won't be found. Ali me-" and the old
man lay back in his chair like one i'll. >"
For an instant my heart reproached
me, and / was almost ready to confess
my trick, for my grandfather looked the
picture of despair.
"IIl go and saddle horse and ride
back. I suppose You must have lost it
when the horse was being freed from
the harness. 'Tis only three miles back
and the moon is now up. 1t won't take
me long to ride it"
"I think I'll go with you," said the
old man.
"Dont think it," replied. "Trust
me, grandfather; if L can't mend clock
or turn somersault, you will acknewl-
edge / was always good hunter. I'll
bet you anything you dare that I'll re-
cover every dollar of your money"
"Do you think So" he asked, grasp
irg me by the hand. "You must not
mind what said to you, my boy, about
being good for nothing. You are my
grandson and my heir, too. All have
will be yours some day"
"There's one thing you won't agree to
let me have" L replied.
He waved his hand.
81 know what you are going to say, y
he answered. "Well, your grandmother
has been talking to me on that subject.
Go along boy, bring me back the four
thousand dollars and I'll allow you to
marry Sallie Miller"
l made spring for the door and was
hurrying to the stable when the old gen.
tleman followed me.
Remember my conditions: The four
thousand dollars L lost. Find that for
me and you can marry Sallie Miller and
I'll provide for you. But if you fail to
bring me the money / say nay, now, and
perhaps for good while to come" /
flew along that road as fast as good
horse flesh could carry me; but / felt
like guilty wretch as / knelt down by
the stone and passed my hand under
meath it. A CLEAN of happiness crossed
my heart as / held the package in my
grasp.
My first impulse was to hurry home as
| fast as had come thither. But reflect
ing that my speedy return might throw
suspicion upon the affair, allowed the
horse to walk nearly the whole distance.
Grandmother met me at the door. She
said that grandfather had been counting
the minutes since left. He was still in
the sitting-room.
1 held up the package and grandmother
kissed me.
"You are good boy" she said, "and
I'll see that your grandfather does the
right thing by Sallie Miller.
"Here you are, sir, L shouted, COM
ing into the old MAJ s presence and plac-
ing the package in his hands.
"Thank heaven !" he devoutly ex-
claimed. 81 had given it up, my boy.
Did you have much of a search! Where
did you discover it 2"
"Just where | said you lost it. On
the spot where we broke the shaft.
Grandfather examined the package
and found it all right. Then he Rugged
me and pulled my ear, saying:
"Now, you scamp, you can marry Sal
lie Miller. Bring her home here, foI
she no doubt requires good deal of in
struction in housekeeping and youI
grandmother will make her fit to keep
your house from running to waste.
Reader, these things happened many a
year ago. All the landmarks about the
farm have long passed away; but there
is still large, flat stone by the roadside,
as one rides out from the town of Ran
dolph, and | never gaze upon it without
recollecting how intimately my destiny
and that old rock are connected.