Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-03-23

thought that the farther the record of it was
sent from home the safer it would be-"
"Depend upon it, it's big fortune" said
Alfred. "Wait till that chest is opened, and
you'll see. The old fellow had some queer
crank in his head - .............
"Alfred," said his mother, 81 cannot allow
you to speak in that disrespectful manner.
Recollect that Sir Henry was your cousin, and
moreover, that he is now dead. The last fact
alone should prevent your using such tone
when you mention him." .
Eyes, ma. But you can't deny that it Is
queer" ., ..r. ............ .....
~ wonder what uncle George thinks about
ii" said Lily. ..t=......, .... ......... ..-
"I don't suppose he thinks anything" said
Edith. "Uncle George is so funny! Now if
it was me, I would be half crazy about the
thing, and would be terribly angry at not
being able to look into it for ten whole years. !"
$50 should l." said Edgar. "Only think
I'll be twenty-five years old when that chest
is openedp ...l r.
"Maybe we'll all be dead" put in Daisy,
who had been drinking in the discussion,
open.mouthed. . .
"Thats cheerful anticipation" said Mrs.
Lyndon, laughing. "Come, Daisy, child, it's
past your bed-time-say goodnight and 60
upstairs. Lily and Edith, give us some
music. Suppose we drop the subject of the
iron chest for the present, and exchange it tor
something more satisfactory" F. .......
EYES," said the rector, pushing the letter
away from him. "Well consider the subject
at an end talking it over won't make Sir
Henry's reasons, if he had any, clearer to
our minds. or alter the facts of the case for
poor Georges benefit. It's an absurd freak,
there's no doubt about that" a.s
The subject was accordingly put aside. 1t
was, for some reason or other, evidently dis
tasteful to Mr.. Lyndon, and the discussion of
it was thenceforward limited to the young
people, who continued to speculate extensive
" on the iron chest and its contents, and to
look forward with undiminished anxiety to
its arrival. n'.. 10 r. :. -.
Every period of suspense has its end some
time or other, and the wonderful chest made
its appearance at last. A rusty old affair it
was looking like an ordinary box for silver
or valuables of any kind,-about two feet
long and eighteen inches wide, and little
over foot in depth, with massive lock, over
which was pasted strip Of paper bearing the
Lyndon seal and crest. The children walked
around it and regarded it with awe; to them
it was an embodiment of fascinating mystery.
The question next arose, What should be
done with it? ...
"It's an inconvenient-looking thing" said
Uncle George, staring helplessly at it.
"Couldn't it be put in the carriage house?"
In ths casriaae housel,. What can zou be
thinking Of" asked Els rector. do you
want thieves to carry it away?"
"Thieves! Bless me, I don't think anybody
would take the trouble to move it." said the
Captain. 1T is too heavy"
"They would find way to move it, I'll
be bound" rejoined Mr.. Lyndon. Haven't
you room for it in your closet?"
"Oh, dear, no" said the Captain, shaking
his head. my closet is quite full already"
"Would not the loft be safe placer sug.
gested Mrs. Lyndon. ....
"It would do we'll enough except in case Of
fire; then there might be some difficulty in
fetching it down."
"But then it's not likely there will be
fire." said the Captain.
"It ought to be under somebody's eye"
said the rector.
81 wouldn't take too much trouble about it,
Edward" remarked his brother.
"Good Heavens" said Mr.. Lyndon. "You
talk as if it was nothing but a box of rub
bish."
"Perhaps it may be-" calmly said the Cap
tain.
"Nonsense," said Mr.. Lyndon, impatiently.
"No man would be so senseless as to bequeath
box of rubbish to distant relative living
across the Atlantic"
"My dear" murmured his wife, reproving-
ly for the rector was not wont to speak in a
tone so sharp, and even his daughters glanced
at him in surprise. Uncle George, however,
bore the retort with meekness.
mo doubt you are right" said he; but in
any case hope nobody will inconvenience
themselves on my-on its account. l dare says
you don't need me any longer, Edward. You
can all settle among yourselves what had
better be done with it, and I'll just 60 back to
my room"
He accordingly withdrew, as little interest
ed in the disposal Of his property as if it had
really been rubbish; but the family were so
accustomed to his odd ways, that no one Of
fered any comment on his conduct now.
1t was finally decided that the subject Of all
this discussion should be slowed away in a
small spare room adjoining the chamber Of
the rector and his wife, which was used as a
repository for sundry household articles not
in common use. Here it would be safe from
molestation, and easy to get at in case of any
emergency which might involve the necessity
of moving it in haste.
Its owner, when informed what had been
done with it, nodded his head in a satisfied
manner, merely remarking "all right" and
then forgot all about it, or appeared to do so,
for he never again alluded to it or went near
it. To most of the family, indeed, it soon
ceased to be an object Of very lively interest.
Ten years was such long time to look for
ward to and there were so mapy matters of