Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1876-08-19

old woman, but feeble. having suffered
from some organic disease all her ilie-
was very fond of her.
My father always seemed to me one y.
the noblest men that ever livea. ne was
in humble circumstances, only Pv'' ".
i'm large mercantile firm; but every pouy
trusted him, he was so honest. anu capa-
BILE and good. .rs al, Vic,
fasbar came home one day with a
L,,y,dia in his hand. He seemed very
much elated. and his dark eyes shOne
with pleasure as he told grandmother
how much confidence the firm for whom
he worked reposed in him.
ssThey have given me 81, 900 in gold to
carry over to Bristow tomorrow" he
said. as he set the heavy package on the
kitchen table. 81 warrant you never saw
so much money i'm your life, mother" he
added, as she came to his side.
III am certain never did, said grand
mother, touching the edge OF the box.
81 should be nervous if it was going to
be here long,"
ssOnly tonight we can fancy we are
rich. for at nine tomorrow start OIL, and
1 think I'll take little Tom with me-"
ssOh father;" / cried i'm ecstacy. had
never been to Bristow but once in my
life, and then the visit had been one of
unalloyed pleasure.
the bow, instead of going horseback by
mvself. Now we must find safe place
j. for the money"
= l"Put it behind my pillow" said grand
mother, "But, then, indeed, who would
know it2 Nobody will ever come here
to rob us" 30 <...s,l-F
@No. unless l run off with it myself
he said, laughing.
10. Robert, don't ever speak. of such a
thing i'm ioke!" exclaimed grandmother
"But. nv dear mother, think what a
thousand dollars in gold would be to us.
We could buy fan IN out west, Or"
Grandmother's hand came down on the
table. She was little woman, but her
brown eyes flashed, and the dishes rat
tied as she said:
.sStop, Robert, stopl Do you remem-
her that Tom is here? and | don't want
him to hear such words if they are only
jesting."
sOf course, of course, mother; was
very silly. But come, We'll settle the
matter of hiding it at once, for I'm going
over to Jim's to get his harness, mine is
broken. And, Tom, remember that
father would be burnt at the stake rather
than keep one dollar that didn't belong
to him."
was very much impressed by this
conversation, and spent long time build
ing castles in the air. That was my IA
yorite employment when boy, and |
have not forgotten it yet. / went out
side our cottage, urder the big old maple,
and my thoughts kept reverting TO the
fortune at that moment hidden in the
house behind my grandmOther's pillow.
To me it seemed b0undless.
o, if could only open the box and get
a peep ut the yellow gold! L tried TO i'm
agine how it looked; what sort of bundles
it was done up i'm, and what grand things
so much money would buy. The little
old cottage, that had always seemed so
commonplace, had acquired new i'm
portance. 1t was no longer the abode of
poverty, but what seemed to me great
wealth.
From these reveries / was aroused by
NV father. who came round from the
stable with old Dob, the white-faced
horse, whom remembered as pony, on
whose back / had been lifted when a
tiny boy, while my sick mother sat near
at hand and smiled at my delight.
s.Iend a hand, Tom; go and bring me
nv hat and the long whip said my faith
er, preparing to mount. brought the
desired articles.
Snow, Tommy, don't you stir from the
house, he added, all ready to start; sand
if Pm not home by the time the CLOCK
strikes nine. shut the doors and lock
them, and 60 to bed. Its long distance,
and / may be detained"
He rode of, anG stood Watching him,
now i'm the sunlight and now in the shad-
ow. as the boughs of the great trees open
ed or closed about him.
Grandmother cleared off the supper
table. and took her knitting outside OF
the door. Dear old lady, / can see hel
now, the white, soft hair smoothly band
ed across her white brow her cap-strings
stirred by the pleasant wind, her hands
deftly guiding the needles, the kitten al
her feet. PLAYING with the ball of blue
warn that had rolled from her lap.
She talked to me that night, of many
things-tnings i have never forgotten
and referred constantly to my dead moth
er. / think in my heart she was troubled
at what my father had said, for fear it
had in some way influenced me.
Presently, as the twighlight came on,
she rolled up her yarn, laid aside her knit
ting, and we went into the cottage. 1t was
not long before the clock struck nine.
Grandmother seemed restless. i had
never seen her in that state before. She
watched from the window and door con-
tinually, and said repeatedly:
IL wish you father would come. Some
way, can't bear to have him 60 to Jim's. :"
knew the reason why. Though he
was the best of fathers, he was not strict
ly a temperance man, and they made
wine on the farm at Uncle Jim's, and had
1t in their cellar, very strong and old. A
glass would upset father, and two make
him very wild. He knew its affect, how
ever, and that it invariably made him
cross, so there was not much danger,
thought, though grandmother did worry
so.
AT halfpast nine shut and locked the
doors and windows, after listening long
time for the sound of the horses feet. l
know my father would rap on my window
when he came, and he also walked easily,
so went to bed full of happy anticipa-
tons, and was soon sound asleep.
/ have no idea what time it was after
that, when L suddenly started up i'm bed,
wide awake, with a creeping horror in
my veins, such as had never felt before
] was trembling in every limb, but in
stantly my grandmOthersv voice treasured
me, saying:
sis that you, Robert?n
eyes, mother said a muffled voice
outside.
Grandmother had lighted her candle.
] heard her 60 through the little kitchen,
and draw the bolts.
Then there was strange noise, and the
light was out. Grandmother screamed
as if frightened.
1.-THE money !" heard him say. "Tell
me where it is y"
20, Robert, what have you been do
ing 20 my grandmother cried. "Are YOU