Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1876-02-11

father?'' questioned Edmund.
because, my lad, she is almost a
stranger to us"
FEATHER, would stake my life on her
truth and honesty" cried the young man.
because you are in love with her,
my son Edmund, look here Have
you spoken to her yet?'
mot yet, sir"
"Will you do me favor? ?"
Edmund smiled little. THAT de-
ponds ON what it is, father"
"Will you wait one week before you
ask her to be your wife? Will you
wait one week without asking any ques-
tions 2"
eff you desire it, sir"
cat the end of that time / will tell
you what think upon the matter"
And Mr.. Stedhurst went ON with the
repairing of the Sunday harness.
The next day he brought down an
armful of old coats, vests and pants from
the garrett Judith" said he, "these
things are getting moth eaten. They
belonged to an old uncle of mine, who
died ten years ago-an odd, misery old
fellow, who boarded everything up, and
died in a cellar at last | want them
cut into carpet rags"
Yes, sir" answered Judith Black,
in the soft low voice which was babitual
to her. And when her days routine
of duty was done she went to work dill
gently with Mrs Stedhursts big shining
shears.
She was all alone in the kitchen Just
as the clock was striking three. Ed
nund was in the barn, sorting out win
ter apples. Mr.. Stedhurst was ham
mering away in the tool room at new
set of shelves for the milk diary, and
Mrs. Stcdhurst had gone out to neigh
boris with her knitting work. And as
Judith Black worked she sang softly to
herself an old Scotch ballad, "Bonne
Dundee"
Picking up an old waistcoat of ginger
colored cloth, she clipped off the buttons
aud mechanically turned the pockets in
side out to cut them away. There was
piece of folded brownish paper in one
of them. Judith took it out without
thinking much off and unfoldcd it.
To her surprise she perceived that it
was fifty dollar treasury note.
In her first establishment she uttered n
little cry, all alone though she was. And
then she remembered what Mr.. Sted-
hurst had said about the miserly old uu-
Gle who had ''hoarded up bis little gains
and died in cellar at last" This,
doubtless, was one of the old mans
hiding places-and he had died and
made no sign.
And this precious bit of paper was
it not hers by right Of discovery Her
eyes cleaned and her fingers trembled
convulsively aud they frightened tbeil
grasp upon it She needed it so much
She was so poor--so punched for money
And these Stedhnrsts. to whom it woulC
naturally revert, were rich and did no
need it! They would never know. No
body would know.
For minute the temptation hafflct
terccly with her better nature, For ;
minute only And then Judith rose "
and went straight to the door of the tool
room-went with dropping eyelids and
scarlet stain on either cheek.
Come in" said Mr.. Stedhurst, a
Judith knocked at the door, and she en-
tered
'Mr. Stedhu said she, in voic
that would faltcr little, in spite of he
resolution to control it. "bcre is som
money, 1ifty-dollar bill. | have fount
it in the pocket of one of those old waist
coats"
"Ah! said Mr. Stedhurst, putin,
down his plane, and taking the crnm
pied bit of paper, ''and why didn't yot
keep it? Did it not occur to you that
would never know anything about it 2
Yes" said Judith, "it did occur t,
me, sir"
"Ihen why didn't you keep ?"
1T vas not mine" Judith answered
IN low tone.
Judith" said Phineas Stedhurst
come here and kiss me, my girl. / put
that money there p
you did p
II did TO test you. To make sure
that the girl to whom my boy had given
his heart was worthy of him."
Judith's face glowed with deep
scarlet.
Il don't understand you, sir, said
she.
No; Il suppose not But you will
in few days"
And she did when Edmund Stedhurst
asked her to be his wife.
My own love-" be said ''thc farm
house has been like different place since
you came into it. Will you promise me
to stay here always z"
And Judith's answer was Eyes"
A VERY SISGuLAR SENTENCE. "A cor
respondent sends US the following liter
airy curiosity
''Sator arepo tenet opera rotas
/. This spells backward and forward
all the same.
2. Then taking all the first letters of