The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1878-04-30

olung more closely 10 our mother. We
began to realize the soantineas OF our min
emit in the daylight, and were glad to accept
the offer of q neighbor for temporary
shelter. Others came forward, and We had
soon an -incongruous assortment OF CASTOR
clothes AT our disposal. and arrayed our
selves as we best could, presenting a iuIi,
crous appearance enough, if any OF US eouid
have raised spirits enough to laugh
Rut we were no. exactly hilarious Utter
.nd entire destitution seemed to have fallen
| n us nj last, after our long Ugh with that
traditional wolf who had prowled 80 near
our door for the Last five years. We sllted
our ours of charity-offered coffee with Our
taars and were blind to the charms of hot
cakes Hospitality pressed upon US.
Eeighbors focked in to offer advice and
consolation, and We were touched by most
generous offers of homea ndfood from sever
u, until We could 'look round"
wherey What could we look forf Our
only home lay in ashes, our sole possessions
scre entirely consumed.
For three days we were numbed by des-
pairing sorrow. ave" mean the three
women, for Freddie seemed to look upon
he whole business as a pleasureable
change in tho monotony of his existence.
He Lad not been SO well fed-indeed, ]
may well soy stuffed-in fve years; foi
al tho neighbors called him in, whenever
he passed, TO offer titbits. He had an
entire suit of clothes that were ~out-growD
by ono of the richer boys, and, fitting
Freddie, clothed him better than he had
been clothed since his father died and.
best of all, he took holiday, nobody having
sufficiently recovered their wits to sons
him TO school
As soon as the ruins of our home werr
cold enough to admit of visiting, parties 81
boys began TO dig in the ashes for halt
burned property, and Freddie narrowed ou
sensitive feelings fifty times a day by rush-
ing in with buttons, scraps of metal, aud
ruined treasures of every description.
Meta and / summoned up sufficient en-.
orgy OH the third day TO visit my employ.
or, who agreed to take my sister for .
short time as saleswoman. We can't bach
to orr temporary home, somewhat encour
aged, W find Brent had been there, and
fully enlisted mamma on his side.
While she was repeating his arguments
and Meta listened sitha smile of quiet hap
piness at her lover . consistency, Freddie
burst in
"Como quick quick ! " he cried. We've
found big iron box under the chimney
place ! can't lift it, it is SO heavy. Oh,
eome"
HO was fairly dragging mamma from her
seat, and hastily throwing n shawl around
her, she followed him, Meta and myself
bringing up the rear.
Truly enough, there was a large boz un-
der the chimney piece, in q hollow, brick.
Cd all around, which had evidently had an
opening we had never seen. 1t was large
and heavy, requiring the united forces Of
the family to pull 1t from its resting place,
and carry it TO the barn, where We put u
down upon the floor.
There was no key, but a strong lock, and
after long elaboration we sent for q hatch
ct, and by din of much perseverance,
and strength burst IL open. Within-as
by that time we half expeC.ed-we found
Uncle Gordon's boarded treasured. Bonds to
the amount of ten thousand pounds, one
hundred and twenty pounds in gold o
case Of uncut gems, not very valuable q
package of private letters IN old-fashion-
ed watch and chain, and a miniature port
rait of q lady, opening out a field for our
speculations rs TO some romance of the
iRif ss. we had never suspected in our ah'i'''
There was no one to dispute our mothers
claim to the property, oil safely deposited
in bank before sunset, and our troubles
seemed, at last, TO be over.
John Ellis, whom l bate most cordially,
and shall while I live, called upon mamma
in q few days, and most grnciously with
drew his opposition to his sons mar.
AAhkts W. NOOh lib NOuAltSDtLlhlOh u
exactly what it was worth, but was more
than happy AT the thought of rewnrding
Brents faithful love.
Our new house, built upon the sight Of
the old one, Is but a roomy, two-story
cottage, but home-lke and cosy, and our
housewarming was the wedding of Brent
and-Meta, where Freddie and 1 ~oficiat-
cd as groom's-man and bridesmaid, and
dear mamma seemed 10 throw off twenty
years Of her age when she put ON a lavender
silk dress and wound her heavy hair in n
coronet upon her head, in honor of the
bridal.
Brent would have no part OF mammals
money settled upon his wife; but he was n
loving advisor Us TO its investment for our
support, and we make occasion for present
giving towards the housekeeping treasures
81 the young couple, to keep up something
of q fair division of the income.
Freddie plumes himself greatly upon the
fact that his bright eyes discovered the
treasure that SO improved our fortunes;
and 1t has become a habit with us to date
all events in our family history rs having
occurred before tho fire." or latter the
ire."