The Red Cloud chief., 1881-09-08
AUNT SABRINA'S TREASURE.

AUNT SABRlNAS TREASURE.
There was great disappointment
among the heirs-at-law when Aunt Sa-
brina died suddenly, for she had been
reputed rich, but in the light of legal
investigation her possessions had dwin-
died down to a few thousands and the
house and grounds inherited from her
father.
Why she was reputed rich it was diff
ficult to say. for she had lived simply,
and had held herself aloof from society.
Her father. Colonel Henderson, had
been a staunch patriot in time of the
Revolution, but his brother Boyd was 4
Tory, and betook himself to England
when the first hostile gun was fired,
where he was afterward knightcd.
Strange to say, Sabrina, who was at
that time young and beautiful, sympa-
thized with her uncle, though some
said this was not so much from LOYALTY
to King George as from loyalty to one
OF his officers.
Very certain it is that she was once
arrested for giving aid and comfort TO
the enemy by means of secret informa-
ton, and was only released out Of re-
spect to her father, who promised to
deliver her up with his own hands if
she ever s.nned in like manner again.
i'm process of time the war came { O
an end, and SO did Colonel Henderson
and his contemporaries. The British
officer never appeared to claim his bride,
and Aunt SabrIna grew old in single
blcssedness.
. And now. she, too, was dead. and an
other maidstone of slate. was to be
added to the row in the family lot.
As | said. there was disappointment
among the heirs, chief of whom was Sa-
brina's favorite nephew Arson, to whom
fell the house and most Of the money.
he shared the general impression on
corning Aunt Sabrina's wealth. He
knew that she had received letters from
the Tory uncle. Sir Boyd. while he lived.
and believed he had bequeathed her
something at his death.
He moreover believed that the title
o this inheritance, if nc. the inheritance
itself, was contained in n certain cabinet
which Aunt Sabrina had always guarded
with jealous care.
1t was not known that any mortal eve
beside her own had ever looked inside
it, and he had once seen her defend it
with absolute fierceuess from the in
spection of her father. the Colonel.
The key was found tied round her
neck with a black cord after her death,
and was Immediately captured; but the
= cabinet was nowhere to be found, al
though he-huuse was ransaessa sfvm
top TO bottom.
Then, a ter much the usual expe-
riences of life, Arson died and was
gathered to his fathers and lis aunts.
He left a widow and a Son-a second
Anson-who was at the same time the
pride and the torment OF his mothers
life; her pride, because he was alright,
strong, handsome boy; her torment,
because he was as headstrong and I'M
manageable a little sprite as eve lived.
What he wanted to do, he did; what it
did not suit him to do. he left undone.
Unfortunately, the story of Aunt Sa-
brina's lost cabinet had taken strong
hold of his imagination. which is not
greatly to be wondered at, since he
had heard it repeated from his ear
lest infancy with such additions and
cancellations as time and tradition are
sure TO effect.
The probability that it contained a
treasure became to his mind a certain
ty. When he was four years old, he
was one day missed. greatly to the
alarm of his parents, and just as they
were on the point of summoning the
town crier a servant found the child be-
hind the great chimney in the garnet,
searching for Aunt Sabrina's cabinet.
By the time he was ten, the marks of
his little Ratchet were found i'm every
part of the house where a board or tim
Der gave promise of having a hollow
space behind it. As he grew older, the
conviction which had so early taken
possession of him became a mania which
babe fair to be the making, or the MARI
ing, of his future lie.
He was fifteen when his father died,
b~equeathing him the estate which. after
the English fashion, he, the father,
wished to keep in the Henderson name,
the estate being ~chargeable, of course,
with the widows support.
Soon it became necessary that Arson
should leave home to pursue his educa-
ton, and the widow improved the OPP
portunity to 60 among her WI friends.
So, for a season. the old house had a
rest.
When a house is shut up, you know
how quickly it takes on a look of neg
lect and decay, and so the Henderson
house, which had seemed a cheerful
enough residence when the family were
in it, soon began to look goggle-eyed
and high-shouldered and mysterious,
and Aunt Sabrina's ghost" was re-
ported to be frequently seen looking
out the tall, narrow windows.
vNhaH sl,a ono H.
back to claim his own, bringing with
him al article which his guardians and
other discreet persons deemed super
fiuous; namely, a wife.
But Arson was free now-free in law
and in fact; he had done with books
and teachers. guardians and advisers;
he shook them off as Samson did the
bands of the thilistines.
His u now was plain before him:
to find to lost treasure and live like a
gentleman.
His wife, Mary Flaxham had been her
nameTs WASH Sisaming, merry-hear.ed
young creature, who fitted about the
old house like a butterfly, and who
seemingly took as little thought for the
morrow.
Why should she take thought when
she had q husband to think for her? A
husband whom she revered and trusted
IS every good wife should. unless she
a show reason to the contrary.
Meanwhile. the place was running
down, and Arson did nothing to re-
claim it. He neither sowed nor reaped.
So several years went by; then n
day, as Mary was sitting in her cham
Der holding the little Arson third in her
lap. her husband came in and sat down
beside her with the air of one who has
something to disclose, as, indeed, he
had. He did not ever speak to the boy
as usual. but struck into the midst of
things at one q.
MARY" said he, Il can't stand il
any longer. I've been thinking of it a
good while, and now I've mace up my
mind"
ITO what?" asked Mary.
ITO find Aunt Sabrina's money"
There's nothing very new in that"
So Mary. laughing gaiiy; lat least, in
trying to find it."
NO. but there is in the way of doing
q - aid he.