The Red Cloud chief., 1881-09-08

mot a bit OF it-never was more in
earnest i'm nv life. You see that cabi-
net is somewhere in the house; there is
no doubt about that. Aunt Sabrina was
seen to have it the day before she had
her stroke, and she never lc { the house
afterwards, Till she vas carried OUT
so have always heard" said Mary.
"Then the cabinet must be here-un-
less she took it into tie next world with
her-as no doubt she would If she
could" said Arson.
but is il certain that il contained a
treasurer" asked Mary.
Certain? As certain as ANYTHING
is. You re the first person that ever
questioned it. My father believed it
everybody believed it; if there was
proof enough to satisfy her cont nporl-
ries, there's proof enough Ia satisfy US.
But whats the use OF arguing a ques-
ton that was settled before YOU and |
were bOrn?h
"Not much, 20 be sure said Mary.
81 should say so. There's nothing
so very strange, either in a misery old
woman hiding her money they're al
ways doing it-and nothing SO strange
in my looAing for it. that you should
make such an ado about il. Think Of
the folks that have been hunting after
Captain Kidd's treasure ever since he
tucked il away somewhere a hundred
years ago or more"
HAS anybody ever found it?" asked
Mary.
mo; but they would if there was
nothing but n old house in the way
"Oh, Arson, spare the old house;
your father meant il to stand in the
Henderson name he meant il as n
home for you and for Mother Hender-
son, and for this dear child though he
never saw him"-and she kissed the
boy on her knee. HE thought you
would love it for his sake, as 1 do,
Arson. And / love it for itself, too.
There isn't a nook nor a corner in it
that / don't love. These quaint old
window seats. these great chimneys,
this oak wainscotting. how charming
they all seemed tome when | came here
as your wife, and how charming they are
still! And such stories as they tell of
the Colonel. your grandfather. and the
old Revolutionary days. and of all the
people who have lived and diel here. |
would no more disturb one brick. or
one clapboard, than l would disturb
their graveSr'
Never in all his married life had An
son heard his wife make so long a speech
before. Never had he heard her in
any way question or oppose his judy
ment, and now il seemed to him much
As it would if Mary's canary had under
taken to advise the barn-yard fowls
about their domestic affairs.
He looked at her a moment in aston
ishment, and then said:
"All very fine and romantic. but,
nevertheless, the old house must come
to an end"
"And so much else with itr' said
Mary.
Mother Henderson took a more prac-
teal view of the matter. where arc
we going to live meanwhile??' she
asked.
"In the porter's lodge" said Arson.
81 a fit it up nicely, and it won { be
SO very bad as a temporary retreat"
Look out YOU don't have to stay
there the rest of your days." said she.
mo fear of that" said Arson. Il
mean to build the finest house in the
country when l get Aunt Sabrina's
money"
"A bird i'm the hand is worth two in
the bush," said his mother.
But warnings and %counsels were alike
thrown away on Arson. To the por-
ter's lodge he moved his family, and
soon the masOnS and carpenters were
busy pulling the old house to pieces.
Strict watch kept Arson lest any Sc
cret hiding places should escape him, or
another should find the treasure and not
himself.
For days there was nothing to re-
ward his vigilance. but how shall l de-
scribe his emotions when one of the
workmen cried out:
"Hurrah, Pve found it,
A closet within a closet-that was all;
a child's hand could have moved the
s'ide-but the eye of a Paris detective
would not have discovered it. Both
closets were within a ch mney. and
hence the space taken up by the in
terror one did not betray its presence.
1t might well have been the flue.
When Arson first saw the cabinet
which he had so often heard described
it was ebony boun,l with silver and
inlaid with mother-Of-pearl- r faintness
came over him, and he leant against
the chimney for support.
Recovering himself, he drew it from
its hiding place with trembling hands.
But. although he had the key in his
pocket, it is to his credit hat he would
not open it by himself; no. Mary should
share his Joy and triumph.
They were all three in the lodge
Mother Henderson, Mary and Arson
third.
"Lookr' was the only word he ut.
tered, a. he placed the cabinet on the
table.
..Aunt Sabrina's cabinetr exclaimed
Mother Henderson.
He took the KEY from his pocket and
fitted it in the lock. 1t turned hard.
for it was rusty after its long repose,
but it did turn-the cabinet was opened.
Aunt Sabrina's eyes, SO many years ago
hidden under the mold, had looked
upon its contents last.
1t seemed to be filled with pal ers-
Arson drew them forth eagerly-pack-
age after package-and threw them
aside. They were only letters.
But at the bottom there was some
thing else it might be a boX-he
seized it and touched the spring. The
cover flew back and disclosed the por-
trait of a British officer. A folded paper
contained a lock of hair and the record,
major Couertale; killed at the battle OF
Cowpens. January II. ISL"
AUNT Sabrina's lover!!" exclaimed
Mother Henderson.
"What a handsome man! Poor Aunt
Sabrina!' exclaimed Mary.
"A portrait and a box OF love-let-
ters" cried Arson. "For this-for
this l have thrown away my life; for
this l have exchanged the home of my
ancestors for the porter's lodge!"-
Ionth's Companion
Two OverSights.