News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1882-12-14

with velvety eyebrows, and round rnd
dot OF mouth and in those dark ewes
glittered a light, half resentfui, hall
ang1ushed, as she looked straight at Her.
man Franklvn.
Il understand, said she. seYou want
to break the engagement. Now that
your rich uncle has come to the neigh.
borhood 1 am no longer worthy of Won "
lit isn't that, Josie, believe me, y
said Franklyn, twisting himself about
with the red signals of keen modification
blazing on his cheek. "But T think
perhaps it would be better for both of
us'-
"And l haven't the least doubt of it -
interrupted Josie, with heaving breast
and qulvering lips. ga thousand times
better; for I value the love of no man
who can leave me thus. Pray don't
waste your time in coniuring up any fur
ther excuses. They are quite unneces-
sary. wish you a very good morning. p"
And silo went on peelltlg her potatoes,
while Herman Ftanklyn crept out of the
house, feeling very like a whipped cur.
For day or two he was heartily
ashamed of himself; but the reward-as
at least he esteemed it-came at last.
Mr.. Miner Molineux fell i'll. Being i'll,
he was frightened. Being frightened he
was solitary. And consequently he sent
for his cousin Franklyn, a thing he
never would have done in health.
"You don't think Tn going to die, do
you, Herman ?" he asked tremulously.
"Oh, there's no danger at all, reas-
sured the young man, as the doctor had
that morning said that the patients
spirits must be kept up at all hazards.
"And you won't leave meP"
Certainly not, if my presence can be
any satisfaction to you" responded the
delighted fortune seeker.
''But that girl that you're engaged
to-" grlmbled Mr.. Molineux; ''she
won't like it."
''Do you think that I could persist in
anything contrary to your wishes?' re-
proachfully asked Herman Franklyn.
''The engagement is broken"
GOOD p croaked the old man. cen
gagements are a humbug in any event.
Engagements to girls that haven't any
thing are still worse. Cousin Franklyn,
you've more sense than [ gave you credit
for"
Day by day, Miner Molineux grew
worse. On the fourth afternoon he sent
for a lawyer, and made his will. On the
fifth he became speechless. On the
sixth he died.
'My fortune is made now," thought
who had listened at the door
during the interview with the lawyer,
and heard directions given connecting 6
his name with the padlocked iron box, c
whereof the key hung round the dead
mans neck. And he felt that Josie had S
,een well sacrificed I
d
'|But you don't mean to say that old Il
roIineux hadn't got anything after all ?" g
nd Widow Hall. le
Nothing but few sticks of furniture Il
nd some rusty coins as no decent shop e
-eeper would give change for o
The widows eyes shone through her s
pectacle-glasses. e
''Lor' o massy l'' said she. ''And f
What was in the iron box as everybody l
1ad so much to say about-the iron box {
rs was willed to Herman Franklyn?'' l
''Just the sheets of paper containing a f
dictionary the old man had been writing t
Ill his life. Manuscript, the lawyer
salled it, whatever that may be. He 8
thought it was worth a deal of money
md he'd spent his all in hunting up old !
BOOKS as nobody but himself ever heard s
of, and travelling about the country to
pick up information. 6
g I'm glad of it p cried Josie, spring
ng up with sparkling eyes. 81 never {
was so glad of anything in my life. He's l
served right for once"
Mr. Franklyn called the next day, s
meek and subdued. If Josie had been +
4 model heroine she would have thrown Z
both her arms around his neck and 6
vowed that she loved him better than :
ever But she was only a very human
little girl, so she stood up with dignity :
and said Z" I wonder at your assurance I
in coming here after all that has trans {
pred, Mr.. Franklyn.'' l
g But, Josie -
"There is the door, sir, said Josie.
SO Please to walk out.
And there was nothing left for it but
to "walk out. :"
Old Miner Molineux sleeps quietly in
the village graveyard and public rumor
has added yet another ghost to the spec
trail population of the Haunted House
a yellow-visaged old bogey, who wears a
wig and carries in his hand padlocked
iron box.