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

He's come, Mr.. Herman. y
"Come? C6me at last {? Are you sure
of it, Joe?"
"Sure as taxes, said Joe Poppinger
with confident nod of his head. "He's
taken that old house-tbe Haunted
House, the neighbors all call it-and he's
moved into it, bag and baggage, which
amt much, by the way"
''Any servants with him, Joe ?"
"Only one-a crooked old woman. as
threw porringer of hot water over me
when L called to ak if I could be of any
use. If they only owned a black cat I'd
have the whole kit of 'em up for witch
craft. I never did come across such a
rum lot in all my life"
Did you see the old man yourself,
Joe 2"
''See him, Mr. Herman? I seen a
die, with a palm-Ieaf patterned dressing
gown, and flannel night-cap on his |
head, and 1 s'posed likely there couldn't
be two such outlandish old customers
going. He was a running in and out
from the furniture cart like a crazy spi-
der"
''That will do, Joe. Here is half a
crown for you.
''Thank zee, sir Much obliged to you,
sir"
And the stable-boy who belonged to
the inn, shambled away, grinning and
pulling at the front of his cap, while Her
man Franklyn leaned whistling against
the pillar of the portico.
So old Miner Molineux had arrived at
last, the rich and eccentric relative on
the reversion of whose fortune, real or
supposed, he had all his life been build
ing aerial castles. At Iast-and Her
man resolved the very next day to call
and pay his respects, although the old
woman with the hot water did not add
to the delights of contemplating the
visit
"If I hadn't heard from his lawyer
that he had taken a lease of the Stone
House" mused Mr.. Franklyn, =" GER
tainly should have never buried myself
in this out-of-the-way place awaiting his
advent; and if l hadn't thought could
work into his good graces, should
never have taken the trouble to hunt
him up. Heigho Sometimes 1 think
it would be easier to work for money
than to inherit it.
And so the next day Mr.. FranBlyn
called
Mr.. Miner Molineux received him very
coolly, sitting among his treasures, like
Marius amid the ruins of Carthage. But
Franklyn noticed that he kept one hand
on the ring of a padlocked iron box
beside him as he talked.
Well, young man, and what do you
want ?" he asked, impatiently, when the
old woman, who evidently considered
that Mr.. Franklyn was no subject for the
hot-water treatment, showed him in.
''To inquire after your health, Cousin
Miner" said the young man, smoothly.
" "Humph My health is well enough
Better than you wish it, / dare say p
"My dear sir -
"But it will make no difference to you, p"
acidly went on the old man, still nervous
ly lingering the rings of the iron box.
"I don't deny that have a treasure to
leave behind me Herman Franklyn's
eyes glistened-" but it will be to those
who consult my wishes more than you
have done"
''But, my dear cousin -
'Words are all very well, " said the old
niser, Struggling his shoulders, "but
deeds speak the loudest. You know very
well my aversion to matrimony-and yet
you go and engage yourself to get
married to a girl who hasn't a penny.
Eh? Don't you % in a rising infection
like bark. "And then, after coolly dis
regarding all my wishes, you expect me
to leave you this-thir - tapping, as
he spoke, ON the lid Of the box.
"But, Cousin Miner, if you wish me,
1 will certainly adapt myself to you1
opinions. I did not know that -
'Stuff and nonsense p yelled the old
man. 'What you know of Or didn't
know is perfectly immaterial to me.
Leave me to my books and to my writing.
That's all L ask of any man living"
So Mr.. Franklyn went moodily away.
81 must break my engagement" said
he to himself "That's the first thing.
What the second will be depends entirely
on fate and fortune"
Josie Hall was sitting in the farmhouse
kitchen peeling potatoes-no very 70
mantle occupation, and still one which
was to be fulfilled, in spite of all the gui
tars and worsted work in creation. Sht
was black-eyed, damask-cheeked girl