St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-05-18

l. oOcs
much cast down that he could not catch
the reply but it did not escape the
boys keen eye that Sophie was "blush-
in like house afire."
The old desk was fast taking on a
homeless, uninhabited look. One
could fancy a tiny echo in the empty
pigeOn-holes, like that which haunts a
deserted house. Sophie felt that she
was sad yet who could be utterably
miserable with that whisper still in her
ear
"And now we've come to the little
closet" said Sophie, somehow impelled
to talk fast. 81 used to think that that
door, with its little brass knob and
hinges, was the ideal front door for a
dolls mansion. Then look at the rich
COrinthian columns on each side.
Aren't they beauties 7 There isn't
much in it one eye of Mothers spec
tacles, a last years calendar, some
rusty pens, and here, Bob, is your
whistle, that Mother hid. No sign of
any gold, Grandma. The golden age
is over i'll this family" and there was
the echo of the old bitterness in her
laugh.
"There, the poor old thing is empty.
Goodbye to it !"
But BarrOws seemed in no hurry to
move away. He examined the work
manship minutely, and was anxious
that Sophie should appreciate its fine
points.
Simon Powers sat with his head for
ward and looked absently at his thin
hands, which lay idly in his lap. From
time to time he looked up at his wife.
"What is it, dear ?" she said low to
him.
Nothing; but it sort of puts heart
in me to see yOu, while they're pulling
over my things there, as if | was dead
and gone"
"That's what wife's for, Simon
POwers.'
The little Grandmother softly dOzed
in her corner, starting up suddenly
now and then with look that asked if
any one accused her of being asleep.
Rob sat at the table, with one eye on
the first cOnjugation and the other on
his sister. He gave Matte kick un-
der the table occasionally, that was in
tended to convey volumes.
"You'd better ha' let me clean out
that rubbish" he said, at last, address
ing himself to the company. 81 could
have done it in just about One-tenth
the time them two are fOOling over it,"
"HullO-O-o- ~ cried BarrOwS, sud-
denly. "COrinthian column, you call
that, do you Put your eye down
there, Miss Sophie. That's what is
usually called crack, isn't it ? Do
you give me leave to investigate Fll
try the blade of my penknife in it. Yes,
there's no doubt about its being a
crack. Now, Miss Sophie, | suspect Il
drawer. Let's to work"
"If there is drawer" said Mrs. Pow
ers, anXiously, shouldn't want to have
it go ont of my hands without being
sure it was empty and clean. Robbie,
why can't you help ?"
"Miss Sophie" said Barrows, ''if Won
were to take hold ut the base and / at
the capital, perhaps we could bring it,"
"Here, give me hold of it, said Bob ;
but his sister ignored him.
"It's just like Scott's novels" said
Matte, dehghtedly. al always did
wish we had secret panel or some
thing. Pm sure our house is old
enough"
cone, two, three! Now, Miss Sophie ~
One, two, three !
"It's coming" cried Barrows, with
the ardor of Schliemann. "Some-
thing heavy in it. That's the trouble.
There, I've got hold of it. 1t sticks a
! little. One more pull. Now :" And
he held in his hand long, deep, and
narrow drawer. Its front had tried to
make the world believe that it was an
innocent little Corinthian column,
whose sole duty had been to stand
guard at the tiny clOset-dOOr.
81 said it was heavy, did ~ said
Barrows, in queer voice. "SuppOse
yOu try it and see, Mr.. Powers" And
he put the drawer into the sick mans
hands.
One look, and Simon Powers dropped
it to the floor. "Sallie, it's gold It's
gold :" he cried, with shaking voice.
The glittering pieces rolled in every
direction. Nobody but Rob thought OF
pursuing them.
"I'm going to see what's in the other
feller," said that enterprIsing boy
"Gracious This sticks wOrse'n the
other I'll fetch it, though"
And "fetch" it he did, though it was
filed to the brim with heavy coin
"What do you think of that, Grandma
Powers and of that, and of that p
"Simon," said his wife, with hel
hand on his shoulder, "didn't tell you
all along we weren't forgotten ,
eyes, Mr.. Powers, you're IL lucky
man." said BarrOws, with hearty
grasp of the hand. "That's what cal
a genuine antique"
"And, if it hadn't been for You" sale
Sophie looking up into his face, anC
her sentence was finished with her hap
piest smile.
Mrs. PundersOn called next day. A
she rode away, she told Miss Viole
Varnes that these people were certain
, ly the most disagreeable she had eve
to deal with. They were as obstinate
as ever about their desk, and, for he
| part, she wanted no more to do witt
, them Independent.
What Makes Men Dishonest.