The Brookhaven leader., 1883-03-01

true, but he was OF q good disposition,
kind hearted, and would no doubt make
n very good sort of husband. Widows
are, L take it (if any shall do me the
honor to read this story, trust they
will forgive the remark), less disposed to
weigh sentiment in a second alliance
than q first, and so, in the widows
point Of view, Elder Boyd was very
desirable match.
Some sagacious person, however, has
observed that it takes two to make O
match, a fact to be seriously considered |;
ingly doubtful whether the worthy
elder, even if he had known the favora-
BILE opinion of his next neighbor, would
have been inclined to propose changing
her name to Boyd, unless, indeed, a
suitable motive was brought to bear
upon him. Here was chance for lit
tie managing, wherein widows are said,
as a general thing, to be expert.
One evening, after day Of fatiguing
!! labor, Widow Hayes sat at the fire in the
sitting-room, with her feet resting on the
| fender.
eff ever I am situated so as not to
have to work so hard, she murmured,
81 shall be happy. It's hard life,
keeping boarders. If was only as well
/ off as Elder Boyd"
Still the widow kept up her thinking,
and by-and-by her face frightened. She
had an idea which she resolved to put
] into execution at the earliest possible
momefft What IL WITS tho reader wfII
discover in the sequel.
| lg Il, - l. l. A,
next morning, 81 want yon to stop sG
Elder Boyd's when you go to school and
ask him If he will call on me in the
course of the morning or afternoon,
just as he finds it most convenient"
Elder Boyd was little surprised at
this summons. However, about IL
h'cIock he called in. The widow had got
on the dinner, and had leisure to sit
down. She appeared a little embar-
rassed.
Freddie told me you would like to
see me-" he commenced.
"Yes. elder, I should. But I am
very much afraid you will think strange
at least of what l have TO say to you. I"
The elder promised very politely not
to be surprised, thsugh at the etime
his curiosity was visibly excited.
"Suppose,' said the widow, casting
down her eyes-"mind, l was only sup
posing q case-suppose person should
find pot Of gold pieces in their cellar,
would the law have a right to touch it,
or would it belong to them?" The elder
pricked up his ears.
ga pot of gold pieces, widow? Why,
ungnestionably. the law would have
nothing to do with it.
"And the one who formerly owned
the house couldn't come forward and
claim it, could he, elder?"
"No, madam; unquestionably not.
When the house was disposed of, every
thing went with it, as a matter of
course"
"I am glad to hear it, elder. You
won't think strange of the question, but
it happened to occur in my mind, and I
thought would like to have it satisfied.
Certainly, widow, certainly" said
the elder abstractedly.
"And, elder, as you're here, hope
you will stop to dinner with us. 1t will
be ready punctually at twelve"
"Well, no." said the elder, rising,
."rm obliged to ye but they'll be ex-
pechng me at home.
"At any rate, elder" said the widow,
taking a piece of mince pie fresh from
the oven, "you won't object to taking q
piece of mince pie. You must know
that rather pride myself on Iny mince
pies"
The warm pie sent forth suh a deli
cious odor that the elder was sorely
tempted, and, after saying "Well,
really" with the intention Of refusing,
he finished by saying, "On the whole,
I guess I will, as it looks SO NICE"
The widow was really good cook,
and the elder ate with much gusto the
generous piece which the widow cut for
him, and after little chatting upon
unimportant subjects, withdrew in some
mental perplexity.
Was il possible, thought he. the
widow could really have found pot of
gold in her cellar? She did not say 80,
to be sure, but why should she have
shown so much anxiety to know as to
the proprietorship of the treasure thus
found, If she had not happened upon
some? To be sure, SO far as his knowl-
edge extended, there was no one who
would be likely to lay up such an
amount of gold but the house was $50
years old, at the very least, and had had
many occupants of which he knew moth
ing. It might be after all. The widows
earnest desire to have him think it was
only curiosity, likewise gave additional
probability to the supposition. 81 viii
wait and watch, " thought the elder.
It 30 happened that Elder Boyo was
one of the Directors in a savings institu-
ton situated In the next town, and ac-
cordingly used to ride over there once
or twice month to attend meetings OF
the board.
On the next occasion OF this kind the
Widow Hayes sent over to know If he
would carry her with him, as she had
little business to attend to there. The
request was readily accorded. Arriving
at the village, Mrs Hayes desired to be
set down at the bank building.
"Ha, ha |" thought the elder, that
means something"
= He said nothing, however, but de-
termined to come back and find out, as
he could readily from the cashier, what
business she had with the bank. The
widow tripped into the Office pretending
to look very nonehalant.
"Can you give me small bills for q
ten-dollar gold piece ?" she inquired.
"With pleasure" was the reply.
"By the way, y s:le said, "the bank is
in q very fioulishing condition, il it
not?"
"None in the State ON better foot
ing. was the prompt response. !,
4 = \ Il. .<z&