Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-05-31


to know that big lettcr-wait bit; |
believe it's H."
Then she turned the inscription
downward and washed the other side
clear and white and fitted it into place.
She received little credit for her
work. Oliver only muttcrcd:
"You needn't have published the
fact | couldn't afford porch TO the
place And no one noticed the step
afterwards save Hannah, when she
scrubbed it.
Matters were very bad with the
Gncldts. Oliver broodcd over the fire
in speechless sorrow and grew graver
and balder with each passing day
Hannah kept ruin off little by max
ing home of the poor house and a
feast of the humble fare by her house
wife's skill. She might even have
been cheerful but for the memory Of
that lucklcss speech.
Working in her garden one day when
the first spring grass was growing
green, Hannah heard footsteps, and
lifting her head saw two gentlemen
beside her and arose prccipitatcly. The
nearest gentleman, an elderly man with
bright, dark eyes, addressed her:
Mrs. Gncldt, | presume"
yes, sir"
She asked him to walk in, and he
did So, the other following. In the lit
tie parlor they sat down.
you are Mrs. Hannah Gneldt, OH
yer Gncldt's wife,"
Yes. sir; it is about about-cx-
cusc he, you look like lawyer, and |
fear it is more trouble for oliver"
"Rc-assurc yourself, madam" said
the gentleman; "re-assure yourself.
madam. Your husband IS not con-
ccrned, save through you, and that.
hope, pleasantly. Your name was
Burns before you were married"
Yes, sir: Hannah Burns"
"Do you remember dates wcllE"
NO. SIR"
You have, perhaps, record Of
family cycuts-your own birth, your
parents marriage, your grandfather's
death :"
Hannah Gneldt wondcrlngly replied,
Il have mothers Bible, and they tell
me its all there"
How far back"
"To grandfathcr's birth, believe
Grandfather Burns. lie had one
child, and I am the only one my pa
rents ever had. Oliver set down our
wedding day and our two boys birth
days"
And your grcat-grandfathcr the
record of his death is theret"
II don't know; you may see. Wait
III call oliver"
Going 10 the door, Hannah took
down horn used for that purpose and
uttered call, which brought Oliver
Gnrldt home from the field at once.
H. also felt alarmed, but explanations
quirted him. Almost as much aston
ished rs his wife, he brought out the
Bible
The death Of my wifc's great
grandfather, Zebulon Burns, Is not
here" he said. "Thc first record ia in
his hand. / believe. It is the birth Of
his eldest child"
80 it proved, and the lawyer looked
disappointed.
You cannot remember the day Of
his DEATH" he said. 81 mean the date
Of the month";"
"Te died long before I was born"
said Hannah. "and, though rich, left
nothing to grandfather They had
quarreled. believe, He told odd sto-
rics of him. He must have been very
eccentric, and a servant or housekecper
had great influence over him; she had
all the property. Margery r. Mar
gerry"
"Margery Wilber, / think" said the
lawyer.
"Ies," said Hannah. 81 remember
now"
You are quiet people, not likely to
talk too much." said the lawyer. Il
will tell you something We have
found. something. We have found n
will among the effects. lie died in n
fit of apoplexy. Don't hope too much.
mind. \ will in your favor, as your
fathers only child It was written 10y
him on his death-bed, dated 10th of
March, II, and leaves all his prop
erty to your father. his grandson, then