Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-05-29

perhaps nc Is SCoo anu KIM, generous 10 Inc
poor, willing to help the helpless-lke you,
for instance"
SIS it himg' exclaimed Matt; S'Monk, of
Monkshurstl Why he don't give nothin' to
nobody. No fear''
and yet according to your own showing,
he has helped to support you all these years
you, who have 10 claim whatever upon him"
This was an enigma to which Matt had no
solution. She said no more, but BrinkIey,
while he continued his painting, silently
rlnninated thus:
ut strikes me this puzzle would be WORTH
unrayeling if I could only find the key.
Query, is the young person the key, il l but
knew how to use her? Perhaps since the
amiable Monk evidently dislikes my coming
into communication with her. But it would
be useless to lay the case before her, since, if
she is the key, she is quite unconscious of it
herself"
He threw down his brush, rose and stretched
himself, and said:
look here, Matt, I'm tired Of work. The
sun shining on those sandhills and on the far
off sea is too tempting l shall go for u walk,
and you, if you are III the mood, shall be my
guide.
She evidently was in the mood, for she was
on her feet i'll an instant
"All right, MASTER" she said, 'I'll go.''
every well. Tim, bring forth some re-
freshment. We will refresh the inner man
and girl before we start.'
Tim disappeared into the caravan Pres
emily he reappeared bearing a small tray, on
which was small flask OF brandy, a large
jug of milk, some biscuits and O couple Of
glasses. This he placed on the camp-stool,
which his master had just vacated and which.
,UEn
Briniiley poured out two glasses of milk, then,
looking at Matt, he held the little flask on high.
Brandy Matt!'
She shook her head.
Every well, child; I think you are wise.
Here, take the milk and drink confusion to
your enemiesl"
Matt took the glass of milk and drank it
down, while Brinkley FASTENED to dilute and
dispose of the other. Then he gave some Or
ders to Tim, and they started eff. AS they
had 30 particular object i'll view, they chose
the pleasantest route, and clearly the pleas
antestlay across the sandhills. Not because
the saadhills were pleasant in themselves
they We're not, especially on day when the
sun WasScorching the roads and making the
sea like mill-pond-but because by crossing
the sandhills one came, on the other side,
upon footpath which led by various wind
ings. gradually to the top of breezy cliffs.
To the sandhills, therefore, they wended
their way. Having gained them, they fol
lowed route which Matt knew full well, and
which soon brought them to the narrow foot
path beyond. During the walk she was singrl-
larly silent and Brinkley seemed to be busily
trying to work out some abstruse problem
which had aiken possession of his brain.
When they had followed the footpath for
some distance and had gained the greensward
on the top of the cliffs, the young man threw
himself upon the grass, and invited Matt to do
the same. It was very pleasant there, sootE-
ing both to the eye and to the mind. The
cliff was covered-so1newhat sparsely, it is
true-with stunted grass; aud just below, on
their right, lay the ocean, calm as any mill
pond, but signing softly as the water kissed
the rocks and flowed back again with
rhythmic throbs. On their left lay the sand
hills, glittering like dusty gold in the sum
rays, while Just before and below them was
the village.
''Do you see that house standing all by itself,
close to shores" said Matt, pointing to the
cottage where she lived. "That belongs to
William Jones. And, look We now, there be
William Jones on the rocks!"
Looking down, Brinkley beheld figure
touched the edge.
every lazy of William Jones,' he said.
''Why isn't he at work!''
cat work?"
eyes, tilling the fields or fishing. By the
way, I forgot to ask you, is he fsherman?'
"No, he amt" said Matt. "Hes wrecker,
he is!'
ga what@' exclaimed Brinkley.
ga wrecker," continued Matt, as if wreck
ing was the most natural occupation in the
world. Brinkley looked at her, imagining
that she must be practicing some wild joke
He had certainly heard of wreckers, but he
had always believed that they were species of
humanity which had belonged to past centu-
ries, and were now as extinct as mammoth
But the girl evidently meant what she said,
and thought there was nothing extraordinary
in the statement.
''That sea don't look ugly, do it?" she con-
tinued, pointing at the ocean. "But it is;
there's rocks out there where the ships split
on; then they go all to pieces, and the things
come ashore"
''And what becomes Of all the things, Mattg'
"Some of 'em's stole, and some of EMS took
by the coastguards. They do say" she added
mysteriously, "as there's lots O. things-gold
and silver-hid among them sandhills. Be
fore the coastguards come all the folk was
wreckers, like William Jones, and they used
to get what come ashore, and they used to
hide it in the sandhills."
''Indeedl Then, if that is the case, WHY
don't they take the treasure up, and turn it
into money!
"Why? Cause them sandhills is allus
changing and shifting about, they are; though
they know well enough the things is there,
there's no findin' of 'em."
ct always thought William Jones was poor?'
$50 he is, he saysr' replied Matt; ''cause,
though he be allus foraging, he don't find
much now on account O. them coastguard
chaps"
After they had rested themselves they went
little farther up the cliff, then they followed
a narrow, winding path, which brought them
to the shore below. Here Matt, who seemed
to be pretty well grounded in the history of
the place, pointed him out the wonders of the
coast. She showed him the caves, which ira
dition said had been formerly used as wreckers'
haunts and treasure stores, but which were
now washed by the sea, and covered with
Shiny weeds; then she brought him to prom
ontory where they told her ste herself had
been found. This spot Brinkley examined
curiously, then he looked at the girl.
II suppose you had clothes on when you
came ashore, didn't YOU. Matt%
ssWhy, of course had. William Jones has
got 'em!"
elias hes Whereof
ssIn his cave, expect"
ellis cavel Where is that?' asked Brink
lev, becoming very much interested.
''Dunno," returned Matt; perhaps it's
yomewhere hereabout. I've seen William
Jones come about here, have, but I never
could track him."
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