Weekly Chillicothe crisis., 1885-05-28

"She at least is honest and sincere, ="
muscd Kent, leaning on the bridge
rail and gazing into the water. "She
always was straightforward and out
spoken, and she's grown to be a very
beautiful woman
There was Il school of little fish lust
under the edge of the bridge, and he
amused himself by watching their
playful gambols, until the pony came
trotting back
Then he clambercd in beside the
girl, and, under the influence of her
chcery manner, his face frightened,
and he talked freely about himself and
his adventures.
al suppose Hill Farm is still owned
by my cOuSm?' he asked.
"Ycs, Nick Warner is still master,
and as mean as ever. He's getting
richer every day, what with the farm,
and the factory, and the orchard. But
he gets no pleasure out of his money,
and works every day like II slave.
He's cutting down all the woodland,
and this morning gave orders that the
big elm that OvcrhangS the eastern
corner of the house be tclled."
That's II pity" said Kent. at
was my unclcs favOritc tree. Ny great
great grandfather, who was an officer
in Washington's army, planted it, /
lave heard the story often. One day
he entertained the Father Of his
Country and some officers in the old
mansion. They rode over from the
headquarters of the Continental army,
which was then at Danvcrs. General
WashingtOn's riding whip was II small
elm branch. When he started to 20
back, my great great grandfather
noticed it and presented the General
with his own riding whip. In re-
mcmbrance of the Father of his Coun-
try, he planted the elm branch and it
grew to be Il great tree. | would have
valued it, but my Cousin Warner is
not II man of poetic temperament,
and would very quickly sacrifice Il
family relic, if it added 10 his rev.
enues."
These reflections led Kent into II
reminiscent vein, and he regalcd his
fair listener with stories and quaint
anecdotes of his ancestors, who had
been among tho first settlers and had
been prominent men in the infant
colony.
"if your uncle had only made an
other will before he died, as everv-
body believed he intended to dO,n said
the girl, when he finished, "you
would have been master at Hill
Farm"
Yes" he answered, with sigh OF
regret, and rclapsed INTO silence.
When the pony turned into the
well remembered carriage road which
led by the graveyard where lay tho
bones of his ancestors for many gen
erations, and finally mounted the lit
tie hill, on whose brow the tenant
house was built, Ella Osborne noticed
that there were tears in her compan-
ions eyes and her hand touched his
with womanly sympathy.
II am sorry, john she said, THAT
it makes you feel so bad"
81 am all right now," he answered.
bravely dashing away the tears; and
jumping from the wagon, walked
through the neglected grounds to the
great elm tree, at whose base two
sturdy woodmen were ind ustrlously
chopping.
He watched them awhile with misty
eyes, and was about turning away
when an exclamation from one of the
choppers caught his car, and caused
him to approach nearer.
II swan, Jim!' said the man to his
companion; "wc've had our labor for
our pains. The old tree is only a shell,
and it is fit for nothing put stove
wood"
"The boss will be as mad as hor-
net!n vouchsafcd the other.
And they resumed their cutting.
Like my hopes!" murmured John
Kent, watching them. 1.-The old tree.
is q delusion."
Presently it began to totter, and the
choppers had just time to jump to one
side when it fell with a great crash,
and twigs and bits of bark flew in all
directions.
One of the men climbed up its hol-
low trunk and began looping off the
limbs.
John Kent stepped forward intend
ing to ask for piece of the old tree as
souvenir, when the man among the
limbs dropped his AK and jumped ex-
citedly to the ground.
"Ho, Jim!" he cried. "Here is n
tin box wedged into the forks. Maybe
there's gold in it, for old Sam. Kent
was considerable of miser, and this
may be some of his store"
THAT is certainly q box that be-
longed to my uncle" said Kent, ap-
preaching. 81 am Mr.. Kent's nephew "
The man who had discovered tho
box, pulled it from its hiding place,
and muttering something about "Find.
ings being keepings," passed it over to
Kent.
With trembling hands the young
man wrenched off the rusty lid, and
the young men bent forward eagerly to
see what 1t contained.
Only a bundle of papers, yellow
with age, and tied together with a
faded piece of blue ribbon.
"0uly papers!" they cried, in chorus,
and turned away in disgust.
John Kent, however, seized the
package, and brushing aside the mold
read this endorsement on the back of
the topmost paper:
"Llst VIII and Testament OF Samuel Kent
Yeomann
Found at last" he cried, joyfully.
"Thank heavenT'
He dropped the empty box. and wav,
ing the paocrs triumphantly in the
air, ran toward Ella Osborne, who was
advancing to meet him, ert.