The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-20

81 believe, John, that in the place my dear
husband now is, he fully realizes the errors of
his life and could ne look down"-or up
thought-"he would be pleased to see my
actions
thought of the poor old fellow as last saw
him at the table and smiled at the idea, but was
too wise to contradict her. After pause she
said
well, John, you have been very kind and at
tentive, and I should not like you to get into
trouble. so will do as you wish But, mind, at
the end of twelve months nothing shall stop me
throwing all The wine away"
l saw the basket of the Every particular"
safely restored to its snug bin; locked thedoor,
affixed my seal to it, and carried the key away;
rejoicing that had arrived in time to save the
wine.
But my task was not half over. knew my
aunt so WE'LL and felt sure she would carry out
her threat at the expiration of the time named,
SO wove plot to obtain absolute possession of
the wine. without putting her in a mad-house.
or even FORGETTING her good will for any chance
legacy
1 said not another word about the cellar, but
when the summer came, persuaded her to 60
away to the seaside for short time. With all
her magnificent conduct as to wasting alcoholic
treasures she was rather near, and said she
could not afford it. She would like to 90 for
month or two but found the expenses of her
present house too great. l suggested lettingit
furnished for the time to respectable tenant.
She fell in with this suggestion, and
when, through the house agent, my friend Tom .
Sinclair offered to take the house at handsome
sum per week. and brought her unexceptional
references, the matter was settled. Tom said
he had his own servants so she sent hers away
on board wages. On the evening of the day she
left met Tom by appointment at the house.
His servants were all myth. and there was no
one to interfere with us. We broke the seal and
opened the door, and found in the cellar, which
had been excavated and enlarged by my old
uncles directions at least five hundred dozen of
wine. sleeping in beautifully arranged bins,
peacefully and happily, little dreaming how mar
rowly it had escaped total destruction.
/ determined to act with great caution. We
had plenty of time before US, and felt to escape
detection the cellar must be left as we found it.
l made an exact plan of it, marking the contents
of the bins and the number Of bottles in each,
and also noting the appearance as we'll as L
could. And then Tom, commissioned by me,
went round to auctioneers and wine
merchants, buying as cheaply as he could all the
refuse he could find. Sour claret, fetid sherry
and fusty port formed the staple of his pur-
chases. He was perfect godsend to the lucky
tradesmen he patronized,. and if they ever
imagined he was going to drink his purchases,
all who sold him wine were equally guilty of
manslaughter We had it packed and sent to
Toms warehouse, and in two or three journeys
hauled it to my aunts and slowed it in the base
ment. The house was In quiet nei2hborhood,
and stood In a garden, we ran little risk of
detection. And then our work began We were
month at it, off and on, and l assure you the
labor was so hard that only the thought of the
rich reward enabled me to go through with it.
We trusted no one, but did everything ourselves.
We took the bins regularly, empted them of
their contents unpacked sufficient guam
tity of our dreadful purchases to replace
them, and having done that filled the
empty cases with the real Simon Pure, labeled
each with the particulars, and nailed them down.
In about mouth our work was complete and
the five hundred and odd dozens of the old mans
cherished wine lay ready packed for removal,
whilst, through our carefulness, the cellar pre-
sented an appearance very much the as it
did before we commenced our meritorous task.
The risk of detection was rendered less from my
uncle having followed the old-fashoned plan of
filling the bins with sawdust This, which was
old and dirty, we carefully replaced, and, re-
locking and re-sealing the door, after packing
the last case, executed dance of triumph at
the success of our plot so far, and fully trusted
TO our cleverness in completely deceivlng the old
lady. In the dusk of the evening we sent two
large wagons to the house, and by II o'clock
that hight the rescued treasures were safe in
Toms warehouse under lock and key. Of
course our operations had left the basement of
my aunts house in a terrible litter so We de-
voted another week to putting all that straight
This being done to our satisfaction Tom wrote
to Mrs Slagg and inclosed a check for two
months rent, saying that his plans being
changed he intended to leave the house at once.
The old lady, who had grown tired of the sea
side, came back, and although much Disguised
at the dusty state she found the house in, and
vowing nothing should induce her to let it again.
never showed the slightest suspicion of what had
transpired during her absence.
Now that | was happy as to the Wines
waited with great curiosity to see whether, at
the expiration Of the time of probation, she
would carry out her intentions. l found that
she was as firmly resolved as ever, and as |
wished to see the end of the affair." after handing
her the key, with feigned protest, l told her
had almost persuaded myself with her
ideas, she could not do otherwise, and
offered to give her any assistance could in the
yaNA Loco ,l,1-,. - =
my aid, and a good work it was to pour the
filthy contents of those bottles down the kitchen
sink Faugh! it nearly made US all sick; but
know my assistance on that occasion secures me
a good legacy, as she altered her will in my ia
vor the next day.
The cream of the joke was that, as the servant
girl brought up basket full of the noxious
pounds and reported that this was the very last,
my. aunt hestated for few minutes, and, as
perhaps some tender recollections of her late
husband presented themselves, said to
John, if you would like to take this last
dozen, for your poor uncle's sake, you can.
ought to do away with all, l know, but one
dozen is very little from the large quantity
have sacrificed. So take it, if you wish"
| trembled at the idea. and answered as one
who OvercomeS a severe temptation:
MY dear aunt. don't let any inclination of
mine lead you from what you consider your duty
No doubt shall be better without it, so let it
follow the rest"
She gave me grateful smile, and the last
dozen of William Slaggs supposed wine gurged
down the sink, and my aunt cleaned herself
from the stains of the sacrifice and went to a
prayer-meeting radiant and happy She, no
doubt, expects her reward hereafter, and doubt
less she will receive it, for if good act was
done in this world, she did one when she poured
away that five hundred dozen Of horrible stuff
called wine.
john having finished hiss tale took bright
little key from his pocket, and rose.
II suppose your friend Sinclair claimed some
of the spoil" l asked.
20 yes, the wretch! Wanted hundred and
fifty dozen, but | managed te compound for
about half that quantity. So my cellar of wine
cheap after all, and l can well spare that
other bottle am now going to fetch"
"Dimidium Facti."
"Oh, fe The sad thing have heard
A most Astounding r1rn