Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-06-09
EBENEZER PLUMER'S MONEY.

HC AOOS 81
hole in that old carpet again, and broke
the china milk Jug" said Patience
Plumer. al do wish. grandpa, that
YOU would LET me hire Dorcas Wood to
weave that new carpet of rags. This
one isn't decent, nor safe to walk
upon"
Ebenezer Plumer, who was scruti-
nizing through his spectacles the FL
nancial Article in the paper, looked up
with Snarl of dissatisfaction, which
showed the entire range of his yellow
stumpy teeth.
"Then why don't you mend it?" said
he
Because, grandpa, it's past mend
ing" declared Patience. ''I've darned
it and patched it, and patched it and
darned II, until there amt three square
feet of the original material left. And
we haven't dared to shake it for the
last three years, because if We did we
knew it would fall TO pieces. We are
not paupers, grandpa" urged the girl
in her yehemence, "why should we not
i've ike Christians?"
you're very rlch, aren't you!''
sneered Mr.. Plumer. ''Quite mil
ionaIre, wonder you condescend TO
cook and wash edishes for an insignill-
cant individual like me. p"
II know I've nothing of my own,
grandpa, - admitted Patience, ''but-"
mo. and you never have" growled
the old man. You're a careless,
wasteful, extravagant creature, and
Charley Mercer is just such another.
He was here this morning to ask me to
lend him five hundred dollars to buy
out the goodwill of the store at Deep
Hollow. 1 told him I'd see him further
first. I'd just as soon throw my money
into well as lend it to him.
!"Grandpa!"
swell, what now?"
"YOu refused him?"
81 lust did. And III do it again.
Oh yes, know that you are engaged
to him and that you expect to get mar
ned on my money. But you've mis-
took your calculations there"
''Grandpa." cried Patience, in a
ehoked voice, ''dO you remember those
nights when Charley Mercer watched
with you, when you had typhoid fever?
Do you remember that the doctor said
his care and vigilance saved your life?"
'DOctors are always talking some
such stuff" said Mr.. Plumer. And
basides he was well paid for what he
did. Didn't l send him half Q bushel
Of seed potatoes the very next sprIng!"
Patience turned away with a sigh.
Grandpa, "sajd she, ''you are selfish
and II I II
can't keep it any longerl You are mar
rowing down into perfect miserl"
"a miser, am II" screeched the old
man, fairly foaming with rage. Sand
selfish? and ungratefulF Well, IL that
case, l don't trouble such a very fine
goung lady as you are to stay here and
wait on me. Go and get married to
your Charley Mercer, as quick as you
please, and lIYe off the crust IN the gut
ter / won't have you here another
day.
~ spoke too hastily, grandpa,'' said
Patience, coloring. "But / spoke moth
ing more than the truth. Yes, L am
going to marry Charley, and We shall
struggle on as best We can. We cannot
i've more poverty-stricken life than
Lead in this house, where you have
bags OF gold and packets Of treasury
ponds hidden away. But do not want
TO leave you unprovided for. I will
stay here until you can get some one
else to come"
VI tell yOu," reiterated Mr.. Plumer,
"lWon't have you In the house! Clear
out! Pack up your things and go!
I've given you board and lodging long
enough. Go | Say!''
20 Patience huTriedly packed up her
lew belongings, tied on her faded bon.
aet, and took refuge with old Miss
C!Ocker, who kept thread and needle
store, and let oat the upper part of her
house to lOdgers.
so sooner had she left the house
Iaal Mr.. riumer hastily trudged up
stairS, with All unwholesome perspira,
tion breaking out on his forehead.
80 people know all about the bag of
eagles and the leather wallet of govern
nent bOnds!" muttered he. "People
nnow everything, believed How do
Aey md 1t out, the praying, peeping
villains! Well | must find a new hid
ing place. l shall invest it all in day
u Two, IN that Gold Mining Company
Z. stony Mountain Creek,-but until
Zen. He pondered q momeht-and
men an idea entered his hrain. ''I've
sot III" he cried. "I1l bury 1t in the
S i.one wall by the chimney of the old
al tbs northern boundary of the
,a ,aim half hidden by overgrown apple
.p aeeS and swampy lilac bushes, were
ne remains of the house originally oc-
Supied by EbeneZer Plumer's father.
otn!ng remained of it now save a
~ Oasler . stone chimney, and an angle
- Ae cellar wall, concealed IN rose
tSoa els and Wild weeds. Tran,ps sleep
TSele slmetimes of summer nights
ssle vas rumor of the place being
ronlIeC and inct ayo,,J ,,ou,,d. fbo