The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1886-12-24
THE OLE NJ ANS GREDGE.
BY JENNIE E. JUDsoN.

Never tuck the gol" cried the old
man, fierce fire b'aling in his sunkeu
eyes. "Mightn't he as well tuck hit?
Didn't he up an die 'thout givin no
sign"
1T mought ben that he'd forgot.
"No, chile, 'twan that. He knowed,
he shorely knowed. 'Twerc ies the ole
gredge workin on him tell the las
AN what ware the gredge ~
'Hit ware fur bekase thru a-bein
shif'less an olnery he miss a-gittin the
CONAN he wanted fur wife, while was
mo pyearter and come in ahead.n
The girl sat silent o moment, then
asked: "How kim he ever to know
whar the gol an silver ware put2n
"He holp me bury 'em, Telury. Mus
l allus keep a-tellin youn-fretfully-
las how when we hecrd the Northun
troops ware a-comin axed HIM to holp
me tote hit to a safet place an bury hit.
II was cen mos down with fever.
10 nav ware bcdfast, an yo want moth
IN but q little goslin of Il chi. Carruth-
RS mad kim over to borry sumthin, an
peared like hit ware my onliest chance
Il lei the house a-rcelin like drunk
man. Lightnin ware dancin befo nv
eyes an thundar a-roarin in my yers; but
Ike on n on, an It las heerd Carru-
theirs say, dim like, as in dream:
.ihey aunt no safeter place than what
this is Then his pick struck into the
yeatn, an tn that tumbled right in my
tracks with the leclin that Jake Carru-
theirs ware a-diggin my grave.
IAN hit ware the grave to all nv
hopes, Telury, " he added, pathcticaliy,
'fur had .tuckercd myself clean out
a-many N a-many a day q maxim that
money, for you an 20 nav, kase had
my hyeart plumb set on a-sendin YOU to
Meeridgyun to skule, and a-hirin a fine
phlzziken to cyore 20 NAV O. that spine
in her back
"An hyer," he continued with
tremu Gus break in his voice, 'syo maw's
done gone, tuck off by the very mizry |
mistrusted would cause her ecnd, an YOU
thout no eddication but what you've
got fum these piney woods skues, which
the good Lord knows amt much.
liant a good reason to hate him."
with painting breath, IAN to cuss his hull
hateful brood; Haint | right to wish
EN- every evil under the sunln
"Not them, pap" cried the Young
girl, excitedly; don't cuss the inno-
cent. 'Tware the oil man as done wrong.
Wouldn't he never tell YOU" she asked,
as II In haste to turn the current of his
words, "whar the box ware bured?'
'Tell mel l reckin he's told me
thousing times as how 'tware put at the
foot of the quinch tree in the summer
guarding. Pve dug the tree down by
piecttmeal in the yers I've KEEP a-lookin'.
But when I'd tell him twan't thar, an
never had been thar he'd vow the Van
KEGS mus tuck hit away"
AN moughtn't that benz"
"No, chiP. The troops wasn't skasely
gone tell began to pycartin up, an
when | went to dig whar Jake had tol'
me, plain seed't groun' had never ben
broke.
But he air a.restin Uneasy in his
grave, Telury," he continued, in grue-
some whisper. "Two scritch ow-els
scrotch N scrotch under my winder las
night, which air shore sign of the dyin
ur the dead, an when I went to sleep L
drcmpt Jake stood out thar in the south
field a-pintin twodcs the oil oak, an a.
sayin; 60 thar, an dig in the dead of
night Wen 60 tonight, an see what
we kin fin.n
Telura made no sign of issent. Long
experience had fought her that ready
interest in the oft-told tale, and ready
acquiescence in her fathers plans for the
recovery OF the treasure were bv far the
best. Opposition only reused within
him spirit of excitement which wore
cruelty on his weekeue frame.
She rose, and went slowly away to her
work, but as the clock struck four she
left the back entrance and disappeared
quietly in the woods. The sun had set
when she returned. AS she passed her
father on the front porch h clutched ut
her gown with trembling fingers.
'Who ware you a-walking with in the
pine-grovc, Telury:" he asked, huskily.
g TMarc Tom Carruthers. she an
swcred, lifting u white face and fright
ened eyes.
The blow had fallen and the old man
quailed beneath it,
''l'vc los my propity," he mIttcrcd.
mise,ably, I've los my wife, an now I'm
a-goin to lose my emil My Godm he
painted, as if from overpowering pain,
hit pears too hard to bar
'On, pap. Grief the young 6 ri,
wildly. as sue threw her arms aboat him,
''you amt going to lose me. III stan
by You tell the eend. ware u.partin
with him forever, beka | knowcd hit
ware 20 wish. had growcd to kccr
fur him 'thoGt n KNOWN OF it. lie ware
allus so kind when we ware c-goin to
skulc, and sence then 'pcared like could
n 20 nowhur, nur do nothin but Tom s
allus on hands. / want never perlite to
him, pap. but 10 c like rs if the mo
hatc!ul.cr l actid 'odcs him the pio