The Penn's Grove record., 1886-10-02

| HALLS MlJs Nlthl dN0 btCh W hOhb w
talk about woman's wit in the kindly,
~patronizing tone they descant on ami
MAILS instinct, that it was high time
they should learn what a formidable
weapon it was. This was, in reality, a
heroic duel between the sexes Knowl-
edge, enlightenment, perseverance on
the one side; tradition, intolerance and
brute force on the other.
Next morning Helen was up betimes
and out. In an incredibly short time
she had gained the casket of her treas
ures, the homestead of the M~ugginses.
As she opened the little wicket gate, she
heard voices high in discussion, one of
which made her heart sink with a n
of baffled despair. 1t was her rivals.
fare you aware, Mr.. Muggins, that,
leaving out the comparative worthless
ness of the thing-the Natural History
Museum Is stocked with infinitely supe-
rior specimens-are you aware that
your rep~rehensible conduct in thus pur-
Joining this article has rendered you La
bic to the penalties reserved for pilfer-
ers?n His unknown listener, as igno-
rant as the ~chopfallen jeremiah of the
precise form of the law, quailed inward
ly at this new feature of the case. 81
am not at all certain, either, that If this
illegal proceeding of yours can-e to light
you would be permitted the option Of a
fine. One months imprisonment doesn't
sound pretty, ell, Mr.. Muggins? How
came this bone into your possession?
BY stealing. | presume the consent of
the lord of the manor to open the bar
row did not extend to an humble unset
entiic individual like yourself. Why
has it remained a secret for so longp
Through your natural fear of detection
and ultimate punishment. What is to
prevent mt from handing both you and
it over to indignant justice? Nothing. "
"Mr. Muggins, don't listen to himl''
cried Helen, swiftly entering the shady
tile kitchen. Its nothing of the kind.
And even if it was" incoherently, she
has made himself a party to the fraud,
as he himself wished at first to purchase
it from your
AT this the stranger wheeled round.
Two handsome young people now con-
fronted each other like a couple of hun
CRY dogs snarling over a bone
"You must recollect Mr.. Muggins,"
continued the girl, still addressing that
venerable parsonage, and ignoring his
companion, shat yousolemnly promised
me on no account whatever to part with
it till l had seen you again. | have now
made up my mind that | will give you
whatever you may reasonably demand.
l came here to-day with the strict in
tention of buying it."
care you aware, Miss Goring-l be
lieve it is Miss Goring of the farm L
have the honor of addressing-that you
are making yourself my partner in the
fraud you have Just accused me of?' AS
his gaze continued to rest on the lovely
flushed face below him, involuntarily
his voice softened. 1t was hardly pos
sible for a young man of %, however
steeled against substantial weakness by
the isolation of a studious b%oyhood, to
suppress a strong desire that this pretty
girl would transfer some of the strange
absorbing interest in prehistoric man to
one particular descendant of the 18th
century,"
Eyes. Mr.. Muggins, l am prepared to
give you as much as 10 shIllings for it..
SIN that case" rapidly rejoined Mr..
Carol, turning to jeremiah, II, in my
turn am equally ready to advance a
sovereign
&Ailu Il, lliulIlpildIibl1 OIlO pObtiAd
ten" The little hoard of even gold
pieces almost exclusively reserved, with
one exception, for the use of the wild
owls family at Clifton, will be some
what leSsened by such a proceeding.
However, in the cause of science should
Helen Goring object to wearing a three
year old bonnet during the ensuing
winter? The boys shall have their warm
coats as usual.
1.-TWO pounds"
1.-TWO pounds ten."
"Three pounds"
'Three pounds, ten," desperately.
"Four pounds"
"Four pounds, ten,n chokingly.
give pounds, " briskly.
tSix-six poundsP" with a a catch in
her breath like a sob.
"Six pounds, ten."
"Seven pounds?" 1t was all gone nowl
The last shining sovereign of the saw
ings that represented so many small self
denials and plnchings and privations
had vanished forever. Farewell to win
ter mantles and thick little %overcoats
and small new bonnetS; to the residue
that with careful management might
have paid a portion of the taxes of the
house at Clifton! She felt like n of
those mothers of old who passed their
children through the fire to Moloch.
Shivering, ragged, destitute, r~educedtoa
state of genteel pauperism, still of curse
it must be of inestimable advantage to the
Goring familyt to know-even in the COM
paratiye solitude of the workhouSe to
which they may eventually come-that
they are the Joint possession of a perfectly
unrivalled relic of the newer Stone Age.
"Put me down for seven pounds, ten,
Mr.. Muggins."
The aged peasant, whose bleared eyes
twinkled with a benevolent JOY at the
utter darkness of the whole business
that was setting him up in atlluence for
the ensuing twelvemonths, waited in
vain for another bid. The auction was
at an end. With high he'd but falter-
ing step, Miss Goring marched out of
the cottage. The little garden and bare
bleached hill beyond, the azure dome
and binding sunshine seemed n fam
tastic glittering blur as seen through
sealding tears.
The victor in this keen, brief contest
stood irresolutely looking after her.
Somehow, for the moment, two big blue
eyes flashing up at him through a storm
of tears appeared to be a more import
ant study than all the authenticated
specimens of the finest museums. Poor,
pretty childl Spelling the splendor of
those liquid orbs because she was denied
her latest playthlng! What cruel fate was
&c tls FUSED him to wrest this apple of
discofl from her?
Thee novel disquietlng thoughts
accompanied him as he strobe rapidly
back. Diminishing them at length with
a quick sigh as he gained the summit of
the hill, he paused; and taking the bone
from the breast pocket of his coat, re-
garded it with a tender smile of exult-
ant possession. Presently, shading his
eyes with one land, the smile mean
while changing to a frown, he scanned
it more i~ntently; then with increasing
eagerness and paling lips. Was there
-. -.140 hNrpfhIa noccihflifu fhaf