The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-06-02

} the full extent of the crime began
to dawn, as he dimly recognized the
shape, weight and and sizs OF his
money box in the cloudy, uncertain
light. These two have been trying
, to rob me-"
"Never !" said Willie. kitty,
. you wouldn't do that p
Come up and make sure said
Adam.
With that they all began silently
, to retrace thsir steps, only Kitty
, slipped in front, as if to avoid en-
} barrassing questions Willie was
very thoughtful. Just as they were
coming to the door he said to Adam
J in low, troubled voice, which he
tried hard to make indifferent:
. Look here, Adam, you haven't
lost anything by this row, and there
isn't any use in exposing her, is
there ?"
No." was the reply; "but since
they're SO fond III make them mar
ry and set up house by themselves "
With that they entered the kitchen,
I where Aleck, ali shivering with his
bath, deposited the box on the floor.
A cheerful freight showed Kitty,
not, as might have been expected,
with abaahed countenance and the
demeanor of a eulprit awaiting JUS
tice, but with heightened color and
sparkling eyes-far BONNER than ev-
er, as her old lover could not help
thinking.
There's ,our true blood" she
said to Adam, pointing to his son,
and this has been a fine nights
work for him. 1t began with rob-
bing you that's done so u,uch for
him then the sweetheart that liked
him go well as to run away with
him he left on the wrong side of the
burn, and then to draw his knife on
an honest man. You'll never seek
to make me wed him now ?"
"That you shall, you shameless
hussy," broke out her uncle. You're
not fit for Allan, ard Pm sure, from
what I've seen this night, he would
not look at a thiei."
No, | couldn't do that, said VIII
lie; but there's no need for me
here" And with sad and regret
full countenance he was about TO go,
when he was stopped by burst Of
mischievous laughter from the i'm
penitent but bewitching culprit.
It's Bets box" she said.
Bets box p said Aleck; and
4" Bets boxl" echoed Adam and
Willie.
"Ay, Bets box" said Kitty.
Sure enough, it is not my box,
said the uncle, dragging it into the
light; it's the same size, but not
the color. But whatever makes il
go heavy?"
That was soon discovered. The |
red headed servant girl came forward |
with smile on her gasping mouth |
that suggested the part she had taken |
in the trick. There's a stone of
shot," she said, "and there's the
horseshoes from the back yard, and |
there's the rusty keys that used to
lie in the stable, and there's my old |
petticoats stuffed in to keep them
from jingling, and the weights and |
the hat-irons -
by George" said Willie, he
must have meant to start a pack.
Would you have stabbed me to save
that dirt ?"
He didn't know what it was"
Kitty answered for him. Il just
wanted to try his mettle, so | put
this box in the room of the other
one, and it's back in its place now,
neither touched nor opened"
"I'm glad o. that, lass" said the
old publican, and though there was
not much in the words there was
something in the voice that made
them sink deep. g. 1t would have
been a bad day for me when | found |
you turning against me- But Willie,
lad, if you want to catch this skittish /
FLY you'd better be quick. Down
to the ministers you go tomorrow
and get your names asked and as
for you, you lubberly sumph, after
making fool of yourself like that,
what's to come of you ?"
" Marry him to Bet" suggested
Kitty.
1.-THE very ticket" returned her
uncle. "Will you have him. Bet?"
"Ay, that | will, " said the loconic
maid.
You'll 90 down to the minister's
as well. then. And now, lass, bring
Us a drop O. that brandy, and put
the kettle on and bring the sugar,
and We'll christen the bargain"
So a few weeks afterward there
were two weddings in Blackford, and
when the village lads "roped" Willie
Allan be gave them whole half
sovereign to drink, aud was therefor
to enter the croft-house with
a thunderstorm of cheers ; but when
they did the same thing to Aleck he
morosely cut the rope with a knife,
and that is why he has been so IN
lucky ever since for if you go to
Blackford now you will find the
croft house to be one of the neatest,
prettiest and incest houses there,
while ever ince old Adams death,
which happened many years ago.
the Red Lion has been so squalid,
and dirty and disreputable that the
has serious thoughts Of taxi
ing away the license and turning it
into butcher shop -LoHgmGn's
Magazine.