The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1888-08-16
Reuben Trips Money.

Reuben Tripp and his wife were
quiet, elderly folk, who did not go
often from home, but remained in the
old cottage from one years end to
another, with their two girls Sally
and Rose, and Aunt Agatha, as Mrs.
Tripp's blind sister was called. The
neighbors (none of whom lived with
in mile of Glen Cottage) reported
that old Reuben was q rich man, and
also that he was queer; but we may
inform our readers in confidence that
Reuben was not rich, though, being a
thrifty man, he had saved a little
money against a rainy day; and he
was not queer, except in this, that
from foolish prejudice against
banks he kept all his savings in his
house, tied up in cloth bag, and hid
away in a great oaken cupboard
which had belonged to his grand
mother. AS these savings amounted
to about 5000, boys and girls may
easily calculate for themselves how
much money he lost every year byre-
eeiving no interest for it; but Reuben
did not seem to understand this,
which, we must admit, was rather
queer.
On one occasion, Reuben, though
no traveller, did 60 from home, ac-
companied by his wife, and as they
did not expect to return for two days,
many injunctions were given to the
two girls, they were to be very care
full of fire, to see the animals fed, to lie
attentive to poor Aunt Agatha, and,
above all, to lock up the house at an
early hour in the evening.
Il am glad, my dears," said their
mother, 'that l am leaving good
servant with you. Grace seems to be
so steady, though we have not had
her long; if that silly Kitty had been
still with us, l don't think l could
have left home, but Grace is a perfect
treasure.
Now, neither Sally nor Rose liked
Grace, but being kindly girls they did
not say SO, fearing to distress their
mother.
"And after all, you know, Sally"
said wise little Rose, ''it is only pre-
judice on our part; We do not know
anything against Grace, and no one
should allow themselves to be ruled by
prejudice"
Every true" responded Sally, with
little hesitation; nevertheless, my
dear Rose, l do not like the woman,
though, of course, Iwould not say
so to dear mother"
And so the old people drove away,
and in due time Sally and Rose went
upstairs to bed but it must be con-
fessed that they were not quite so
lively as usual, and indeed were both
of them little pale and nervous
looking, the reason of which we must
now relate. Grace had behaved
rather strangely during the after
noon; she had gone out without
leave and could not be found when
wanted. Sally had rung the bell for
Goals in the course of the evening,
but, finding the bell unanswered, had
gone downstairs, lamp in hand, to
examine into matters. The hall
door was open, Grace was nowhere,
while as the half frightened girl looked
along the passage leading to the
kitchen, she was almost certain that
she saw dark, shadowy figure glide
into the pantry, the door of which
stood half way open. In her terror
Sally could not venture to open the
door fully and ascertain if anyone
really was there, and as Grace came
in at that moment with many apollo
gies for being out of the way when
wanted, her young mistress, quietly
desiring her to lock up the house
stood waiting for the key of the hall
door, and then went upstairs with
it in her hand.
"But, oh, dear Rose!' she said.
"what good was it locking the door,
when someone, / feel certain, is al
ready in the house, and that dreadful
woman is an accomplice?"
Here the two poor girls in their
terror gave way to few pardonable
tears; they were young, only eighteen
and sixteen, their aunt was helpless,
and they were quite unprotected.
But after a while they dried their
eyes, and tried to think what they
had best do. Little Rose lifted the
lamp and placed it in the window, so
that the light shone fully out ON the
high road to Farm Castle, which ex-
tended along by the riverside at the
back of the house.
"If any one should be passing, she
said, "they will be attracted by the
light, and may possibly call in to see
if anything unusual is going on; do
you think this is agood idea, Sally?"
But before Sally could reply, the
harsh voice of Grace was heard at
the door, asking why the young
ladies had the lamp in the window;
did they want anything?"
Nothing" replied Sally, with de-
cision.
"Only have some writing to do,
and SO / intend to sit up for several
hours yet"
Upon hearing this the woman went
away muttering, and the two young
sisters were again left alone.
Now we must explain that Aunt
Agatha slept in room entering
from the chamber occupied by the
two girls, she was therefore quite safe
as long as the apartments of the
young ladies was not invaded by any
one. but the oaken cupboardl alas,
it was in their parents room, quite
at the other end of long passage,
and, of course, if thief was really in
the house this oaken cupboard was
certain to be the object aimed at.
Sally rose from her chair, and after
whispering word to her sister she
slipped noiselessly along thecarpeted
floor of the passage, and with a
beating heart, softly abstracted
L. l. r. 4 L. -