Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-10-04
son.in.law, with eager eyes, like
those of o bird Of prey.
UI,ve hid IL away

"rve hid it away
John Moppet placed his ear close
to the paIlid lips.
"Six fve.hundred dollar bills
eyes, you-go on~
"Folded up 10 all old number OF
The Horn Hill Gazette"-
can old number of The Horn
| Hill Gazette understand T" re.
peated Moppet.
"In the old stove out in the shed"
gasped the old man. 81 knowed
nobody wouldn't be likely to look
there! It's yours, John Moppet-
every cent of 1t. And mind you.
don't spend 1t in no extravaganza y
so speaking, the old miser closed
his dim eyes aud went where there
is neither money nor counting ot
money.
John Moppet uttered all exceed.
ingly bitter cry as he remembered
the lighted match he had put to
the crumpled old papers in the
stove, TO MAKE sure OF a draught,
when it was put up in the north
west corner of the church-the roar
of the blaze through the lengths of
Russia iron pipe. In his excellent
management he had cOntriged to
overreach himself.
He went home and sat all the
evening in sort of stupor, with
his head IN his hands.
Nancy, busted abOnt her house
hold tasks, watched him with hazel
eyes Of surprise.
81 didn't know he thought so
mach of Gran'ther Atkins ponder
ed she.
"Slx times five is thiIty-six
times five is thirty" mused Mr
Moppet, rocking to and fro. "Six
Ave. hundred.dOllar bills q. Three
thousand-doIlars-and all gone up
the chimbly in one breath o wind
aud me as done 1t | shall go crazy
| | shall lose my mind. Three-thOu
-sand-dollars! It's judgment
on me. I've been mis'able sln
ner, and cheated the church. I've
tampered with my own conscience
Six timea five Is thirty Six five.
hundred dollar bills ! Oh, Lord
there aln't no calculatin' what
mis-, able sinDer I've been !"
As the old kitchen clock struck
9, Absslom Parker came IN, bring
ing with him a gust of fresh, frosty
wind.
"Evenin,' SQUIRE said he. "'n
sort O. looking up the watchers
S'pose' you'd like to he one of'em
But I'd like to speak word tC
you first
"If IFS about Nancy, it amt nc
USE" said Mr.. Mopper, rousInG
himself to the affairs of the world
with some petulance.
ait ain,t about Nancy" Absalo.n
answered, with a smile. "It's about
Mr.. Atkins money"
Mr.. Moppet gave start.
"Oh, you needn't jump So" re-
assured AbsaIom. "lt's all safe
He took 4 Tat parcel out of his
pocket.
"Count EN-" said he. "SiX,
amt there''
Mr.. Moppet stared at Absalom
Parker as Aladdin might have star
ed at the Genil.
"HOw-where'-he muttered.
Absalom gave low chuckle.
"Hush ~ said he. "Don't speak
loud. seen the old man hide 'em
there, like a human magpie as he
was, knowed it wasn't safe, so
Quitely took 'em out. arter he'd
had that last stroke, and locked 'en
in his black leather trunk up in the
garret, And you may thank me
that they wasn't all burned up in
the 6rst fire you lighted in that
Identical stovelS ~
Nr. Moppet turned Purpisl
red.
"You know about that stove "
said he, with gasp.
at wasn't likely no such coniur
ing could 90 on about Mr.. Atkin''
place, and me not know IT,, sai(
Parker, dryly. "The stove wasn't
of 5reat consequence, though, ex
cept tor old iron. guess the churcl
folks III get SICK oft before grea
while.
: Mr.. Moppet drew long breath
"when they dor said he, "pl
= make 'em a present of a brand new
one. And, Absalom'-
eyes, Mr.. Moppet?"
"You won't say nothln' to no
bodyT
"No," said Absalom, 81 amt en-
% the talkin' sort"
"And, AbsalOm"-
ayes, Mr.. Moppet"
, "Since you and Nancy really ar
attached to each other"--
"I don't see no objection to you
gettln' married this fall, :" said MoT
pet, with an effort. "You may tel
Nancy that she has my consent
Nancy cried shower OF hspp
.. tears when Absalom told her tn
q good news.
But he never impaired to her th
story of the stove. AS he hlmseI
8 had remarked, che was not one c