The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-03-08
The SCHOLARSHIPS STORY.

by fishing and ferrying the gentry
who caine 10 visit the ruined castle
beyond.
They made poor living In this
way, and from being Iighthearted
they grew morose. and grumbled
shout the tyranny of rich the and
their hard fate IN life.
One night richly clad young man
rode up to the farmhouse aud asked
To be I'ilOted across the lake.
IL am young Mr.. FIRTH" he said.
my Father owns the mills and iii
pay you WE'LL"
As he spoke he shifted a double
:5ss.sse { l"ather that hung over the
saddle, which gave out a chink as if
flied with gold.
"l'll speak to my partner" said
Bryan, withdrawing into the nut.
"Yonder." he whispered in Peters
ear. "is young Firth with the mill
hands wages in his saddIebags. He
wants to be ferried over the lake"
"WelI?" said Peter.
"There must be four hundred
pounds in those bags. A fortune to
u.s."
But the law wcnld soon put stop
to our enjoyment of it,"
"And who is to know if young
Firth goes to the bOtton uf the lake?
asked Bryan. II tell you luck has
come to US. Don't thrust it away.
Peter looked him full in the face
and r. ST up and took the oars from
the wall.
Wen ferry Master Firth over the
lak,'." he said aloud: aud the two
tramped out together.
Young Firth had aliishted. He
led his horse, with the saddlebags, to
The edge of the lake. The long boat
in which so many ladies' and gentle.
men, parties of fifteen often. had
crossed to see the ruins. lay there.
"King will behave himself WELL"
said The boy. "He's u horse with
brains an0 heart, aren't you, ,Kins?'
The horse whinnie,l and rubbed his
nose against youn: Firth's shoulder
Peter and Bryan took their places,
aud The boat moved heavily out into
the middle of the deep lake. There
Bryan lifted his oars into the boat and
Peter followed his example.
I The bIy, with his elbow on the
saddle and his hand turned 80 that
the back of his fair headsresled on the,
palm, was looking up at the moon
thinking of his sweetheart, perhaps.
lie dropped his eyes to Bryan's
gloomy face in surprise.
"What's this fur?" he asked.
AS he spoke, Bryan brought his
fist, with stone he held Ind in il,
against his head and Peter caught
his ankles and tripped him. He fell
into the lake like II dead thing, and
vanished under the dark Water.
Bryan seized the sadilebags. but
King seeming to know something
was wrong. turned anu bit him fur
inu~Iy.
He strnck out with his hoofs.
crashing against Petar's knee. and
sprang over the side Of the boat.
so much the BETTER" said Bryan.
furiously. "Jf he swilns home we'il
never he suspected"
He dragged the chinking bags to.
ward him. and the two men rOWed
back to the spot they had started
from with difficulty. both suffering
fearful pain. Peter couId not Move
his leg. and Bryan's right arm was
burning as though scared with red
hot irons but they beachel the boat
and dragged their prize to the cabin.
barred the miserable door, and lii
their yellow tallow dip at the smoul.
dering fire.
Lets see what we've got" said
Bryan. lifting the bags to the deal
table. "Our pain will be over so0ns
hut our money will last. G Il knows
how much there must be here, all in
hard coin. No bills to tell tales of
how they were come by. All hard,
solid gold and silver"
He could only use one arm. but
Peter dragging himself 10 the table.
helped him to undo the stout leather
fastenings and pour the contents on
the boards and Satan, children.
stood behind grinning for the round
pieces of metal that tumbled Ou: be.
fore their eyes. chinking and clash
ing together. were only bits Of iron
little nuts and clamps, or what not
l can't tell you just the names of the
lhings-that were used in the ma.
chinery.
Young Firth had been to the bank
sure enough, hut the money was In a
pocket book next to his bosom. These
bits of iron he had brought to saye
| AanIc,, ,,,OeniaR ,r,koK, m