The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-10-25

you feel like it. l know you have plenty
to do.
I'd jest as Lief, said Simon. What
you been thrown out here, Mrs. Ap-
plebyl
Rubbish out of my Calforny boarder's
drawers, said Mrs. Appleby. What he
kept it there for dunno.
Simon laughed, and, STOPPING, picked
up one or two bits of something, and
put them in his pocket.
The bed was nicely spaded when Mrs.
Appleby looked out again, and Simon
was gone.
AS Mr.. Jedediah Twombley sat on
his hay crop, voice behind him cried :
Mr.. Twombley, I've got suthin l
want to show you!
He turned. 1t was Simon who had
spoken, and he held in his hard a frag-
ment of something that looked dark and
heavy.
See here, he said in whisper; I've
been TO the goldim1nes in my time and
If this amt gold, I'll give up and say I'm
lacking.
Who, to be sure To be sure said
old Jedediah, clutching the chunk OF
ore IN his hand. To be sure. Where did
you find it7
Why, in the Widder Appleby's gar
den. Dug ii up out'n the aower- bed
you told me to spade up tor her, said
Simon.
Then there's gold on the place, said
| Jedediah. I've always thought there
was gold here. I've always said so.
Yes, Ive heerd you said Simon, with
a twinkle in his eye. Now, what a
thing thatll be for the widder. A gold
mine on her place.
Hush wispered Jedediah, with his
eyes cleaning greenly in the twilight.
Hush, Simon promise me YOU won't
tell her or anybody. I'll make it all
right with you. You're kinder uncom-
Portable where you be, with your small
family. III allow you to hev the frame
house on the hill at the same rent.
Don't mention anything about it. I'll
make it right for Mrs. Appleby. Though
after all, this mayn', be gold.
P'r'arps not but old miners, like me
rather calculates TO know, SAID Simon.
Eff you don't mind I'll move up 10 the
frame-house, tomorrow. Wait bit
Let's 60 over to the widder's. I'll pre-
tend it's to sow the radlsh seed, if you'll
give me some and we'll see if there's
any more there.
Good said Jededilh Twom5ley. A
bright idea
Accordingly, to the widows sur prise,
Simon took the seed over; and the
sowing done, brought back TO his mas
ter, waiting in the wagon under the
trees, three or four more specimens of
the same ore, which Jedediah took, at
once to celebrated mii.eralogist of
the nearest town, who declared that
where these came from there was as
suredy goldmine. And trembling
with delight, Jedediah went back to
walk around the widows house in the
moonlight, when she, seeing him
through the curtains, took him for
tramp, and was frightened almost out
of her senses.
Several things happened to s:artle
her that day. The first was the appear
ance of Simon at her door in the early
dawn, as she was boiling her solitary
cup of coffee over some spllnters of
wood.
"Widder," Simon whispered solemnly.
"Tend to what l say, and don't it.
Mister Twombley is goin' to make you
an offer for your place. Don't let him
have it cheap. Rise on him as bold
as brass. Don't chm abont anything.
Don't tell him nothin' just say: 81 won't
sell for that, until you get what'll keep
you comfortable" Mind, do as say
don't chin you'll give yourself away.
l don't half understand you, said the
widow you hev such curious express
ions kinder, but if Cousin Jedediah
offers much for two acres Of stones and
a house like this, he's goin' crazy"
Mebbe he's seen ghost, said Simon
but you mind me.
He was eff. Not too soon, for the
wheels OF Jedediah Twombley's wagon
ratified down the road the next moment,
and Jedediah stood at the door in the
place OF his servant.
"What you said kind O. teched me
yesterday, Samanthy," he said, and I've
been thinking. What you want is rest
Sell your place and 60 boarding in the
village. Ill buy it. 1t aint't worth
much, but what'll you take?
The widow looked at him. 1t was
not benevolence that sLone in his eyes,
but greed.
"Well1" she said, cautiously some OF
the same blood ran in her veins, and
she could bargain also. Well, what'll
you give1"
Five hundred dollars said the rich
man. Eh1
Samanthy shook her head.
Eight !
Lor, no, said Samanthy.
A thousand
Samanthy turned pale, but shook
her head.
Two thousand said Jedediah.
l reckon you're calculating I'm half
witted, SAID Samanthy.
She knows about the gold, said Je-
dedlah to himself or-yes, some one