Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-05-02
Mrs. Walkinshaw could warm her
marble cold hands.

| biVO 6ichbiS IiSHU uCIOSS t1t UlfTeS
hold? 1t seemed almost wicked tt
break the branches away, as | wal
forced to do. And by and by II
spread my shawl over the dead leave,
in the corner, and-Ohl what's that"
1t was very strange that they hat
not seen it before, yet it certainly
must have been there all the time
the figure of a little, old man, all in
butternut brown, sitting by the fire
He was dressed in a quaint, old-fash
Toned style, with knee-breeches, and
a queue down his back, and was hold.
ing his hands over the blaze with u
sort of ravenous eagerness for the
warmth. He was SO little, and SO
pale, and his teeth chartered so in
his shriveled head, that Rhoda's
momentary Indignation died away
at once.
Il hope l don't intrude," said the
little old man, with the deprecating
falsetto of age, "but it's cold, very
cold, and | haven't seen n fire here
before i'll a quarter of a century"
Rhoda looked hard at him.
DO you live near here, sir?" said
she.
The little old man nodded.
VERY near" said he 81 used to
know your Grandfather Grupp. A
hard-working man he was, and the
best hand at a horseshoe in the
country round. h,yesl knew him!"
Mrs. Walkinshaw pulled Rhoda's
sleeve surreptitiously.
81 think tho ponr old croo+,ro &; .
little crazy" said she "But let him
stay, let him stay and warm himself.
lie can do no harm to any one, poor,
half-famished soul"
And still the Man in Brown talked
steadily on, his hands spread out
over the fire.
Did he ever tell you about the
brick?' said he; "the brick that was
buried under this very hearthst one?
Not a clay brick, my dear, but a
brick of goldl Not great big thing,
such as they put in the angle of a
house, either, but n little, genteeI
sort of brick, that it would make a
miser's heart leap within him to han
die. 1t was your Grandfather
Grupp's within. He was q peculiar
old man. Eth? Did he ever tell you
about the brick?"
IL never saw him, SIR" said Rhoda.
"Ah, true, very true" said the lit
tie old man. you can't always keep
track of time. And it was a dead
scare about the brick between him
and me. He had made a great deal
more money than folks had any idea
OF, and that was his way of taking
care OF it. OF course may depend
upon you not to mention it?"
II don't understand you, sir, said
Rhoda, her veins chilled with a GER
tain awe, and. in the same moment.
the Man in Brown looked at O tar
nlshed little silver watch which hung
at his side
"It's late" said he, "later than l
had any idea OF. Good evening,
ladies, | hope l haven't intrudedl
Good EVENING"
1t was late the next morning when
Mrs. Walkinshaw and Rhoda knock
ed at Mr.. Gidding's door and told
their tale. The old man, the nearest
nelghbor to the deserted forge, turned
pale.
ITS Ben Haverstrawi" said he
"Old Ben Haverstraw, who has been
dead and buried in the little church |
yard back of the forge these forty
years. He used to play cards with
your Grandfather Grupp, Miss Rhody,
many night, after the forge was
shut up, and folks supposed every
body was abed and asleep. Nv
father has described him to me MANY
u time-an old little man in brown
clothes, with black silk stockings and
knee breeches, a queue hanging down
his back, and n braid of seals at his
fob. Folks said he was in league
with the Evil One. Hewasn't a good
associate for your Grandfather Grupp
anyhow. Yes, yesl He's been dead
full forty years, and maybe longer"
but that is nonsense" cried Rho
da. cit was no ghost that we saw
1t was a little, old-fashioned traveller.
who was cold and tired, and came in
for n little rest"
"Did you see him come in?" de
Mr.. Gliding.
mo" acknowledged Rhoda.
did you see him go out?"
And again Rhoda and her mother
we're compelled to answer in the neg
alive. He was gone. That was all
they knew about it.
Ali" said ncighbor Gliding. 81
thought SO. S'pose we just call my
son Abram and the hired man, with
: crowbar or SO, and pry up that
here old hearthstone? P'rhaps it '
won't donogood. Certainly it won't :
10 no harml"
They pried up the sunken old stone
md there, under the corner, was
brick of gold-of solid '
,old, welded together US only a Il
killed workman in metals could have t
Welded It'll S
All this happened years ago. A a
modern residence now P
tands where once the forgelights Il
cleaned sullenly out upon the night. S,
md Rhoda Walkinshaw-married !,
% Alvan Gidding-lives there with :,
Ter step-mother. y y
Farmer Walkinshaw would fair =,
ave patched up a peace when his Fl
auShter became so Unexpectedly an "
eiress, but Rhoda absolutely de-
lined treaty of any sort whatever.
Mother and | suit teach other" she
AID. I'VE never have suited you. &C