St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1890-01-30

she had been struck an actual blow
Does the boy think l have a bad
heart-his mother? 1t is only my
keen insight, Jeanne"
But Jeanie did not answer. The
box came an hour later. Bob re-
turned, and he and Jeanne waited
without while their mother opened
it in her own room.
"If it makes us rich, said the girl,
walking restlessly up and down, 1T
will do me no good. 1t is too late
"There is no money in it" replied
the practical Bob. People in those
DAYS laid by gold and silver, and
there is none in it. l hefted it as
carried it in"
Then they sat in silence for halt an
hour. Bob broke in with a remark
upon the weather, intended to con-
vev his careless Indifference
by the way, Jen," he added airlly'
II met that preacher Kirk awhile
ago, and he asked if he might call
this afternoon. l told him to come
ahead-all right
"This afternoon" Jeanie sat
quietly for few minutes. Then she
got up, walked quickly to the glass,
and stared at the face which had
suddenly grown colorless. The
blood rushed into it as she looked,
her eyes danced, her lips quivered.
How wild my hair looks" she said,
patting down the curly rings with
shaking hands.
She had forgotten the closed door
and the fortune behind it. The door
opened. Mrs. Quincy stood on the
threshold with a dusty package IN
her hand. There was a strange,
strained look on her features, and her
voice sounded unfamiliar to her chill
dren.
Here it is" she said. You will
laugh. After seventy years.
She held out the package, and then,
as if the weight was too much tor
her, staggered to a chair.
"What is it? Deeds?"
Bob put his hand upon it. The
boy tried to speak with swagger-
ing carelessness, but his heart stood
still
Don't touch it'' almost screamed
his mother 1T is not money nor
deeds. 1t is nothing which can bene-
fit any human soul. The old man
has written down all the vile ISLANDERS
and horrible facts about the people
in this settlement and left them to be
published now, to disgrace and ruiz
their descendants The Tivertons
the Peabody's, Arrabella's folks-al
our old neighbors'-
''The old scoundrel!" exclaimed
Bob, with a nervous laugh in which
his fortune disappeared forever.
ole laws his commands on 'tht
child of his that shall open the box
to publish its contents on pain of hi:
curse" said his mother. She spran&
to her feet and, vehemently gathering
up the dusty papers, ran to thu
kitchen fire, and threw them on it IL
a heap. LET the curse come" sh
cried. Then she went back hastil,
to her own room.
"Mother is badly cut up about it,
said Bob, taking up his hat. 81 nev
er expected anything"
mo, nor H. said Jeanne, absently
her eyes straining down the road.
, Mrs. Quincy, in her own room, tel
upon her knees ITO store up malic
after he was dead! To try to ruiz
unborn men and women because h
hated their grandfathers God {
mercvl What blood is in my veins
1t is old Peters spirit that is in me
not intellectp'
The world had stopped for he
Her soul seemed to shudder wit
I |
the cancer spot in the nearest frient
The poor ministers, sincere and goo
men, who sat at her table-how ST
had gloated over the meanness, tt
little fault, in each. Old Peter
blood was in herl
:, "LordH' she cried, remember nc
: my offense, nor the offenses of m
-. forefa Tiers"
Mrs. Quincy did not leave her roo
until late that day. When she dl
:, and came down to find her childre
there was a wistful, tender look u
on her face new to it. She had dres
ed herself carefully, too, as for son
day of rejoicing.
Ralph Kirk was sitting on tt
- porch with Jeanne. The girls ia
- was pink and fresh as the roses owe
y head. They rose to meet Mrs. Gu
~ ney.
ID Mother" said Jeanne, Ralph"
Yes; | understand. Thank Go
S | did not ruin your life, my child -
n Her old neighbors wondered niue
y during the months that follow'
III what had happened to Sarah Gurne
IN ''She never says a smart, bit
1t thing" said Mrs Tiverton. "H
20 heart seems to be full of love to eve
We human being. 1t must be death f
y off, coming to her.