The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1891-11-05

lamp burning brightly upon the table.
But the old man had not stirred hand or
foot In her absence. he lay as in . sweet
sleep, and the pink dawn coming In at
his window touched his cheek with the
fictitious bloom Of health.
Hannah seemed just to have dropped
into fathomless abyss Of rest when she
felt something clutch her shoulder. A
sharp shake followed, and then an ex-
cited, fearful voice said in her drowsy
ear:
You'll never speak . bad word Of
cats again as long as you live" She
opened her eyes and saw Crumpet,
hunched up and winkless, sitting on the
foot Of her bed.
"For heavens sake, what Is 1t, Ruby:
Is the old man worseT
II tell you not to speak III Of cats"
said Ruby, quivering with suppressed
emotion. "It was that blessed creature
that led me to the hole in the apple tree
where found it."
Have you gone crazy, tooS" moaned
poor Hannah, sitting up in bed with her
nightcap much awry and staring straight
at Ruby. II always heard 1t ran in the
family and came down from your great
aunt Naomi"
He led me to the place." Ruby went
on, not having heard q word Of Han
nah's speech, and pointing at Crumpet,
"where Jane had hid Anson's tin box. l
hadn't slep' more than forty winks when
saw her in the kitchen, dancin' in her
nightgown, with her old firt Of shawl
round her shoulders in the dead hourA.
And she came near settin' the papers
afre over the lamp chimbly. I thought
| should scream bloody murder, but |
didn't on account Of the old man. She
few out of the door and after her as
hard as l could put in my stocking feet.
She scampered home and hid the boG
and then locked herself in and began to
blow the last trump. But that blessed
catl Oh, am as weak as water. He
led me straight to the hole Il the tree,
and II you'll believe it found my lace
scarf and my morocco slippers hid away
all a ruck Of mildew and green mold.
But the Lord be thanked, that paper Joel
gave to Anson was all safe and sound
saved by a special Providence. She
must have stole the box, don't know
when, unteknownest to us all. And
where has she KEEP it all these years?
Mebbe in mothers old red chest in the
garret, where she hides most Of her
duds. But oh, l am that faint and limp
l shall swoon away" and Ruby fell
PROSTATE in q convenient rocking chair
in a state Of complete collapse.
Hannah had sat with her mouth open
not understanding q word that Ruby
poured forth in such q copious stream,
but when she saw the tin box in her lap
she mechanically opened 1t and took up
a folded paper, the first that came to
hand. It was in Joel Fearine's cramped
handwriting, and acknowledged the re-
ceipt Of Q considerable sum Of money
from his brother Anson, and bore his
signature. 1t was dated only week be-
fore Anson's death. Then it was Han.
pah's turn to become slightly hysteri-
cal, and she found herself hugging
Crumpet in q way that seemed rather
ridiculous when she thought Of It after
ward. She never knew how she got
into her clothes, but in less than half an
hour the little house was seething with
suppressed excitement. Dick was called
up and sent in hot haste for the doctor,
who came running over half dressed,
thinking the old man was either dead or
dying. But when he came out Of the
sick room he said cheerily:
"Why, Hannah, the old man is much
better. His eye looks bright again and
his speech less thick and confused. You
may let him sit up half an hour in the
warmest part of the day. 1t is the first
day Of spring and it has brought him
new life."
Hannah was pale and erect. She said
nothing, but held out q piece Of time
yellowed paper. he took it and ran his
eye over the contents. "Joel's acknowl-
edgment Of the payment Of that money"
he exclaimed, "by all that's wonderful
Why, Hannah, you are q made woman.
Where on earth did it turn up after all
these yearsI"
81 don't know; it's all o muddle," said
Hannah, smiling family. Ruby Arm
strong is too excited to tell straight
story and l have put her to bed. It's all
a confused mess; about how while she
was watching with Mr.. Rand last night
she saw Jane come in with Anson's tin
box and try to burn the papers over the
lamp chimney and was scared Of by
Ruby, who chased her home and found
the doors locked, and then followed the
cat to the hollow apple tree in their gar
den, where the box was found. II ap-
pears that Jane must have stole the box
out Of this house great while ago and
nobody knows where she has kept It.
But her mind has been working on IL Of
late, for she has been a-muttering to her
self about Anson and how he came and
troubled her at night in his shroud."
"Nomatter, Hannah, how 1t came back.
gueas there was an overruling power
somewhere. Now you must let me take
the paper; you can trust IL TO me, and
shall consult q lawyer at once to see
what steps are necessary to put you in
possession Of your rights, the undivided
half Of the old mans estate"
Ruby had gone home with her cat,
still in q slightly dazed condition, and
the old man was so much better that at
noon Hannah and Sybil put him In his
chair, where, backed by pillows and his
knees wrapped in o thick blanket, he
could look out on the sunny garden. his
dear old books were close at hand, 50