The record-union., 1891-02-15

ing roots of the tree he deposited his pre-
cious boot. He quickly filled in the
earth again, removed all traces of digging,
threw some loose brush over the spot in a
careless way, as though it had fallen
there itself, and betook himself back to
his abode.
THE FARMERS ASSEMBLED
The following day en- masse, and several
wagon loads of men. armed in every con-
ceivable manner, from fiint-lock mus
kets, with rusty bayonets, that had been
in the hands of United Empire loyalists,
to such primitive weapons as pitchforks,
Halls, etc. However, a fail is a decidedly
ugly weapon in the hands of deter
mined man who knows how to WELD it.
Just as the company of defenders We're
about the start, Paddy McGowan, a little
old Irishman, came up with an ancient
looking musket. which he said he didn't
know whether it was loaded or not, and
was afraid to try it and find out. AN
sure,' he says, Il amt goin' go blazin'
away KILN people when maybe the gun
amt loaded at all, at all!'' No one was
ANXIOUS to experiment with the weapon,
and Paddy was in a aquandary whether to
take the gun along or not, when old John
Ralma shuf1ied his angular form forward,
and remarked that as he had to kill a
beast for widow Jones' on the next farm
he would try the gun, and if it was loaded
II would save his own precious bullets.
Paddy handed over the gun willingly
enough, and John started for the widows
place, followed by a crowd, curious to see
the result. The animal to be slaughtered
was led out and tied to q post in the barn,
and John took up q position, a few PAGES
IN front of it. He placed cap upon the
nipple and braced the old fireaI1n firmly
against his shoulder, as though expecting
a heavy recoil. Paddy and the rest of the
crowd remained outside Of the barn and
listened for the report.
1t came shortly, but it was a regular
explosion. They rushed inside the barn
and beheld fTightfui spectacle. The
gun was literally blown to pieces. The
barrel had split and one piece had curled
up like paper. Old John Ralma, the
miser of Maitland Dell, lay dead with
piece OF splintered iron in his brain, and
his face cut almost beyond recognition.
The animal was completely shot full of
bits Of iron. Thus ended the career of the
mysterious miser, and with him died the
secret of how he had disposed of his
wealth.
THE FENIAf. RAID
Proved to be merely a scare, and the mat
ter was somewhat eclipsed by the tragic
end Of John Ralma. His cabin was
searched, torn down and dug under and
around, but nothing of much value was
found. The old man had no relatives,
and after the neighbers had given him Il
decent burial, he, was Telegatcd to the
region of forgetfulness and the past,
which is eventually the portion. of all.
Ten years passed away, and the.sun
was again crimsoning the western hori-
zOn with the colors Of u summer sunset.
The farm distinguished by Lynx Hollow
was covered with fields Of golden grain.
The Hollow itself was surrounded by
meadow and grain fields, and the pres
ence Of lynx In the woods was no longer
feared. This latter fact was attested by
ing young man, son OF the owner Of the
farm (yYhom we will call Jacl<), and q
pleasant-looking, rosy-cheeked young
rustic belle.
They were walking slowly side by side.
the young fellow speaking earnestly and
quickly, as though urging mis- fair COM
panlon TO take the same view of the sub
ject under discussion rs he held. This
was no less than proposal of marriage.
Jack wanted to marry the fair Maggie by
his side, and 'Barizis was willin',' but
one great obstacle stood in the way. 4
neighboring farmer had q daughter, his
only child, who would inherit his broad
acres, adjoining those of Jacks father,
ana the two farmers had long since
planned at once q union of their children
and lands. But Cupid wouldn't have it
that way, and we find Jack persuading
the daughter of a poor man to marry him
secretly.
Slowly they walked forward, and en-
tered upon the ieafy sward and cool shade
of
LYNX HOLLOW.
Near by was the PROSTATE trunk of a
maple tree, thrown down by Il recent
blast during a terrific thunder storm. Its
roots had turned up from the ground,
leaving quite hole, and forming nat
ural seat. True, the seat could only COM
fortably hold one, but the way this
couple accommodated themselves to the
limited space passeth understanding.
Maggie had possession of Jacks walk
ing stick, and was figuring out problem
on the ground with it, while Jack had
possession Of her waist and was figuring
out mathematical problem of circum-
ference. Maggie was thinking deeply,
and only when she tried to raise the stick
and found it was entangled on something
was she recalled to the present. The cane
had run through the ear Of an old boot
sticking up a little way out of the ground.
More for want of something to say than
else, Maggie remarked: "Jack,
do believe there's an old boot stuck in
the ground" and up she jumped from
his-well, where she had been sitting.
'.Well, supposin' there is ?'' said Jack.
savagely, for the ways of girls were just
as inexplicable to him as any one else.
'.Well, amt it funny it should be here,
out in the woods where no one comes?''
and with true woman's curiosity she dug
away with the stick. Well, her curiosity
amounted to something for once in her
life, for she soon poked hole through
old John Ralma's boot, and several gold
coins rolled out. The way Mammon
hustled Cupid out of sight was wonderful.
They both dug for all they were worth,
and soon brought to light the golden
treasure. The bank notes were nearly all
well preserved.
The savings contained in the boot
amounted to over Sl1 900, and as no heirs
of John Ralma were ever found, Jack and
Maggie shared the find. They also shared
the same name, and each others joys and
sorrows through life, though the latter
We're considerably lessened by their lucky
find of the buried treasure.
ICH BIN DEN.
TThe Journal Of Education commends this