The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-04-23
THE LOST SPOONS.

Inc paflbu OF 0otu&UDct IN 1kLOubuBOW-
shire, ought to be reckoned among the
classic spots Of Scotland, inasmuch ~ II
formed part Of the dowry which Robert
the Bruce bestowed on his eldest daugh-
ter, Margery, when she married Walter,
the high steward Of Scotland, and thus
became the progenitrix Of the royal and
unlucky house Of Stuart. Lying mid
way between Edinburgh and Glasgow,
those rival queens Of the east and west,
but out Of the common track of traffic
and travel, it has been for ages a pas
tora1 parish Of small and rather back
ward farms.
OF late years coal has been found
there, and steam and trade, which bid
fair to leave tho world no rustic corner,
are rapidly turning it into mining dis
trict, which nobody thought Of about
the time Of the general peace, when
Bathgate lived on its own oats and bar
ley. wore its own holden gray and had
but two subjects Of interest the corn
market and the kirk session. Among its
peaceable and industrious population
there was one dame who, though neither
the wealthiest nor the best born, stood
in her own esteem above all but the
laird and the minister, and her style and
title was Widow Simpson. This lady
valued herself, not on the farm left her
by the good man who had departed this
life some seven years before the com
mencement Of our story, for its acres
were few and they consisted Of half re-
claimed moorland; not on her grown MP
con Robin, though he was counted q
likely and sensible lad; not on her own
thrifty housekeeping, though it was
known to be on the tight screw" prin-
ciple; but on the possession Of dozen
silver teaspoons.
Her account Of them was that they
had belonged to the young chevalier,
and had been bestowed upon her grand
father In return for entertaining that
claimant to the British crown on his
march from Culloden- proof Of which
she was accustomed to point ont q half
0bliterated crest and the. initials G. S.,
with which they were marked. The
widows neighbors, however, had diff
ferent tale regarding their coming into
the family. It was to the effect that her
grandfather, who kept q small inn some
where In Fife, had bought them from an
III doing laird for three gallons of High
land whiskey, and bestowed them on his
granddaughter as the one of his family
most likely to hold fast to such an i'm
portant acquisition.
In the family resided in the capacity
Of .'help" one Nancy Campbell, a girl
about nineteen, who was suspected Of
having taken fancy to Robin, who re-
ciprocated the sentiment. Nothing, how
ever, would soften the heart Of the
widow as regards a match, until at last
the following event occurred and caused
her to give way: About the haymakinS
time a distant and comparatively rich
relation was expected to call and take
tea one evening on his way from Lin
ithgow. Il was not often that this SUI
perior relative honored her house with
visit, and Mrs. Simpson, determined
that nothing should be wanting to his
entertainment, brought out the treas
ured spoons early in the forenoon, with
MANY injunctions to Nancy touching the
care she should take in Frightening
them up.
While this operation was being con-
dncted in the kitchen, in the midst Of
one Of those uncertain days which vary
the northern June, q sudden darkening
Of the sky announced the approach of
heavy rain. The hay was dry and ready
for housing. Robin and two farm men
were busy gathering it in; but the great
drops began to fall while considerable
portion yet remained in the field, and,
with the instinct of crop preservation,
forth rushed the widow, followed by
Nancy, leaving the spoons half secured
ON the kitchen table. In her rapid exit
the girl had forgotten to latch the door
The weasel and the kite were the only
depredatcrs known about the moorland
farm: but while they were all occupied
In the hay field, who should come that
way but Geordy Wilson.
Well, the kitchen door was open, and
Geordy stepped in. He banged the
settle with his staff, he coughed, he
hemmed, he saluted the cat, which sat
purring on the window seat, and a.
lmgth discovered there was nobody
within. Neither meal nor penny was
to be expected that day; the rain was
growing heavier, some of the hay must
bewet, and Mrs. Simpson would return
IN bad humor. But two objects power
fnlly arrested Geordy's attention; one
was the broth pot boiling ON the fire and
the other the silver spoons scattered on
the table. Bending oyer the former
Geordy took considerable sniff, gave
the ingredients q stir with the pot stick,
and muttered very thin His pro
ceeding with regard to the latter must
remain unmentioned; but half an hour
after, when he was safely ensconced IN
. farmhouse mile Of and the family
had been driven within doors by the in.
-creasing storm. they found, everything
- it had been left-the broth on the
ire, the cat on the window seat, the
whiting and flannel on the table; but
not spoon was there.