The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1892-06-03
THE WIDOWS SPOONS.

Among the peaceable and indus.
trious population of Bathgate in Lin
lithgowshire, Scotland, there was one
dame who, though neither the wealth
lest MOI 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 mar who had de.
parted this life some seven years be.
fore the commencement OF our story,
for its acres We're few and they con,
sisted Of half reclaimed moorland: not
on her grown up son, Robin. though
he was counted a likely and sensible
lad; not on her own thrifty house.
keeping though it was known to be
on the 'tightscrew' principle; but on
the possession Of a dozen silver tea.
spoons. Her account of them was
that they had belonged to the Young
Chevalier and had been bestowed
upon her grandfather in return for
entertaining hat claimant to the
British crown on his march from Gull
loden-m proof of which she was ac-
customed TO point out a half oblitcr.
ated crest and the initials G. S. with
which they were marked. The
widows neighbors, however, had a
different tale regarding their coming
into the family. 1t was TO the effect
that her grandfather, who kept a
small inn somewhere in Fife, had
bought them from an ill-doing laird
for three gallons of Highland whisky,
and bestowed them on his grand
daughter. as II of his family most
likely TO hold fast to such an impor-
tant acquisition.
In the family resided. in the capaci-
ty OF 'help.' one Nancy Campbell, a
girl about nineteen who was sus-
pccted OF having taken a fancy to
kobln, who rcciprocated the senti-
meat. Nothing. however, would soft
en- the heart of the widow as regards
a match, until ut last the following
event occurred, and caused her to
give way: About the hay-making
time Il distant and comparatively rich
relative was expected to call and take
tea one evening on his way from Lin
lithGow. 1t vas not often that this
superior relative honorcd her horse
with a visit, and Mrs. Simpson. deter
mined that nothing sh1:iu be wanting
to his entertairHcnt brought out the
treasured spoons early in the fore
ncJn, with many in functions to Nancy
touching the car she should take in
Frightening them up. While this
operation was being conducted in the
kitchen in the midst of one of those
uncertain days which vary the north.
ern June, a sudden darkening of the
sky announced the approach OF heavy
rain, The hay was dry and ready fol
housing. Robin and two farm mer
werc busy gathering it in; but thu
great drops began to fall while a Gun,
siderable portion yet remained in the
field. and, with the instinct of cror
preservation, forth rushed the widow.
followed by Nancy. leaving the spoon!
half secured on the kitchen table. Ii
her rapid exit the girl had forgotten
TO latch the door. The weazel ant
the kite were the only %dcpredator!
known about the moorlaud farm, bu
while they were all occupied in the
bayfield, who should come that way
but Geordy Wilson.
Well. the kitchen door was open
and Geordy stepped in. Two object:
powerfully arrested Geordy's atten
ton; one was the broth pot boiling
on the fire. and the other the silver
spoons scattered on the table. Bend.
ing over the former, Geordy took ;
considerable sniff. gave the in,
gradients q stir with the pot stick ant
muttered. VERY thin" His proceed
, ing with regard to the latter must re
main unmentioned; but half an houl
after. when he was safely e%nsconcet
in Il farm house q mile Of. and the
family had been driven within door:
by the increasing storm. they fount
everything as it had been left-th,
broth on the fire. the cat OF
the window seat, the whiting ant
flannel on the table, but not a 5000,
was there.
'Whar's the )spoons?" cried Mrs
Simpson to the entire family, who
stood by the fire drying their we
! garments. Nobody could tell. Nancy
had left them on the table when sh,
ran to the hay. No one had been il
|. the house. they were certain. 70.
nothing was disturbed. The drawel
was pulled out, ana the empty stock
ing exhibited. Every sholf. every
corner. was searched, but TO no pur.
pose; the spoons had disappeared,
and the state Of the farm house may
be imagined. The widow ran through
it like Il distracted. questioning,
scolding and searching. Robin,
Nancy and the farm men were dis.
patched In different directions al
soon as the rain abated. to inform the
neighbors under the s%upposition tina
some strolling beggar or gypsy nigh
have carried off the treasure. ant
would attempt to dispose of i
in the parish. The rich relation
came at his appointed time. ant
had such q tea that he vowed
never again TO trust himsel
in tho house of his entertainer. Blu
the search went on; rabbits hole!
were looked into for the missing sill
yer, and active boys were bribed tt
turn out magpies' nests. Wells ant
barns in the neighborhood were eX
plored. The criers OF the three near
est parishes were employed to pro
, claim the loss; it was regularly adver
: tised at kirkgate and market place
and Mrs Simpson began 10 talk o
getting a search warrant for the beg
gar's meal pouch. Bathgate wa
: alarmed through all its borders con
corning the spoons; but when almos
i q month had worn away, and nothing
could be heard of them, the widow
suspicious turned from beggars. barn
and magpies to light on poor Nancy
She had been securing the spoons an,
had left the house last; silver coul,
not leave the table without hands. I
!, was tru that Nancy had Away
borne an unqnestioned character; blu
I, such spoons were not 10 be met will
every day and Mrs. Simpson was de
termined to have them back In he
II SfOekipr q + A Altar a,1ndrv hipft of ~