San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-05-30
THE LOST SPOONS.

luC pdl 1911 VI LOUIS otS. az
shire, ought to be reckoned among the
classic spots of Scotland, inasmuch as it
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 pas.
toral 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 the 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 hersgrown up
son Robin. though he was counted a
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 a 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-in proof of which
she was accustomed to point out a half
obliterated crest and the initials {. S.,
with which they were marked. The
widows neighbors, however, had diff.
ferent tale regarding their coming into
the family. 1t was to the effect that hel
grandfather, who kept small inn some.
where in Fife, had bought them from an
i'll 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, 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 tbs
widow asregards match, until at las
the following event occurred and caused
her to give way: About the haymakina
time distant and comparatively rich
relation was expected to call and take
tea one evening on his way from Lin
lithgow. 1t was not often that this s1l
perior relative honored her house with
a visit, and Mrs Simpson, determined
that nothing should be wanting to hi:
entertainment, brought out the treas
ured spoons early in the forenoon, with
many injunctions to Nancy touching tn
care she should take in Frightening
them up.
While this operation was being con
Quoted in the kitchen, in the midst u
one of those uncertain days which var,
the northern June, sudden darkenin!
of the sky announced the approach o
heavy rain. The hay was dry and read,
for housing. Robin and two farm mel
were busy gathering it in; but the grea
drops began to fall while a considerabl
portion yet remained in the field, and
with the instinct of crop preservation
forth rushed the widow, followed b
Nancy, leaving the spoons half secure
on the kitchen table: In her rapid exi
the girl had forgotten to latch the door
The weasel and the kite were the onl
depredators known about the moorlan
farm; but while they were all occupie
in the hay field, who should come thu
way but Geordy Wilson.
Well, the kitchen door was open, an
Geordy stepped in. He banged tn
settle with his staff, he coughed, /
hemmed, he saluted the cat, which 8;
purring on the window seat, and /;
length discovered there was nobod
within. Neither meal nor penny W;
to be expected that day; the rain W;
growing heavier, some of the hay MT
be wet, and Mrs. Simpson would relul
in bad humor. But two objects powe
fully arrested Geordy's attentions; OIL
was the broth pot boiling on the fire al
the other the silver spoons scattered {
the table. Bending over the form
Geordy took considerable sniff, ga
the ingredients stir with the pot site
and muttered VERY thin" His pr