The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-06-04
THE WIDOWS SPOONS.

LilC w lDONV ~ III OO1NO.
Among the peaceable and indus
trious population OF Bathgate in Lin
lithgowshire. Scotland. there was one
dame who though neither the wealth.
lest 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 de-
parted this life some seven years be-
fore the commencement OF our story,
for its acres were few and they con-
sisted OF half reclaimed moorland not
on her grown up son, Robin. though
he was counted 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 that claimant to the
British crown on his march from Gull
loden-,n proof OF which she was &C.
customed TO point out half oblitcr.
ated crest and the initials &. S. with
which they were marked. The
widows neighbors however. had a
different tale regarding their coming
into the family. 1t was 10 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 one 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 n
girl about nineteen. who was sus.
pected OF having taken fancy to
Robin, who reciprocated the senti-
ment Nothing however would soft
en- the heart OF the widow as regards
q match. until ut last the following
event occurred. and caused her to
give way: About the hay making
time distant and comparatively rich
relative was expected to call and take
tea one evening on his way from Lin
lithgow. 1t was not often that this
superior relative honored her house
with visit and Mrs Simpson, deter
mined that nothing should be wanting
to his entertainment brought on: the
treasured spoons early in the fore
noon. with many injunctions to Nancy
touching the care 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 sudden darlSening OF tho
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 a cum
siderable portion yet remained in the
field. and, with the instinct of crop
preservation. forth rushed the widow.
followed by Nancy. leaving the spoons
half-scoured on the kitchen table. In
her rapid exit the girl had forgotten
10 latch the door, Tho weazel and
the kite were the only dcpredators
known about tho moorland farm. but
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 Gcordy's atten-
ton; one was the broth-po boiling
on the fire. and the other tho silver
spoons scattered on tho table. Bend
ing over the former Georiy took q
considerable sniff. gave tho in
gradients stir with the pot stick and
muttered. Very thin" His proceed
ing with regard to the latter must re-
main unmentioned; but half an hour
after when he was safely ensconced
in farm house u milo of. and the
family had been driven within doors
by the increasing storm they found
everything as it had been left-the
broth on tho fire. the cat on
the window seat the whiting and
flannel on the table, but not spoon
was there.
.'Whar's the spoonsP" cried Mrs.
Simpson to the entire family, who
stood by tho fire drying their wet
garments Nobody could tell Nancy
had left them on the table when she
ran t, tho hay. No one had been in
the house. they wcrc certain. for
uoshing was disturbed. Tho drawer
was pulled out and the empty stock.
ing exhibited. Every shelf 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 ono distracted. questioning.
scolding and searching. Robin.
Nancy and the farm men were dis
patched IN different directions as
soon as the rain apaIed. to inform tho
neiphbOrs under the suppositicn that