The Portland daily press., 1892-07-08

had been driven within doors by the in
creasing storm, they found everything
as it had been left-the broth on the
fire, the cat on the window seat, the
whiting and flannel on the table; but
not spoon was there.
"Whar's the spoons?" cried Mrs.
Simpson to the entire family, who
stood by the fire drying their wet gar
ments. Nobody could tell. Nancy had
left them on the table when she ran to
the hay. No one had been in the house,
they were certain, for nothing was dis
turbed. The drawer was pulled out,
and the empty stocking exhibited.
Every shelf, every corner, was searched,
but to no purpose; the spoons had disap-
peared and the state of the farmhouse
may be imagined. The widow ran
through it like one distracted, question
ing, scolding and searching. Robin,
Nancy and the farm men were dis
patched in different directions, as soon
as the rain aa,ated, to inform theneieL
bors, under the supposition that som.
strolling beggar or gypsy might have
carried Oft the treasure, and would at
tempt to dispose of it in the parish. No
body thought Of Geordy Wilson. Ell
had not been spied from the hay field
his circuits were wide; his visits to any
house were not frequent; and If he
avoided Widow Simpsons from the day
of her loss, it was believed Geordy
knew that neither her temper nor hen
hberality would be improved by thai
circumstance.
Lost the spoons were beyond doubt
and the widow bade fair to lose he1
senses. The rich relation came at his
appointed time, and had such tea thai
he vowed never again to trust himself
in the house of his entertainer. But tn.
search went on; rabbits holes were
looked into for the missing silver and
active boys were bribed to turn out mag
pies nests. Wells and barns in the
neighborhood were explored. The criers
of the three nearest parishes were EN-
ployed to proclaim the loss; it was regu
larly advertised at kirkgate and marke
place, and Mrs. Simpson began to tall
of getting a search warrant for the beg
gar's meal pouch. Bathgate was alarmed
through all its borders concerning the
spoons; but when almost month had
worn away and nothing could be heard
Of them, the widows suspicious turned
from beggars, barns and magpies to
light on poor Nancy. She had beer
securing the spoons, and had left the
house last; silver could not leave the
table without hands.
It was true that Nancy had always
borne an unquestioned character, but
such spoons were not to be met with
every day, and Mrs. Simpson was deter.
mined to have them back in her stock.
ing. After sundry hints of increasing
breadth to Robin, who could not helr
thinking his mother was losing he1
Judgment, she one day pumped the
| charge, to the utter astonishment and
dismay of the poor girl, whose anxiety
in the search had been inferior only to
her own. Though poor and an orphan
Nancy had some honest pride; she i'm.
mediately turned out the whole contents
of her kist (box), unstrung her pocket
in Mrs. Simpsons presence and ran with
tears in her eyes to tell the minister.
AS was then common in the country
parishes of Scotland, difficulties and dis
putes which might have employed the
writers and puzzled the magistrates were
referred to his arbitration, and thus law.
suits or scandal prevented. The minis
ter had heard-as who in Bathgate had
not-of Mrs. Simpsons loss. Like the
rest of the parish, he thought it rather
strange; but Nancy Campbell was one
of the most serious and exemplary girls
in his congregation, and he could moi
believe that the charge preferredagainst
| her was true. Yet the peculiarities oi
the case demanded investigation.
With some difficulty the minister per
suaded Nancy to return to her mistress
bearing a message to the effect that hs
and two of his elders who happened te
reside in the neighborhood would com,
over the following evening, hear what
could be said on both sides, and if pos
s!ble clear up the mystery. The widow
was we'll pleased to have the minister
and his elders come to inquire after he1
spoons. She put on her best mutch-
tnat is to say, cap-prepared her bes'
speeches and enlisted some of the mos
serious and reliable of her neighbors tx
assist in the investigation,
Early in the evening Of the following
day-when the summer sun was wear
ing low and the field work was over
they were all assembled in the clear
secured kitchen, the ministers, elders
and neighbors, soberly listening to Mrs
Simpsons testimony touching her los
silver, Nancy, Robin and the farm me1
sitting by until their turn came; whe1
the door, which had been left half ope1
to admit the breeze--for the evening
was sultry-was quietly pushed aside
and in slid Geordy Wilson, with hi,
usual accompaniments of staff and wal
let.
"There's nae room for ye here, Geor
dy," said tho widow; "we're on weighty
business"
"Weel, men," said Geordy, turning
to depart, 'tit's Of nae consequence.
only came to speak about your spoons.
lilac ye heard O. them?" cried Mrs