The Portland daily press., 1892-05-30

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strolling beggar or gypsy might have
carried off the treasure, and would at
tempt to dispose of it in the.parish. No
body thought of Geordy Wilson. FL
had not been spied from the hay field
his circuits were wide; his visits to any
house Were not frequent; and if ha
avoided Widow Simpsons from the day
of her loss, it was believed Geordy
knew that neither her temper nor he1
iberality would be improved by thai
circumstance.
Lost the spoons were beyond doubt
and the widow babe fair to lose hel
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 The
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
larry advertised at kirkgate and marke
place, and Mrs. Simpson began to talk
of getting search warrant for the beg
gars meal pouch. Bathgate was alarmed
through all it's borders concerning the
spoons; but when almost month had
worn away and nothing ceuld be heard
Of them, the widows suspicious turned
from beggars, barns and magpies to
light on poor Nancy. She had been
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 uneuestioned 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 help
thinking his mother was losing hel
Judgment, she one day pumped the
charge. to the utter establishment 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 this
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; bat Nancy Campbell was one
Of the most serious and exemplary girls
in his congregation, and he could not
believe that the charge preferred against
her was true. Yet the peculiarities OF
the case demanded investigation.
With some difficulty the minister per-
suaded Nancy to return to her mistress,
bearing message to the effect that he
and two Of his elders who happened to
reside in the neighborhood would conn
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 hel
spoons. She put on her best mulch
that is to say, prepared her best
| speeches and enlisted some of the most
serious and reliable of her neighbors tc
assist in ADMINISTRATION.
Early in the evening of the following
day-whep the summer sun was wear.
ing low and the field work was over
| they were all assembled in the clean
| secured kitchen, the ministers, elders
and neighbors, soberly listening to Mrs
Simpsons testimony touching her losl
silver, Nancy, Robin and the farm men
sitting by until their turn came; when
the door, which had been left half open
| to admit the breeze--for the evening
was sultry-was quietly pushed aside
and in slid Geordy Wilson, with his
usual accompaniment of staff and wal.
let.
aThere's nae room for ye here, Geor.
dy," said the widow; t'we're on weighty
business"
"Weel, men," said Geordy, turning
to depart, ''it's of nas consequence.
only came to speak about your spoons.
lilac ye heard O. them?' cried Mrs
Simpson, bouncing from her seat.
81 couldna miss beein blessed WI the
precious gift Of hearin, and, what's bet
ter, saw them," said Geordy.
"Saw them, Geordy? Whar are they
and here's a whole shillin for ye," and
Mrs. Simpsons purse, or rather an ole
| glove used for thatpurpose, was instant
ly produced.
"Weel," said Geordy, ''I slipped in az
day, and seem the siller unguarded
thought some i'll guided body might
covet it, and jist laid it by, may say
arnang the leaves o. that Bible, thinkir
you would be sure to see the spoons
when you vert to read"
Before Geordy had finished his revela
ton Nancy Campbell had brought dowr
the proudly displayed but never opened
Bible, and interspersed between its
leaves lay the dozen of long sought
spoons.
The minister of Bathgate could scarce
ly command his gravity while admon
ishing Geordy on the trouble and vex
alton his trick had caused. The as