The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1893-01-26

in the world" And here the girl took
from tho table the Bible to find con-,
ISOLATION for her sorrow in the words
of its pages.
Turning the leaves she was aston
ished to find two pinned together.
"Who could have done this?" she
murmured, carefully separating them.
To the astonishment of both, a.
sealed envelope fell to the floor.
Albert picked it up and read the adj
dress
"To my children"
Hastily tearing it oren, they saw en-
closed slip of paper, on which was
written:
SEARCH, and ye shall find"
JoTHAM HOwEs."
"What does it mean?" asked Ruth.
in bewilderment.
"That our father has converted his
property into cash, and hidden it
somewhere about the house. In the
morning we will follow his instruc-
tions and search diligently"
AS the sun arose the following day,
Albert and Ruth joined each other in
the large old fashioned sitting room.
'Let us take walk out into the
fields. Ruthy." said the young man.
81 feel perplexed, and wish to collect
my thoughts, and then we must make
plans for the future"
As the two wended their way across
the broad pastures, a long silence en-
sued, which was finally broken by AL
bert. saying;
"Do you realize that we are now
alone in the world?"
eyes," was the faltering reply.
"And how dreary your life will be
for you, when l am obliged to return
to my duties in the great city,"
"Can You not remain here AlbertT
asked the young girl, quickly, an ex-
preston of pain fitting across her
countenance.
al am afraid not, but we will see."
Then, after continuing their walk a
little further, the two returned to the
house, prepared to carry out the last
instructions of Squire Howes.
"The most likely place that father
would choose to hide anything would
be in the cellar. it seems TO me-" said
Albert, as they entered the roomy
kitchen, and the young mans eyes
fell upon trap door in the floor.
"Remain here, and 1 will descend
and Search"
So saying, he lifted the planks by
means of an iron ring, snd stepped
down upon the ladder, and began to
ransack the cellar.
Ruth stood by the aperture quietly
awaiting her companions reappear-
ance; she seemed to take but little in
terest in tho matter, her thoughts
dwelling OH the one who had gone
rather than upon what treasure he
had left behind.
Presently she was startled by an ex-
clamation of surprise coming from the
cellar, and soon Albert was heard
ascending the steps. carrying in his
hand a glass preserve jar.
"What think you of this, Ruth? A
very frail receptacle for anything Of
value"
"It contains nothing but some
ruined jam that should have been
thrown away months ago." replied the
girl, indifierently.
"Therc, you are mistaken. 1t is one
of number that have found, and
they are all filled with money. Look"
and the young man unscrewed the
metal top and turned out upon the
flour several gold pieces.
"Poor fatherw murmured Ruth.
.He has left this for u.s."
"And great deal more. Wait and
| will bring it all up"
One after another the jars were
brought to light, and their contents
carefully examined. Among the bank
notes and certificates of stock was
found letter written by the testator
to his heirs, explaining 10 them his
object in thus converting his property
into cash. 1t was that he felt he could
realize more upon the stock and equip
ments of the farm than inexperi-
cnced Albeit; and when he became
possessed of the money he feared to
entrust it to the keeping of any bank,
and had consequently taken care OF 1t