Catoctin clarion., 1893-05-11

had given pounds for went for as many
pence; and the proceeds were all
snatched up by the creditors. After it
our relations wrote prime letters to say
that they washed their hands for us.
Douglas had been brought up to no
profession and knew no trade. We
couldn't tell what to do. We were
penniess we were in despair we were
unable to keep even those humble two
roomed lodgings any longer. 1t was
awful.
Then a curious note reached us, writ
ten in a struggling, scratchy hand, and
signed by the man who till recently
had been our butler. 1t was worded
half in the third person, half in the
first, aud VAS so painfully respectful in
places that the sense was almost lost.
The writer had taken Il liberty, great
liberty, but he could rot help seeing
how things had been going for some
months past. He hoped we should
pardon his presumption in seeing.
Further, he had done thing that it
was not in his place to do at all, He
had taken upon himself to interfere
with our aifairs-which was great llb.
erty- for winch he craved pardon,
but knew from experience how hard it
was to yet Il new place after leaving an
old one without money.
And so he sent a aofa cushion,
bought at the sale, which he would
most respectfully beg us to accept
The cOyer was not worn much, but the
inside was valuable. If We ripped up
the silk we should see. After which,
hoping no otftnse. be was our obedlent
and most obliged servant to command.
"A yellow silk cushion came with the
letter. Douglas stared at 1t up and
down. not understanding. Was the
man mad. do you suppose, or drunk,
when the letter was written said he.
He's underlined ri p the silk said |.
Then ripped it shall be, replied Douglas
and brought out his knife.
And, then, what do you think In
and am ,ng the rest OF the fluffy elder
down were some two score of little balls
OF feathers tied up i'll a peck measure
Douglas oper ed one and found a dla-
nond ! took another and great
emerald dropped into my hand.
And then began laughing and cry
ing and behaving so stupidly { 4 |
had 20 lie down on the sofa and turn
my face away from the white heap Of
down in the middle Of the carpet.
. but after Il bit | pulled myself to
gether again, AND Douglas showed me
his gle ,nings. There was a double
ahdlul-,liamonds, rubles. emeralds.
and more diamonds and more rubeS
and Il great opal that cleaned and
burnt IN the Iamplight like blaze Of
colored fires.
Then a thought strnck me and !
,yasped ont FAINT question as to wheth
cr they were really ours.
Yes said Douglas, all yours. We
paid our creditors to the last penny and
1t ruined US to do 1t. Now we must
start afresh. and, thank Providence and
an honest thoughtful servant, we've got
something to begin upon. In the first
place, they will provide US with pass
age money to Australia. and | don't
think we shall be quite penniless when
We land.
Well, we went. Douglas become Il
great sQuatter, tue owner of many miles
of country and of a million sheep, and
we had happy investments. And what
We won was not frittered away in jew.
elry or in stupid emulation OF people
richer than ourselves
There was silence for some min
utes, and then asked about the man
who had stolen, for his masters future
benefit, the precious gems.
Didn't tell YOU? WIZ, he waited
on YOU at dinner to nj ght. We hunt
ed him out when he came back and
wanted to do something big for INN.
w. could we'll afford 1t, you know, and,
moreover, felt very grateful.
But he 8 Il most eccentric person
He wouldn't accept anything. If we d
pardon the liberty he'd taken that was
all he would ask, I'm less, indeed, he
might come into our service What
queer people there are IN the world,
aren there: