Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1894-09-06
MRS. SIMPSONS SPOONS.
Their Disappearance Led TO a
Strange Revelation


The parish Of Bathgat- in Linlith-
gowshire ought 70 be r-ckonesi among
the classic spots Of Scotland. mas
much n il formed part of the dovry
which Robert the Bruce bestowed on
his eldest daughter. NarEery, when
she married Walfez the high steward
Of Scotland. and thus became the
progenitrix % the royal and unluclsy
house % stuart
Lying midway between Edinburgh
and Glasgow. those rival queen. Of the
east and west. but out % the common
track OF tratic and travel IL has been
for ages pastoral parish Of small aud
rather backward farms
Among its p-aceable and Industrious
population liv = d the Widow Simpson
This lady valued herself. not on the
farm left her by The good man who lad
departed this life some seven Years be
fore the commencement OF our story.
for IL acres were few. and they CON
sisted Of half-reci aimed unoorlAnsi- not
on her grown-up son. Robin. though
he was counted = likely and seusi Bile
lad, not on her own thrifty houselSsrp-
ing. though it wa- known 70 be on the
'-tight-screw~ principle; but on the
possession OF a dozen silver teaspoons.
Her account Of them was that they
had belonged IN the young ehrvalier
and had been bestowed upon her
grandfather in return for entertaining
that claimant 10 the British crown on
his march from Culloden in proof Of
which she wa accustomed to point out
a half oblitcrafri crest and the initials
e. :. with which they were marked
In the family resided one Nancy
Campbell. a Eiri about nineteen. who
WIS suspected 81 having taken i
fancy 70 Robin. who rrcinrncated the
sentiment Nothing however. would
soften the heart % the widow - re-
.arSis the match, until 1t last the fol
lowing event occurred and caused her
IN give way About the havma king
time distant and comparatively rich
relation was expected u call and take
tea one evening On his way from
LiulithEow
It was not often that this superior
relation hono-el her house with a
visit, and Mrs. Simpson. determined
that nothing should be wanting to hi
entertainment. brought out the treas
ured spoons early I'm the forenoon
with maaT iutuuctlous 70 Manor
touching the care she should take in
Frightening them MP,
While this operation was being con
Quoted in the kitchen. in the rnids, Of
one OF those uncertain dav. which
vary the northern June. sudden
darkening Of the sky announced the
approach Of heavy rain
The hay was dry and ready Tor nous
iug Robin and two farm men were
busy gathering il in: but the great
drops began 10 fall while consider
able portion yet remained in the field
a1c. with the Instinct ~ crop prescr-
vstion. forth rushed the widow. FOL
lowed By Nancy. leaving the spoons
half secured ON tho kitchen table. In
her rapid exit the girl had forgotten 10
latch the door
The weasel and the kite were the
only depredators known about tbs.
moarland farm: but while thev wer,.
all occupied in the hay field. who
should come that way but eieoryly VIII
sen
Well. the kitchen door was open and
6iroriy stepped in. He banged the
settle with his staff. be eaughed. he
hemmed, he saIuted the cat. which sat
pairing on the window seat. and at
length discovered there was nobod =
within Neither meal nor penny was
- be expected that dav: the rain was
growing heavier. some ~ the hav
must be wet. and Mrs. simpson would
return in bad hurnor-
But two objects powerfully arrested
eeoriy's attention; one was the broth
pot boiling On the tire. and The other
the silver spoons scattered on the
table BENDING over the former.
tfeordy TOOK 4 considerable sniff. gave
the ingredients stir with the pot
stick. aud muttered. Very thin.
His proceeding with regard 70 the
latter must remain uumentionesi. but
half an hour after. when he was safely
esconced in farmhouse a mile of ami
the family had been driven within
doors by the Gcreasing storm. thev
found everything as Il had been left
the broth on the fire. the cat on the
window seat, the whiting and flannel
on the table. but not a spoon was
there.
Nhar's the spoons cried Mrs.
simpson 70 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 %
the hay No one had been in the house.
they were certain for nothing was
disturbed
The drawer was pulled out and the
empty stocking exhibited Every shelf
every corner was searched. but to no
parpose, the spoons had disappeared
and the state % the farmhouse NAV
be imagined The widow ran through
II ike one distracted. questioning.
ss7laing and searching Robin. Nanrv
and the farm men were dispatched ia
different directions. as som as the rain
abatsd, % inform the neighbors. under
the supposition that some ,troIlinx
oexEar or gypsy might have carried OF
the treasure ana would attempt 20 dis
Pose Of il IN the parish
Nobody thought Of Geordv Wilson
He had not been spied from the hav-
field; Ms circuits were wide. his visits
10 any house were not frequent and II
he avoided Widow Simpsons from the
dav % her loss il was believed Geora, y
knew that neither her temper nor her
liberality rvorl6 be improved b. the
circumstances
Lost the spoons were beyond doub,.
and the widow babe fair 10 lose her
sersss- The r.eh relation estae :. his
appointed tire and bad saeh a .ea
.ha- be vowed never 4 gain - trust hin
self IN the house Of his entertainer.
But tbs search went on Rabbits
holes were looked into for the missing
silver and active boys were bribr,I 20
turn ugt magpies' ness. Wells and
barns in the neighborisood were e.
1ipret Ths criers OF the thre- n-a--
~ Eari-h-s were rIa3loysi o. pr
s-aisa lAe -osss II Vs. regularly 4.Ives-