Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-25

thin. and then you wouldn't hear no more
That's how twas when poor Matt was
Twin, an guess this is the same ghost"
But did it ever do any harm to Uncle
Matt? Didn't he like it?" inquired the
child
II dom know as he ever act'ly heard it
himself; 1t 'ud mostly come when I'd be
alone, an he off on his business, som'ers
When I'd tell him about it, he'd look
grave. an then he'd say, Well, Nance he'd
say, mind you aPays listen what it says
he'd say. an whatever 1t says, mind you
do it. for ghosts knows more'n We do
he'd say. All the same, 1t scared me aw-
full"
Maybe 1t isn't ghosts but fairies-good
fairies-and they mean to do us good
somehow. Didn't they do Uncle Matt
good?'
well, b'lieve he did sort of folIer what
they said. when / wasn't too scared to
recollect it. an he used to say, times that
the voices, as he called 'em, was as good
for his business ss what a spellin' book
is for child learnin' to read. But all the
same, I'm scared of what 1 can't see, and
don't know what it Isl an aPays thought
it was them ghosts that carried poor Matt
off. mysterious like. at last"
Maybe they'll bring him back again.
then, and he'll make Mr.. Corvin stop trou-
bling u.s."
Nancy shook her head Ghosts is
ghosts, lovey; they may be good or bad;
but never heard they was able to pay
folks debts for 'em. Eff they could do
L
aliver'
The cause of this ejaculation was not
supernatural. but material. There was a
heavy thump on the hearth. and the wood
ashes flew out into the room. Some heavy
object had fallen down the chimney, and
struck amongst The smoldering embers.
The next instant light blaze broke out
burnt actively for minute or so, and
then died down.
Land sakes! it Jest makes me sick!
Must he brick out Of the chimney,
s.pose But what was that burned up so?
1t didn't sound like brick, neither"
Nellie picked up a thin stick. and poked
among the ashes why, NANNY ira
money! whole lot of it!'' she presently
that's what burnt"
Money. child? You're crazy. Whatever
would money be dom in our old Chimney
But 1t is money" persisted Nellie. and
VII Win 'nat she raked out couple of ten
| lot of 'emr' She continued raking out
geld and silver coins, and brushing away
the ashes. There were scores of them
amt we nanny: you can pay Mr.. Cor
| win tomorrow and make him go away."
said the child. looking up smiling with ex-
| element and pleasure.
Nancy, her simple soul rent between
| fear. curiosity and half incredulous Joy,
got down on her knees on the hearth
stone and picked up one of the gold pieces
| between her thumb and finger.
Its real true gold. Jest as sures YOU re
alive" she murmured. "an' the same kind
| of coin poor Matt used to like to have
| about him. Gold eagles don't fly away as
easy as other kinds was what he used
to say. Well, 1t don't seem like it could
be real does it? It's though. all the
same! But I don't know-may be the
money amt jestly ours, alter all. We
don't know where it come from. an eff we
was to use 1t and then som'un was to come
along and say it was theirs, what'd We
| dor"
why. nanny, who would keep money
| up our chimney. If 1t wasn't ours?' said
| Nellie. with better sense than grammar
| She kept on ral<ing treasure out of the en-
bers with untroubled enjoyment. Uncle
| Matt must have put 'em there, and made
| 'em fall down just when we wanted them
| "Harkw cried Nancy.
| A whisper-a sigh-a voice, filling their
ears. coming from they knew not where
| slowly uttering speech, and dying away
into silence.
For you, Nance-for you and her-pay
| the debt-pay the debt-your brother Matt
sends it-pay the debt and free the land
| and give me peace"
CTo be continued on Thursday