The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-02-23
A TREASURE.

VI morning at Doris garden. Some
times she laid on him tho task of beguil-
ing the hours before lunch with stories;
sometimes, moro greatly condescepding,
sho would tell him her own pretty secrets,
while no lounged at case and lazily looked
down upon the harbor and the quiet bay
that lies beyond it.
On this particular morning Doris had
demanded a tale, and he had promised
obedience But no did not desire to at
tempt q story, having no imagination at
oil and memory only for certain private
sorrows of his own. His opening was
therefore an unworthy subterfuge. "Once
upon time. Say, Doris, wouldn't
you like to como out with me on real
hunt for buried treasurer
is there any," asked Doris doubtfully.
We'll, If 1t comes to that he began.
"But should think we stand q very good
chance. Don't you know that tho Span
iards landed hero long ago and burned the
placer You may depend the village folk
hid their treasure when they led, and
three of them wero killed. 1t is quito
likely that to this day their plato and
money lie hidden somewhere close at
hand.'
But it would DO no good finding IL"
said Doris. "We should have to give it
up to government Gardener told me-
What Is government"
Governments" said the visitor. cts
you and me and-a-cverybody elso.'
"Then we should get some of the treas
ure?'
1t was tho visitors turn to DO doubtful.
Some of 1T, 1 SUPPOSE no answered.
LAT any rate, we should have the fun of
finding It,"
Doris hesitatcd, collaborating. "That
would bo nico,' she admitted "Should
we got so much as 91?''
eat least that, " said the visitor. "Thon
I think I'll come. Ellon's mother is very
poor, and she wants to buy mangle. But
she's 81 short in her money, and in
these hard times you can't got trust, not
like you used to when Ellen's mother was
young. There's so many roguos about that
even honest folk must pay cash. Ellen's
mother told mo I could give. her the
pound"
Thevisitor grouned within himself, fore
seeing shat he would DO altogether out of
favor if tho expedition ended fruitlessly.
Yet there was nothing for it but to 20
ahead. "Arc you ready to start at once?"
be asked.
"Quito ready" said Doris. s'Now,
don't forget your pipe. Where arc we go
ing?"
That WINS more than the visitor knew.
we'll just look about until we find a
likely place." he said, holding the gate
open, cor would you rather go into town
and get some chocolates?"
'Chocolatosr' exclaimed Doris scorn.
fully. Then returning to the subject
which was of Importance Ibid you ever
go on treasure hunt really?"
Not exactly" answered her slave
''that is, once knew u man who did,
You're not going to keep your promise
and tell inc story?''
Its not much of story" no answered
"a man 1 know got hold somehow of n
map of an island lying thousands of miles
away, out there whore the sun sets, with
mark on it showing whore pirate had
hidden boxes and boxes OF gold silver and
jewels long ago So he got boat md
sailed away to that island, he and two or
three friends. You would have seen him
pass If you had been watching in your gar
den. Perhaps you did, but of course Won
wouldn't know"
II rcmember q boat,'' said Doris. "It
went right out toward the sunset 1t was
long time ago-before you came. Per
haps that wis his boat
Perhaps" answered the visitor "At
any rate, they sailed away into the west.
| thousands and thousands of miles.
storms came, and their boat, which was
quite small one, wns often on the verge
of being wrecked But at last they came
to the island and found quiet harbor.
| There was not living soul on the island,
only goats and sea gulls.'
| II love seq gullsl" cried Doris. "I
| should like to be q treasure hunter all the
| timo.'
/ II don't know about that" said her
companion. ~ don't know that it is
the best thing for a man. It Is wiser
just to DO content. Nero bread and but
ter would not DO interesting all the time,
but ono grows used to things, and one
wouldn't mind 1t much, suppose, if some
day 1T were lacking, whereas, after n
week of birthday cake *+* Bnt was
forgetting my friends story. Fora whole
week after reaching the island they hunted
for the place that was marked with cross
on the map. Then they found it,.
And did they got the treasurer
Just three golden coins and a few
small silver ones! Some one else had
heard of tho cave and got boat and come
and plundered it. These fow coins had
1ropped out of the great boxes they carried
own to their boat. My friend was very
UGH disappointed.
We'll, said Doris emphatically ~
ND think he was. 1 hope that won t
ven to us. Have you seen likely
yetf''
visitor perceived that oil tho tenn
V in tho world would be of no avail
the road they had been following
rises very steeply and in one
hillside had been Quarried. No
there now, nor has any ono done
ng time. Bramble and brackon,