The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1897-06-03

ing sun.
When all were ranged before him, he
shook his head. ut would be madness
to risk it," said he. "If married Polly,
women be them corkscrews, she'd have
the whole story out Of me, and they be
that chatterboxes, they can't help talk
ing, and she'd blab about it to every one
in the place. Then I'd have the crown,
and the duchy, and the lord O. the
manor, and the parson and the 143
commoners down on me for demanding
their shares. Be hanged If I'll risk it.
Women is terrible dangerous animals
with their tongues, never to be trusted"
Then in went all the treasure again
preserved it for 1000 years.
81 know what I'll do," said Jos. ''I'll
build my new-tale wall right over this
old grave, and then no one can get at
the treasure without pulling down the
wall"
Little did Jos suspect that he was
being watched, and that his every word
was overheard by Polly herself, who
was behind the rock hard by, where she
had picked up flint chips and flakes.
Slowly, painfully, Jos Day worked at
his wall. He succeeded in carrying it
over the cairn, and thus he secured his
treasure from being disturbed, and thus
was it made fast against the rainy
day.
In the course of the next three months
he had completed the inclosure, and
had taken from the common tract of
good land of five-and-twenty acres in
extent.
About this time Mary Aggett's mother
died. Jos pitied her greatly, the cottage
was so lonely for the girl. His heart
grew soft when he saw her in black.
"Bless mel" said he. "If lived in that
cottage it would save me half of my
journey every day, but won't risk it."
Shortly after this great surprise
came to him. One morning he found in
his "new take" a flock of sheep ali
branded M. A.
Gracious bless us!" exclaimed JOS
"How ever came the sheep there? III
run ask Polly, she may know. She must
ha' seen some one drive 'em this way"
He went to the cottage and spoke in
heat: "Mary, some owdacious radicals
have been turning sheep into my new
take during the night They are
marked M. A."
''They are mine, Jos.'
"Yours, Polly?"
eyes. It was very kind and consider
ate Of you, Jos, to :nclose so many
acres for me. thank you with all my
heart"
Enclose for you! 1t is my new
take!"
There is some Misunderstanding"
answered the girl. "The new take is
lord of the manor and have bought it
25 acres at so much gold per acre. I
have the papers all drawn out"
"Yours Where did you get the
money!"
That was question Mary did not an
swer.
After much consideration Jos said,
falteringly: "This is a pretty go! How
am to be paid for the walling?"
"I'm sure can't think, JOS"
But it has engaged me off aad on for
IS months. Fifty pounds wouldn't re-
I'ay my labo9. can't afford"
81 really am sorry for YOU"
'There is only one way out Of it," ex-
claimed Jos, ''that can see; and that
is by changing the brand on the sheep
from A to d, and by Jumping together
my wall and your land"
We'll, I'm not particular" answered
Mary, and SO the matter was settled.
They were married, and Jos found
that he had secured not only very cap
ital bit of land, but with it very
thrifty, witty and wise wife.
At the close of the first twelvemonth
there were three in the house in the
place of two. At the end Of the second
year the number had mounted to five,
for the second addition to the family
consisted in twins.
But the conscience of Jos was un-
easy. Something stood between l,imand
Polly. He had secret from her, and
that is ever a barrier to connubial unity.
Christmas was approaching. JOS re-
solved to make clean breast of it and
tell Mary everything.
Christmas day arrived and Joe put on
his Sunday coat and flowered his ''wes-
kit" took his lever and went forth.
Polly" said he, come along. I've a
surprise foryou." Hedeliberately threw
down portion of his new-take wall,
discovered the lid of the stone chest,
lcvered it aside. and then jumped into
the box. Next moment he rose out of
it blank with despair, trembling with
disappointment. HIS treasure was
gene.
BY the side of the cairn and over
thrown wall stood his wife watching
him, with smile on her cherry lips and
twinkle in her bright eyes. A toddling
child clung to her skirts as she held one
nj the fyvipS II, ao nh n ,-vn