Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1897-05-13

t
the moor. resolved to raise his treasure,
dispose OF il. dare fortune and marry.
As he passed the cottage Of Mary Ag-
gett he did not see her. lie was glad Of
,his. lest she should have asked him
/ why he went to his work two hours
earlier than usual.
lie proceeded TO the cairn. removed
the stones. heaved the covering slab
aside. got into the chest and brought gu;
the gold rings and cup. lie furnished
them ny. and they sparkled in the morn
ing sun.
When all were ranged before him. he
shook his head. at would he madness
20 risk IL. said he. III | mSrrieti Polly.
women be them corkScrews. she'd have
the whole story out Of me, and thcy-be
that ohatterboNcs. they can't help talk
ing. and she'd blab about it TO every one
10 the place Then Ia , We the crown.
and the duchy. and the lord o the
manor. and the parson and the Ia
commoners down on me for demanding
their shares. lie hanged II I'll risk IL.
Women is terrible dangerous animals
with their tongues. never 20 be trusted
Then in went all the treasure again
into the coffin that had contained and
preserved it for 1000 years.
Il know what I'll do" said Jos. IN
build my ncw-take 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 fakes.
Slowly. painfully, Jos Day worked at
I his wall. lie succeeded in carrying it
over the cairn. and thus he secured his
treasure from being disturbed. and thus
was il made fast against the rainy
I day.
/ In the course OF the next three months
ne had completed the Enclosure. and
had taken from the common a tract Of
I good land OF five-and-twenty acres in
extent.
Now. then" said Jos 10 himself.
MY way Is to he as still as mouse.
I The duchy won't know nothing about
+ Il. The lord Of the manor lives far
away. and his agent is sleepy chap.
n he squalls. then I'll claim rights I'm
der the duchy. or as a commoner, and
IL the duchy squelks. Ill claim under
the lord o the manor"
About this time Mary Aggett's mother
died. Jos pitied her greatly, the cottage
was 50 lonely for the girl. His heart
grew soft when he saw her in black.
BLESS me-" said he. III lived in tina;
cottage II would save me half Of nv
journey every day, but won't risk it. '
Shortly after this great surprise
came to him. One morning he found in
his new take" flock of sheep al
branded VI. \.
Gracious bless u.s." exclaimed Jos.
slow ever came the sheep there? III
run ask Polly. she may know. She must
ha' seen some one drive 'cm this way"
lie went to the cottage and spoke IL
heat: Mary, some owdacious radicals
have been turning sheep into my new
take during the night. They arr
marked VI. ~"
They are mine, JOS
Yours, Polly?'
Yes. II was very kind and consider
ate of YOU, Jos. to inclose so mani
! acres for me. thank you with all IN.
; heart"
'lnclose for you. 1t is my new
] take"
: There is some misunderstanding.
; answered the girl. The new take j
l. certainly mine. / have been to tn
r lord of the manor and have bought it
IS acres at so much gold per acre.
have the papers all drawn out"
l Yours! Where did you get tn
: money!"
That was question Mary did not al
swer.
' After much consideration Jos sale
i falteringly: This is pretty GO! Ho'
. am to be paid for the walling?"
n I'm sure can't think, Jos"
But it has engaged me off and on fo
:, Is months. Fifty pounds wouldn't II
- q, Fay my labor. / can't afford"
II really am sorry for you"
There is only one way out of it," e,
=. claimed Jos, that | can see; and tina
: is by changing the brand on the shee
= from \ to d, and by Jumping togeth,
. my wall and your land"
We'll, I'm not particular" answere
= Mary. and so the matter was settled.
;, They were married, and Jos foun
that he had secured not only very cal
g.. ital bit of land, but with il yer
;, thrifty, witty and wise wife.
!. At the close of the first twelvemoni
i there were three in the house in Il
). place of two. At the end of the secor
year the number had mounted TO fiy
- for the second addition to the fami
:. consisted in twins.
But rhe conscience of Jos was u
~ easy. Something stood between him al
. Polly. He had secret from her. al
i, that is ever barrier to connubial unit
ne Christmas was approaching. Jos /
solved to make a clean breast of it al
rs, tell Mary everything.
OF Christmas day arrived and Joe put
"a his Sunday coat and lowered his wv,
il. kit took his lever and went for,
st Polly" said he, come along. I've
: Y
down a portion of his new-take wa
n discovered the lid of the stone che
~ levered it aside, and then jumped in
~ the box. Next moment he rose out
- 1t blank with despair. trembling wi
N, disappointment. His treasure W
M gene.
h. BY the side of the cairn and ov,
- thrown wall stood his wife WATCH
- him, with smile on her cherry lips a
,r- twinkle in her bright eyes. A toddli
child chung to her skirts as she held O
H., OF the twins in each arm.
ne. POLL" he gasped, I'm a ruined ms
,er I've lost everything. I've been robbie,
,o- Then she laughed and when S
Ter laughed the child holding her SIX
ms. laughed also and the babes in her arr
, a chuckled and crowed.
he mo. JOS Rainy Day." she said, "y
of have lost nothing, you have gain