The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1897-12-24

surprise discovered stone cist or coffin
constructed of rude blocks He crept in
and was still further surprised when he
found within pot containing charred
bones and ashes, and near 1t a cup Of yell
low metal and some rings and hoops, some
weighing 6, others 10 and 10 ounces apiece
He haetily scrambled forth, and as the
setting sun cleaned out he examined his
find by its light He rubbed the cup and
the rings on his sleeve and by ginger!'
said he Pm darned II 1t amt all solid
gold Come, I'm in luck's way This
shall stand over against rainy day"
Such was his first thought; the second
was this If it be known that l have
found treasure, then | shall have the
duchy putting it's fist down on 1t, the
lord of the manor demanding it, the
crown exacting it, the parson holding out
his hand for tenth and every householder
IN the parish as this is common land,
clamoring for his share, and there be 148
have rights There'll be naught left for
me but the disappointment Of having
found and lost treasure.
Josiah stood turning over the gold cup
and rings Then he peered cautiously
about him to make sure that he was unob-
served
Then the young man replaced the cover
ing block, then heaped the small stones
and earth over 1t and disguised the fact
that the place had been disturbed.
He returned home very satisfied with
himself and with his prospects Now he
could look forward without blinking to
the inevitable rainy day. At present he
had health, strength and youth, and with
these he could earn his livelihood. "But,
as Jos put it, Il can reckon on these last
ing knows several young chaps as has
have died of decline. And Tom Enid
colt, he dislocated his hip and now can't
hobble up on to the moor after granite no
more, and as to old age and decrspitude-
there's no denying it, every day and hour
and minute brings me higher to 1t. y
Accordingly Jos went on breaking up
stone and inclosing, and instinctively he
extended his new take wall in the direo-
ton Of the cairn and stone chest that con-
tanned his treasure
1t must not be supposed that Jos was
not tempted to realize, but fear Of discov-
cry and the consequent confiscation Of the
gold above all his prevailing dominant
passion of caution against future unpro-
vided for, prevented his doing 30
On the verge of the moor lived girl
named Mary Aggett with her bedridden
mother She made a livelihood out OF
some poultry she kept, out of flint arrow
heads, which by searching she found on
the moor and which she disposed of to an
archaologist She also did some needle
work
Jos passed the cottage twice daily on his
way out and on his way home, and very
frequently he saw Mary at her door, and
they never met without exchange Of salu
tations On one occasion when oycrtaker
by hailstorm he had been invited into
the cottage and had been given cup Of
tea that warmed his heart as if it had beer
peppermint and got into his head as If il
had been whisky.
On leaving the cottage he said to him
self: II might 90 farther and fare worse
The old mother Is well cared for, the house
neat, the maid is pretty and bright and
pleasant But''-he shook his head-''it
don't do to marry early; that means {
family coming fast and nothing drags {
mans head under water like lot Of ba
bies clawing hold OF it If Polly Aggett
had money, that would be another matter
altogether Then it might be worth con
sideratior.
One day when they met on the moor thu
northeast blast was SO cutting that they
retired together under shelter of rock tt
eat their lunch Considering how cold thu
weather was Jos put his arm round Polly
and, having an overcoat, he threw ont
arm Of it over her shoulder
The ensuing night was one Of sore temp
tation to Jos He tossed on his bed HI
could not sleep He sailed very early
from his house and went to the moor, re
solved to raise his treasure, dispose OF 1t
dare fortune and marry.
AS he passed the cottage Of Mary Agget'
he did not see her He was glad of this
lest she should have asked him why h,
went to his work two hours earlier thar
usual
He proceeded to the cairn, removed tn,
stones, heaved the covering slab aside, go
into the chest and brought out the golt
rings and cup He furnished them up
and they sparkled In the morning sun.
When all were ranged before him, h,
shook his head st would be madness Il
risk it, said he. If l married Polly
women be them corkscrews she'd hav'