The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-12-07
SELECTED STORY.
The Miser's Legacy.

man."
COMP Come at lasl2 Are you sure
of ii, JOe?'
"Sure as taxes" said Joe Poppinger,
with confident nod OF his head. "He's
taken that old stone house, The Haunt
ed House, the neighbors call it, and
he's moved into il, bag and baggage,
which amt much, by the wav."
"And servants with him, Joe?"
"Ouly one, crooked old woman as
threw a porriDger of hot water over
me as l came around to ak il / could
be of any use. II they otlv owned
black cat, I'd have the wh' lie kit and
Doodle of 'em up for witchcraft
never did come across SUCH a queer lot
in all my ife."
Did you see the old man yourself,
Joe2"
"Sren him, Mr.. Herman? l seen
bund e of cd bones tied round the
middle with a palm leaf patterned
dressing gown and flannel night-cap
on bis head, and s'posed there
couldn't be two such outlandish old
customers going. He was runnin' in
and out from the furniture van like a
crazy spider"
THAT will do, Joe. Here is a dollar
for you"
"Thank zee, sir. Much obliged to
you, SIR"
Aud the stable boy, who belonged to
the hotel, shambled away, ginning
and pulling at the front of his cap,
while Herman Franklyn laned, whist
ling, against the pillar OF the front pi-
aZzi.
So old Miner Molineux had arrived
at asl--the rich and eccentric rtli
live, on the reversion OF whose for
tune, real or supposed, he had all his
life been bull ling aerial ca-tles. At
las-and Herman resolved the very
next day to call and pay his respects
although the old woman with the hot
water did not add to the delights of
contemplating this visit.
IF | hadn't heard from his lawyer
that he had taken lease of the Stone
House." mus,d M. Franklyn, 81 GER
tAiply never should have buried myself
in this Out-of-the-way place awaiting
his advent; and if / hadn't thought l
l could work into his good graces
Mt yer should have taken the trouble to
hunt him up. Heighul Sometimes !
think it would be ea-ier 10 work for
money than to inherit it,"
And so the next day Mr.. FRANKLIN
called.
Miner Molineux received him very
coolly. sit ing among his treasures
like Marius amid the ruins OF Garth
age. But Franklyn noticed that he
kept one band on the ring of pad.
locked iron box beside him as he
talked.
"Well, young man, and what do
you want?" be asked, impatientlv,
when the old woman. who evidently
considered that Mr.. r,nklyn was no
subj, ct for the bot water treatment,
showed him in.
ITO inquire after your heal b, Cousin
Miner" said the young man smoo hly.
"Humpl My he'll Is we'll enough
Better than you wish it, l dare say! y
"Mv dear sir
But it will make no difference to
YOU" acid y went on the old man,
sill nervously lingering the rings OF
the iron box. II don't deny that
have treasure to leave behind me
- Herman Franklyu's eyes tlist-
ened-'Bu it will be to hose who con-
suit my wishes more than you have
done"
"But, my dear cousin"
Words are very well" said the old
miser, shru ging his shou ders, "but
de eds speak the lOudest. You lnOw
very well my aversion in matlimony-
and you GO and engage yourself to get
married to girl who hasn't penny.
Eth! Don't your" in rising Infection
l,E hoyH tsAnA thpn Of aOnlu
disregarding all my wishes, you expect
me to leave you ihis-lhis" tapping, as
he spoke, on the lid OF the box.
Tut, Cousin Miner, if you wish me,
will certainly adapt myself 10 your
opinionsl do not know that"
STUFF and nonsense" yel d the old
man. "What you know or didn't know
is immaterial TO me. Leave me to my
books and writing. That's all [ ask OF
any man living"
So Mr.. Franklyn went modify away
81 must break my engagement" said
he to himself. That's the first thing
What the second wi be depends en-.
tirtly on fate and fortune"
Josie Hall was sitting in the farm.
house kitchen, peeling potatoes She
was black-eyed, damas k-cheeked gill
with vel ETY. eyt brows, and round
red dot Of a m)u,h; aud N these dark
eyes gittered light half resen,ful,
halt anguish, as she looked straight al
Herman Frakl,n.
81 understand" said she, "you want
to break The engagement. Now that
your rich uncle has come to the neigh
oorhood am no longer worthy of you"
at isu't that, Josie; believe me, ;"
said Frankiyn, twisting nims, Ii about,
with the red signals of keen mor,fca.
ton blazing on his cheek. But think
perhaps it would be better for both of
us"
"And haven't the least doubt of +"
passionately interrupted Josie, with
quivering lips. "A thousand times
better, for value the love of no man
who can leave me thus. Pray don't
waste your time in conjuring up any
further excuses. They are quite un
necessary. l wish you good morn