The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-07-15

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 it a cup of yell
low metal and some rings and hoops, some
weighing 6, others 10 and Is ounces apiece
He hastily 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 gingerf
said he. I'm darned II it 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 | have
found a treasure, then shall have the
duchy putting its fist down on it, the
lord of the manor demanding it, the
crown exacting it, the parson holding out
his hand for a tenth and every householder
in the parish. as this is common land,
clamoring for his share. and there be 143
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 it 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 likelihood But,
| as Jos put IL. n | can reci>on Oh these last
| ing knows several young chaps as has
had colds settled Oh their chestesscs and
have died of decline And Tom Endi'
colt, he disocated his hip and now can't
| hobble up on to the moor after granite no
more, and as to old age and decrepitude-
there's no denying it, every day and hour
and minute brings me higher to it, !"
Accordingly Jos went on breaking up
stone and inclosing, and instinctively he
extended his new take" wall in the direc'
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 SO
On the verge of the moor lived a CIR
named Mary Aggett with her bedridder
mother She made livelihood out O
some poultry she kept, out of flint arrow
heads, which by searching she found OF
the moor and which she disposed OF to al
archaologist She also did some needle
work
Jos passed the cottage twice daily on hi
way out and on his way home, and yer.
frequently he saw Mary at her door, ant
they never met without exchange of salu
tations On one occasion when overtakel
by hailstorm he had been invited int
the cottage and had been given cup o
tea that warmed his heart as if it had beef
peppermint and got into his head as if
had been whisky.
On leaving the cottage he said to him
self Il might 90 farther and fare worse
The old mother is well cared for, the hous
neat, the maid is pretty and bright an
pleasant But'-he shook his head
don't do to marry early; that means
family coming fast and nothing drags
man S head under water like lot of be
bies clawing hold of it, If Polly Agget
had money. that would be another matte
: altogether Then it might be worth cor
sideratioE.
One day when they met on the moor tn
northeast blast was so cutting that the
retired together under shelter Of rock
eat their lunch. Considering how cold til
weather was Jos put his arm round Polly
and, having an overcoat, he threw on
arm of it over her shoulder
The ensuing night was one of sore tenn
tation to Jos He tossed on his bed. 3
could not sleep He sailed very earl
from his house and went to the moor, r
= solved to raise his treasure, dispose Of !
dare fortune and marry.
AS he passed the cottage OF Mary Agge
he did not see her. He was glad of thi
lest she should have asked him why
went to his work two hours earlier tina
usual
He proceeded to the cairn, removed Il
stones. heaved the covering slab aside, g
into the chest and brought out the go
rings and cup He furnished them u
and they sparkled in the morning sun.
When all were ranged before him,
shook his head 1T would be madness
I, risk it, /" said he ''If married Poll
= women be them corkscrews, she'd ha