The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-02-04

bundle OF letters and treated them II
the same way, betook himself TO bed
For an hour or more he lay awake
grooming crafty to himself about hi.
clever dodge for preventing his money
being stolen.
Next morning the old miser was up
early, and quite n stir was created In
the village when 1t was seen that Simon
+ Bowling was rlt Of his cottage and
walking alone TO the little station. The
precious sack OF soVerelgas was hidden
carefully away in 4 small handbag
which he carried with him. while the
bundle Of letters, which were even more
valuable to him than the money. for all
that the ma jority" might SAT-. nulged
out the breas: pocket Of his now green
old coat.
The journey TO the neighboring town
was only five miles. but old Bowling
waived economy on this occasion, and.
instead OF walking the distance-far
enough for an old man nearly eighty
took Il third-class ticket b. the railway.
With something very like Sigh, he
handed over his bag OF sovereigns to
the young clerk at the bank. and re-
ce!ved in exchange ten crisp notes o,
el0 each. which he carefully wrapped
Up in his old handkerchief. and placed
In the email black ba. which had be-
fore held the precious gold.
Another railway ticket could not be
thought of.ard so the journey home had
10 be made on foot. Poor old Simon was
well-nigh exhausted when he reached
his little cottage at last. long after
darkness had set in. nor had he ony
eyes FOR the curious faces which pecred
at him rs he YEARLY made his way
down the only street the village boast
ed.
Once inside his tiny house. the old mi
ser placed his Dag on the table. and laid
the bundle OF letters. which he took
from his breast pocket. beside It. Then.
completely worn out. he sank into an
old chair by the fire, which was burning
brightly In the crate, thanks. no doubt,
10 an afternoon visit Of the good little
woman who "t!dicd up Slt.''
A wretched little supper lay on the
table, but the old man seemed scarcely
to notice t. The long walk. and all the
excitement incidental to parting with
his precious gold. had tired him more
than was good for him. and he seemed
to be older and whittier even than he had
been the evening before, when he had
thought out the scheme for preserving
his money.
The night was dismallv cold one, and
few drops OF rain were falling. The
wind. too. was rising little, and the
sound OF 1t in the chimney seemed to
soothe the old man as he sat and
watched the flames htfully glowing and
dying. Presently the miser looked UP.
Mine o'clock" he said. Simon. You
are very Iate Tonight! Nine O'Clock. and
You have neither counted your
money nor kissed your darIlng's letters.
Come. Gene. Simon. my boy, pull your
self together. You're not tired after
walking five miles! What will Dorothy
say when she hears that her Simon was
done up after Ave-mi!e walk? She
must think better OF me than chat.
Now. where cid put those notes? All,
here they are, and the letters. That's
IT,
And the old man took the small bag.
and drew from 1t the notes. Then he
laid them one by one In his lap, and
took up the bundle Of letters.
"Ah Dorothy. Dorothy" he mUrmur-
ed. and The glow from the fire lighted
up his old drawn face. on which a
strange look n peace seemed to he set