The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1899-03-24

Aii6 SoAA'
When all were ranged before him, ne
shook his head. "It would be madness
to risk it," said he. eff l married Polly'
women be them corkscrews, she'd have
the whole story out of me, and they be
that chatterboxes, they can't help talk
ING. and she'd blab about it to every one
in the place. Then I'd have the crown.
and the duchy, and the lord o the
manor, and the parson and the l4o
commoners down on me for demanding
their shares. Be hanged if I'll risk 1t.
Women is terrible dangerous animals
with their tongues, never to be trusted.
Then in went all the treasure again
into the coffin that had contained and
preserved it for 1000 years.
81 know what I'll do" said Jos. I'll
build nv new-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 woro
was overheard by Polly herself, who
was behind the rock hard by, where she
had picked up flint chips and flakes.
Slowly, painfully, JOS Day worked at
his wall. He succeeded in carrying 1t
over the cairn, and thus he secured his
treasure from being disturbed, and thus
was it made fast against the rainy
day.
In the course of the next three months
he had completed the Enclosure, and
had taken from the common tract OF
good land of five-and-twenty acres III
extent.
About this time Mary Aggett's mother
died. Jos pitied her greatly, the cottage
was so lonely for the girl. His heart
Grew soft when he saw her in black.
"Rless mel" said he. IF lived in that
cottage it would save me half OF my
Journey every day, but I won't risk 1t.
Shortly after this great surprise
came to him. One morning he found IN
his "new take" flock Of sheep all
branded M. A.
Gracious bless us!" exclaimed JOS.
"How ever came the sheep there? I'll
run ask Polly, she may know. She must
ha' seen some one drive 'em this way.
He went to the cottage and spoke in
heat: MARY, some owdacious radicals
have been turning sheep into my new
take during the night. They are
marked M. A."
"They are mine, JOS" s&ss'tss
"Yours, Polly?"
Eyes. 1t was very kind and consider
ate of you, Jos, to inclose 80 many
acres for me. I thank You with all my
heart"
Enclose for you! 1t is my new
take!"
There is some misunderstanding"
answered the girl. 1.-THE new take IS
certainly mine. I have been to the
lord of the manor and have Bought it
Is acres at so much gold per acre. l
have the papers all drawn out"
Yours! Where did you get the
money"
That was question Mary did not an
swer.
After much consideration Jos said,
falteringly: "This is pretty go! How
am to be paid for the walling?"
I'm sure can't think, JOS"
"But it has engaged me off and on for
10 months. Fifty pounds wouldn't re-
pay my labor. can't afford"
II really am sorry for you"
There is only one way out OF it," ex-
claimed Jos, "that I can see; and that
is by changing the brand on the sheep
from A to D, and by Jumping together
my waH and your land"
''Well, I'm not particular" answered
Mary, and so the matter was settled.
They were married, and Jos found
that he had secured not only a very cap
ital bit of land, burt with it very
thrifty, witty and wise wife
At, the close of the first twelvemonth
there were three in the house in the
place of two. At the end of the second
year the number had mounted to five
for the second addition to the family
consisted in twins.
But the conscience of Jos was un
eslsy. Something stood between himand
Polly. He had secret from her, and
that is ever a barrier to connubial unity
Christmas was approaching. JOS re
solved to make a clean breast of it and
tell Mary everything.
Christmas day arrived and Joe put or
his Sunday coat and lowered his yves
kit" took his lever and went forth
"Polly," said he, "come along. I've g
surprise foryo Hedelfberatelyt threw
down a portion of his new-take wall
discovered the lid of the stone chest
lowered it aside, and then jumped into
the box. Next moment he rose out OF
it blank with despair, trembling with
disappointment. His treasure was
gone.
By the side of the cairn and over
thrown wall stood his wife watching
him, with smile on her cherry lips anc
twinkle in her bright eyes. A toddline
child chung to her skirts as she held one
ct the twins in each arm.
sPoll!" he gasped, I'm ruined man
I've lost everything. I've been robbed
Then she laughed and when she
laughed the child holding her Skin,
laughed also and the babes in her arms
chuckled and crowed.
mo, JOS Rainy Day. she said, "yo,
have lost nothing, you have gainet
much. found your treasure, and dis
posed OF it to the antiquarian gentle
man who buys the arrow heads. With
the money bought the land, the sheep
the cOwS-and Won,
Then Jos scrambled out of the grave
and fell a laughing, and he laughed till
the tears ran down his cheeks.
by ginger!" said he; "woman's wi,
outweighs mans wisdom. My true