The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-05-27
Hannah
Tyler's
Wi11>

curtains HI tIG NiuuoWS VI e'S
"A tiny white cottage at the end
of the village street were tightly
drawn. and from the front door knob
creme stres mers fluttered in the brisk
December breeze. Further down the
street two neighbors were conversing
anent the event.
Just to think" Mrs. Daggett was
saving to her friend Mrs. Bates. That
only yesterday morning j was talking
to Hannah in the postoffice and she
seemed as chipler as ever. Wh8'
never supposed heart trouble wouio
carry her off SO sudden; Doctor Hltcn-
cock says she was sitting In her rock-
ing chair as natural as life.
"Yes," assented Mrs. Bates. she GER
tainly passed away very suddenly but
in the midst of life we are IN deatn'
you now." Then she added: II sup
pose her four nephews VIII get her
money--Hannah had over SSooo IN the
Crosbyville bank--and then, there s the
house and land, too"
Maybe So" said Mrs. Dagyett. put
there is one of the boys that won't get
much of her money or anything eise' 1
guess, and he is Frank Elliot; you
know his aunt never forgave him Tor
marrying pretty Jennie Valentine"
"Well, all ! can say is that If size
hasn't given Frank an equal share III
her property it is a shame!" warmly
responded the other. Livery one
knows that Jennie has made Frank a
good wife and they are working so nara
to pay off that mortgage OH their
place: Frank needs Il lift more than
the others"
And Mrs. Daggett was correct IN her
prophecy, for when few days after
the funeral Lawyer Stubbs read the
last will and testament to the quartette
of nephews-the next of kin-that por-
ton of the instrument which related to
Frank Elliott read as follows: "And
to my nephew, Frank Elliott, as mark
of my displeasure in marrying contrary
to my counsel and wishes. l bequeath
the silver dollar to be found in the left
hand corner of the upper bureau draw
cr in my bed room.'
Poor Frank! as he walked slowly
homcward that crisp winters day, he
was wondering what he could tell Jen-
ME; she would blame only herself for
being the cause of his late aunts ami
mostly towards him. and he couldn't
stand that! and he had secretly hoped
that perhaps his aunt would remember
how they had worked so hard-he and
Jennie-tO pay for their little home and
would at least leave him enough to lift
that ever-present spectre, the mort
gage, from his mind. AS he thought of
the silver dollar he sighed: how well he
remembered it! Years ago, when he
was a boy, his aunt had shown him the
dollar a wonderfully old coin. but as
bright as the day it left the mint He
remembered, too, her telling him that
he should have it when she got
through with it," Now it was his with
vengeance!
Jennie ran out to the gate to meet
him. 20 Frank dear. l know you have
bad news for me, but don't be discour-
aged. know you do not regret marry
ing me and now we will work all the
harder. 1t won't be very much of a
merry Christmas for us dear, but we
will do the best we can: something tells
me that there are brighter days ahead
of u.s."
Frank gulped down the lump rising
in his throat and said: Yes, Jennie, we
will work all the harder now: anyway,
thank God that have the dearest lit
tie wife in the world.'
Two days before Christmas Frank
happened to be in the village store
when the Hon. Lurnan Crosby en-
tered, a pompous old gentleman, the
president of the bank and the richest
man in Crosbyville. He possessed one
hobby, however. and that was the col
lecting of old and rare coins and was
the owner of one of the finest collec-
tions in the country, there being but
one or two specimens which he did not
have for the reason that they We're not
to be obtained at any price. Seeing
Frank he beckoned him aside.
"lIlliott," said the old gentleman,
1.-THE semi-annual payment on the
mortgage we hold on your place is due
in a short time; l trust you will be
prepared. BY the way: l understand
that your late aunt ignored you in her
will. Did she leave you nothing"
'Only an old silver dollar" Frank re-
piled.
IAN old silver dollar; how old? Have
you it with you?" The numismatic in
stncts of the old gentleman crept to
the surface
'Why. yes; here it is,'' and Frank
offered the coin for inspection.
"Um-very singular-very singular!"
the old man exclaimed. Would you
mind stepping over to the bank for a
few moments. EIlliott?" Frank fol-
lowed him wonderingly.
When Mr.. Crosby had ushered Frank
into his private office, he produced a
microscope and examined the ancient
coin attentively. Then turning to the
bewldered Frank he asked: "Have
you any scruples about parting with
this dollar, Mr.. Elliott?"
Zone dollar is as good to me as any,
] suppose" answered Frank. II haven't
so many of them that l can afford to
keep them for sentiments sake"
"Well, would like to buy this silver
dollar from YOU; l will give you s1,50O
for it,"
Frank dropped Imply into a chair.
"What do you mean? Are you jok-
ing?" he stammered.
.- II mean simply this. and please re-
member that seldom joke" replied the
bank president. "that this coin is an
uncirculated dollar of the issue of 1904
and when In as fine condition as this
specimen happens to be, is worth ex-
actly fifteen hundred times it's face
value to coin collectors. For years I
have been unable to get an 1904 dollar;
we hold a mortgage of $500 on your
home. Now, / will cancel that mortg-
age and give you $1,000 in cash for this
coin; what do you say?"
.. When Frank Elliott arrived home
that night he had glorious tidings for
1.-THE dearest little wife in the world"
t