The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1904-04-13
from burying shlckshack.

of Peggy's own inheritance, which
Shickshask had silently passed on to
his successors.
They sat down with Lincoln and Ann
Rutledge in the best room, and he put
the rattlesnake skin before them on
a table. Peggy looked at it curiously,
having never before seen her fortune,
or the case which held it. The spots
described by scales made her shudder.
ann also saw it with aversion, and
wondered why Shickshack preferred
that to strong piece of buckskin.
ga rattlesnake," said Lincoln, when
you get over the first shock of intro
duction to him, is mighty pretty fell
low. See his combine of colors! He
has lost his first freshness and his
rattles, trying to bruise the tough hide
of mankind. But l doubt if he ever
stung anybody; he wouldn't IN ess he
was crowded.
Through an open door the tavern
kitchen displayed rearing hearth,
where the Dutch oven, with Goals on
its head and beneath its feet, held
joint of venison. A coffee pot, standing
on trivet over embers, sent perfume
abroad. Johnnycakes of parched corn
ground in the hand-mill were browning
on boards slanted toward the fire
1.-The best bread that ever was ETY."
testifies surviving New Salemite.
Hominy kissing in pork fat sent it's
song through the room, while the
younger Rutledge girls helped their
mother bring to the table cold turkey,
cream ana butter, fruits preserved in
maple syrup, and honey found in the
! wild-bee tree.
Plenty of food, an abundance Of
candle-light, and the heartening
warmth of the Franklin stove near
her, may have suggested visions to
Peggy as she inquired of her friends,
What must do with this money!"
"Sieur Abe has kept it SAFE" sug-
| gested Antywine.
"There is no one trustier!" spoke
| Ann.
will you keep it for me, Mr.. Lin
coln?'
81 am not a good money-getter," he
laughed, "and doubt if l am a good
money-keeper. The only thing l
could do would be to carry it around
for you and guarantee it shouldn't fall
into worse hands,"
"The sweetheart knows you are the
strongest man in New Salem" said
Antywine, resting his cheek upon his
hand and lifting eyes of confidence to
his elder.
mt he It'll -,
Grove yet"
''Antywine and both know" said
Peggy, how everybody looks up to
you. We could not keep it ourselves
as we'll as you could do it for us, Mr..
Lincoln"
Ann stretched out one slim, long
fingered hand to caress Peggy's cheek.
We'll, children, I'm of age, and Ann
is is. reckon We'll have to father
and mother you. Do you know how
much money you have in this bank Of
Shickshack's, Peggy"
81 don't"
DO you know, Antywine?"
me? No. have never inquire,
and Shickshack have not sho' me-"
''If the trust is to be put into my
hands must know the amount"
| Lincoln united the leather cord which
bound the snakes neck, and shook it
by the tail. Out gushed all the yellow
pieces with the ring of gold upon the
table; Spanish doubloons and French
louis, which cost him some trouble ia
calculate. He set them in cylindrical
piles, row after row. Wood snapped in
the open Franklin stove, and no other
sound could be heard in the room but
the liquid clink of gold. Ann, Peggy
and Antywine watched the counting.
Viane Rutledge, looking through the
door at the silent company, beckoned
little Jane to stare at such amazing
wealth.
Whose is it?" whispered Jane.
Peggy Shickshack's, of course.
Where would Antywine La Chance. OF
Mr.. Abe Lincoln, or Ann get it? The
old Indian must have been a miser
But wouldn't be her-and Spaniard
for all her money"
1.-TWO thousand and fifty dollars,
announced Lincoln. He began to re-
turn the gold to it's pouch.
1.-TWO thousand dollars is large
amount" said Ann.
Am l very rich?" inquired Peggy
"Well, one hundred dollars will buy
eighty acres Of land, or two horses
You are therefore worth sixteen
hundred acres of land, and something
over for calico and linsey; and, con
sidering the times and the country
may call yourself fairly we'll off"
Must l buy sixteen hundred acres
of land?"
Lincoln's eyes twinkled, losing for 6
moment their usual expression of dark
blue usefulness. He was not much
older than the Canadian boy who
venerated him as an oracle, but he
had already begun to guide the desti.
MES of others.
you'd better let your husband de-
eide that matter when you are older,
he answered, and while the words were
being spoken, Pedro Lorimer entered
the tavern in whirl of winter air
He closed the outer door, made his
salutationS with grace. and approac he'd