The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-11-29

weeping, exchanged but few words
with each other and neither made any
allusion to the Inheritance left them
by their father. Nevertheless, 1t be-
| came necessary in the course of time
to unseal the will and testament of
their father, to confer with notaries,
| attorneys and executors, and 1t hap
pened one night while these things
| We're under discussion that Jose Ma
ria and Maria Josefa found themselves
alone in the vast reception hall, the
| dim light in the spacious apartment
just making the darkness, as 1t were,
visible. The sister drew near to the
brother, touched him on the shoulder
and murmured timidly in a low voice:
Jose, have something to tell you
"a very strange thing-about papa"
Tell me, darling-a strange thing?"
In truth 1t is. Do you wonder?
There is million reals in gold hidden
in the farmhouse at Gaudeluz."
mo, foolish one!" he exclaimed,
surprised and with sudden vehemence.
you have not understood correctly.
Where this million reals is hidden is
in the pasture field at Corchada."
But. Jose, dear, papa described the
place where 1t was hidden so carefully
to me, with the most minute details.
1t Is In the basement; you must count
16 bricks to the left from the door,
and underneath the seventeenth brick
lies the stone with the staple in 1t
that covers the treasure"
But, Josefa, am certain that you
are in error, because papa gave me
such a careful description of the
place, that cannot possibly be mis-
taken. 1t is in the pasture field. Near
the wall Of the old sheepfold, that is
| now no longer used, is a kind Of pool
where the herd used to drink; behind
1t there is small half-ruined arch,
and at the foot Of the arch lies a paw
ing-stone with the corner broken of.
Loosen this paving stone and you will
find brick-lined niche, in which is
hidden a million reals"
my dearest boy, but 1t Is impossi-
BILE! Believe me. When papa found
that he was so much worse, in fact
was hopelessly Ill. perhaps his mind
was not altogether right; poor, dear
papa! have his words engraved"
"Maria," declared Jose, selling the
hand Of the young girl. after think.
ing the matter over. am convinced
there must be two deposits, for this
Is the only reasonable explanation Of
the matter. Papa told me that this
money was exclusively for me-"
And to me that the money at
Guadeluz was mine alone"
A few days later the brother and
sister made an excursion to Gaudeluz
and found everything exactly as Ma
ria Maria Josefa had described 1t.
The treasure was locked up in a small
iron Golfer, the key of which could not
be found. They carried the Golfer
away with them without attempting
to open 1t and went on their way to
Corchada, where, at the foot of the
ruined arch they found also another
iron box Of equal weight and size az
the first. They carried the boxes
home, and Jose got some tools from a
locksmith and forced them open. As
the lids burst open, disclosing the
golden treasure, the brother and sis.
ter. without counting them, poured
their contents together in a heap on
the carpet. Suddenly Maria trembled.
There is paper in the bottom Of
my box"
"And one in mine, too" observed
the brother
ut is letter from papa"
Yours, what does it say?"
listen. Come to the light. This
| is what 1t says: My son, II you read
this alone sympathize with you and
l forgive you; but If you read It with
your sister l will come forth from my
grave to bless you
THE meaning Of mine Is the
same!" exclaimed Maria, a moment
later, sobbing and laughing at the
same time.
The papers were dropped and the
brother and sister. standing on the
heap Of gold, treading the scattered
coins into the carpet, clasped each
other in a long embrace.