The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1919-06-27
CHAPTER xI-contlnued.


one, although 1t seemed not SO at the
time of it. A traveller on the road to
Ballybeen had dropped his pocketbook
containing large amount Of money
s2,700 was the sum, II I remember
rightly. He was a man who, being
Justly suspicious of the banks. had
withdrawn his money. Posters an
bounced the loss and the offer Of
large reward. The village was pro-
toundly stirred by them. Searching
parties went up the road stirring its
dust and cropping In its grass and bri-
ers for the great prize which was sup
posed to be lying there. 1t was said.
however. that the quest had been un-
successful. So the lost pocketbook
became a treasured mystery of the
village and of all the hills and val
ieys toward Ballybeen-a topic Of old
wives and gabbling husbands at the
dreside for unnumbered years.
BY and by the fall term of school
ended. Uncle Peabody came down to
get me the day before Christmas. 1
had enjoyed my work and my life at
the Hackets', on the whole, but / was
glad to be going home again. My
uncle was In high spirits and there
we're many packages in the sleigh.
"A merry Christmas to ye both an
may the Lord love yel" said Mr..
Hacket as he bade US goodby. Every
day our thoughts will be going up the
lills 10 your house."
The bells rang merrfly as we hur-
lied through the swamp In the hard
snow paths.
Were goin' to move" said my
ancle presently. We've agreed to get
7ut by the middle O. May"
How does that happenf" asked
II settled with Grimshaw and agreed
TO 90. II 1t hadn't "a been for Wright
and Baldwin we wouldn't "a got n
cent. They threatened to bid against
him at the sale. So he settled We're
goin' to have a new home. We've
fought a hundred an fifty acres from
Abe Leonard. Coin to build n new
house in the spring 1t will be nearer
the village.
He playfuily nudged my ribs with
his elbow.
We've had a little good luck. Bart,
he went on. I'm tell ye what IL is IL
on won't say anything about IT"
promised
II dunno as II would matter much" :"
he continued, but l don't want to do
any brnggin' II aln't anybody's bust
ness, anyway. An old uncle over In
Vermont died three weeks ago and
left us thirty-eIght hundred dollars.
~. Vfo -
Hinesburg. Died without "A chick or
child. Your aunt and me slipped down
to Potsdam an took the stage an
went over an got the money. IT was
more money than / ever see before
In my life. We put 1t in the bank in
Potsdam to keep II out o. Grimshaw's
hands. I wouldn't trust that man as
fur as you could throw a bull by the
tnil.-
1t was a cold. clear night and when
we reached home the new stove was
swapping with the heat in its firebox
and the pudding putting in the pot
and old Shep dreaming in the chimney
corner Aunt Deel gave me hug at
the door. Shep barked and leaped to
my shoulders.
"Why, Barti You're growfn' like a
weed--ain't ye?-ayes We be-" my
aunt said as she stood and looked at
ne. "Set right down here an warm
ye-ayes 1--we done all the chores
ayesi'
How warm and comfortable was the
dear old room with those beloved faces
in 1t. / wonder If paradise itself can
los M fn mi I have had
the best food this world can provide,
in my time, but never anything that
l ate with keener relish than the
pudding and milk and bread and but
ter and cheese and pumpkin pie which
Aunt Deel gave us that night.
Supper over, I wiped the dishes for
my aunt while Uncle Peabody went
out to feed and water the horses Then
we sat down In the genial warmth
while | told the story of my life In
''the busy town." as they called 1t.
What pride and attention they gave
me then
My fine clothes and the story of how
/ had come by them taxed my inge-
nuity somewhat, although not improp-
erly. I had to be careful not to let
them know that l had been ashamed
of the homemade suit. They somehow
felt the truth about it and little
silence followed the story. Then Aunt
Deel drew her chair near me and
touched my hair very gently and
looked into my face without speaking.
Ayes know" she said presently,
in kind of caressing tone, with a
touch of sadness in it. "They amt
used to coarse homespun stuff down
there in the village. They ma6s fun
o ye-didn't they, Bart?'
''I don't care about that" / assured
them. "~The minds the measure of
the man." quoted, remembering the
asEsss the Senator had repeated to me.