Year: 1864

And the widow tripped lightly out.
Shortly afterwards the deacon entered.


'How's business, Mr.. Cashier p was his
first inquiry.
About as usual


Many deposits lately?


None of any magnitude


4 brought over lady who seemed to
have business with you?


The widow Wells 2


Yes


Do You know, asked the cashier, 'wheth
er she has had any money left her lately 2


Nome that know OF, said the deacon,
prlcking up his ears. why, did she de
posit any ?


mo, but she inquired whether we re-
ceived deposits as high as five thousand
dollars


Indeed calculated the deacon WAS
that all she came for 2 he inquired mo-
ment afterwards


No; she exchanged a gold piece for
small bills


'Ha! pondered the deacon rehectively
Did she give any reason for the inqui
ries p


No; she said she only asked for curios-
ty.'


The deacon LETT the bank in deep thought.
! He came to the conclusion that this curl.
! oslty only veied deeper motive H no
! longer entertained doubt that the widow
: had found pot of gold in her cellar, and
! appearances seemed to indicate that its
| probable value was at least five thousand
! dollars. The gold piece she had exchang.
Ell at the bank appeared to confirm the
! story.


Il rather think said the deacon com
| pIacently, Il can see into milestone about
as far as most pc, plea statement the
literal truth of which | defy any one to
question, although as TO the prime fact of
people being able to see into milestone at
all, doubts have now and then intruded
| themselves upon my mind


Next Sunday widow Wells appeared at
church in a new and stylish bonnet, which
led to some such remarks as these:


How much vanity some people have, to
be sure


How a woman who has kept boarders
! Tor a living can afford to dash out with
such bonnet on is more than | can tell
| should think she was old enough to
know better


The last remark was made by young
lady just six months younger than the wi.
dow whose attempt to catch husband
hitherto had proved unavailing.
i suppose she is trying to catch sec,
ond husband with her fnery Before I'd
descend to such means, Pd-Id drown
myself continued the lady.


In the last amiable speech the young
lady had unwittingly hit upon the true mo
tive. The widow was intent upon catch
! ing Deacon Bancroft, and she INDUCED in
costly bonnet, not because she supposed
he would be caught with fnery. but be-
cause this would strengthen in his mind
the idea that she had stumbled upon the
hidden wealth


The widow calculated shrewdly, and the
display had the desired effect
On Monday aftern; on the deacon found
an errand that called him over to the
widows. 1t chanced to be just about tea
time. He Was importuned to stay to tea
and somewhat to his own surprise he did
The polite widow, who knew the deacon's
weak point, brought out one of her best
muce pies, slice of which her guest par
took of with zest.


You'll take another piece, | know said
she persuasively.'


'Really, am ashamed said the deacon,
but he passed his plate. The fact is, said
he, apologeticaly, your pies are so nice, l
don't know when to stop


DO you call these ncer said the wi
dow, modestly. Il call them common. l
can make nice pies when [ set out to, but
this time [ didn't have as good luck as
usual


Il shouldn't want any better said the dea-
con, emphatically.


Then | hope if you like them you will
drop in TO tea often. We ought to be more
neighborly, Deacon Brancrott'


Deacon Bancroft assented, and he
meant what be said The fact is, the dea.
con began to think that the widow was a
very charming woman. She was very
come y and then she was such an excel
lent COOK. Besides be had 30 doubt in
his mind that she had a considerable sum
Of money. What objections would there
be to her becoming Mrs. Bancroft? He
broug ht this question before her one even
Ing. The widow blushed; professed to be
greatly surpriseG--in fact, she never thought
of such a thing in her life-but, on the
whole she had always thought highly of
the deacon, and to cut the matter short, she
accepted htm.


month after she was installed as mis-
tress of the deacon's large house, some
what to the surprise of the village people,
who could not conceive how she had
brought him ever.


Some weeks after the ceremony, the
! Haacnn uantnrnd To innnira ahnnt the not