Year: 1874

ure. They encountered the whole crev
just as they were on the point of embark
ing, and on their refusing to surrender
at once attacked them. My great
grandfather was killed by the pirate cap
tain, though not before he had himsel
sent a bullet through his murderer
heart. But no treasure ever was discov
ered."


"How strange" murmured Mildred
with wide open eyes; and then her moth
er's voice called in the young people
from the cool night air.


They were to be married that winter
and Holinshed was to build handsome
villa on the site of the old cottage. The
library window was to come right under
the shadow of.the ancient oak tree, and
they were all to live together for ever
more. Early in October Holinshed left
them, to arrange his affairs and make his
with them again. He and Mildred part
ed beneath the time honored oak, and
what passed between them is known to il
alone; it was too discreet ever to babble
of it, albeit to the garrulousness of old
age, much might have been allowed.
After he had gone, the tree and Mildred
were inseparable. The tree dropped gor-
geous leaves, tinged with crimson, gold
and green, into Mildred's lap, and she
made them into garlands which she wore
for its sake, and placed clusters of them
about her chamber, SO that the earliest
light of morning might reveal them to
her. The oak now felt peace and hap
piness it had never known before. Even
the burden of its ancient secret was we'll
nigh forgotten. What need was there to
furnish gold to those who already pos
sessed a superAuity? So, with an invol-
untary sigh, that, after all its hundred
years of waiting, it should be permitted
nothing more than to witness Joy to
which it could not contribute, the ven-
erable tree settled down to the prospect
of an uneventful and green old age.


The weeks passed on and November
came: but no Holinshed. The weeks
dragged on and December come: but no
Holinshed. Snow lay upon the ground,
now, and the wintry gusts stripped great
brown leaves from the oak trees knOtted
arms. These Mildred gathered up and
put in her bosom, saying to herself that
her heart was not less sore than they.
At last the morning of Christmas eve
arrived. 1t was just hundred years
since that heavy box had been intrusted
to the oak trees care Small chance of
its ever seeing the light of day again.


Towards evening Mildred threw her
cloak about her shoulders, and slipped
unperceived out of the house. The air
was still and warmer than usual; a
strange, indefinable moaning came how
ering in from the sea; it was evident that
a great storm was about to burst upon
Cape Ann. Mildred reached the oak
tree and sank down upon the circular
bench which still encompassed it, and
gazed out upon the desOlate Atlantic.
The branches Of the old tree tried to
murmur word of sympathy, but only
gave forth a discordant croak. Mildred's
life seemed slipping away from her; she
felt as if she could never rise from that
bench again.


But ina moment more her ear caught
the sound of hurrying step on the road
and that was all she was conscious ofun-
til she found herself in her lovers arms
He had come back to her and he was
safe. At last he said, in voice whose
tremor he could not command -


"But I've come to tell yoa that am
not what l was, my darling. We can
build no beautiful villa on the site of the
old cottage. If you take me now, Mil
dred, you take beggar. l have no
money-no home. The war has taken
the one, and destroyed the other. Yet l
will make a fortune with my hands, if
may work for you also"


Mildred answered, with her head on
his shoulder:-


"You have my love and you live in
my heart; and yet you call yourself a
beggar, and homeless" But Holinshed
never ventured to do it again.


They went on into the house and left
the tree to itself. A thrill ran through
it from topmost branch to root, 1t lift
ed its head and waved it's arms triumph
antly. The dried up sap seemed to
course through its cells once more. 1t
sent forth low call to the ocean, and
the ocean answered with a long-drawn,
thunderous moan, through which yet
quivered chord of sublime joy, as if
mourning and yet rejoicing that now af-
ter the weary waiting and disappointed
hopes of a century, the moment when
the end of all must take place had ar
rived; for no great purpose can be attain
ed without sacrifice, and the oak now
felt that the accomplishment Of its life
long desire would only be effected at
that life's cost. Yet it did not shrink,
but gloried in the conviction.


Now the wind began to rise, and black
clouds gathered together to witness the
final scene. The sea beloved like an
imprisoned lion, and leaped madly for
ward up the steep bank, as IL striving to
clasp its ancient friend in last embrace.
The tree swayed and strained, and was
bent hither and thither in the mad
throes of its grand agony. Now it SEEM
ed to turn towards the house, where
those for whom it was about to die were
sleeping unconscious of its sacrifice;-
now towards the tumultuous ocean,
which for so many centuries had been its
constant companion and unwavering
friend. Then the wind yelled yet more
fiercely, the clouds gathered closer and
more darkly still, the sea sent gigantic
breaker booming and foaming to the
coast, freighted with last mighty fare
we'll, and the faithful oak tree, with
final convulsive throb and wild, APPALLING
shrek of victory, was wrcnched away
from its sturdy foothold in its mother
earth, and flung, crushed and head-long,
down the rocky slope.





ooh where is the dear old oak tree p
cried Mildred.


"See it has been torn up by the roots
and fallen head-foremostd down the bank"
exclaimed Holinshed. "But what is that
sticking up there in the roots? Is it a
rock, ora boxp eUff


They approached closer. The tree had
fallen on Its branches, and it's knotted
and twisted roots spread upward thirty
feet into the air. And there, in the
midst of them, bound round and firmly
clutched, even in death, by those faith
full hands, appeared the massive, brass
bound chest, which it had guarded so


IL