Year: 1875

indeed, a suitable motive was brought to
bear upon him. Here was n chance for a
little managing, wherein widows are said, as
a general thing, to be expert


One evening, after day of fatiguing la-
Dor, Widow Hayes sat at the fire in the sit
ting-room, with her feet resting ON the FEM
der.


"lf ever I am situated so as not to have
to work so hard, / shall be happy. It's a
hard life, keeping boarders. If | was only
as well off as Elder Boyd, she muttcred.


Still the widow kept up her thinking, and
by-and-by her face frightened. She had an
idea, which she was resolved to put into exc
cution at the earliest possible moment. What
it was the reader will see in the sequel.


Freddie" said she to her son the next
morning, 81 want you to stop to Elder
Boyd's as you go to school, and ask him if
he will call on me in the course of the morn
ing or afternoon, just as he finds it most
convenient"


Elder Boyd was little surprised at this
summons. However, about II o'clock, he
called in, The widow had got on the din
ner, and had leisure to sit down. She ap-
peared a little embarrassed.


"Freddie told me that you would like to
see me" he commenced.


"Yes Elder, | should. But l am very
much afraid you will think strange, at least
of what have to say to you"


The Elder very politely promised not to
be surprised, though at the same time his
curiosity was very vsibly aroused.


Suppose" said the widow, casting down
her eyes-'mind l was only supposing n
casc-suppose person should find pot of
gold pieces in their cellar, would the law
have right to touch it, or would it belong
to them ?"


The Elder pricked up his ears.


ga pot of gold pieces widow? Why, UNI
questionably the law would have nothing to
do with it,"


"And the one who formerly owned the
house couldn't come forward and claim it,
could he ?"


''No madam unquestionably not.-When
the house was disposed of everything went
with it."


81 am glad to hear it, elder You won't
think strange of the question, but it happen
ed to occur in my mind, and / thought
would like to have it satisfied"


Certainly, widow, certainly" said the
elder abstractedly.


"And, elder, as you're here, I hope you
will stop to dinner with u.s. 1t will be ready
punctually at H."


"Well no." said the elder rising. 'I'm
obliged to ye but they'll be expecting me
at home"


"At any rate, elder" said the widow,
taking piece Of steaming mince pie from
the oven, "you wont object to taking piece
Of mince pie. You must know that rather
pride myself on my mince pies"


The warm pie sent up such delicious
odor that the elder was sorcly tempted, and
after saying "Well, really" with the inten-
ton of refusing, he finished by saying, con
the whole, | guess l will, as it looks so
nice"


| The widow was really good cook, and
the elder ate with much gusto the generous
piece which the widow cut off for him. and,
after little chatting upon unimportant sub
jects, withdrew in some mental perplexity.


Was it possible, thought he, that the
widow could really have found pot Of gold
in her cellar She did not say so, to be sure,
but why should she have shown so much
anxiety to know as to the proprietorship of
the treasure thus found if she had not hap
pened upon some ? To be sure, as far as his
knowledge extended there was no one who
would be likely to lay up such an amount OF
gold but then the house was $50 years old
at the very least and had had many occu-
pants of which he knew nothing 1t might
be, after all. The widows desire to have
him think it was only curiosity likewise
gave additional probability to the supposi-
ton. 81 will wait and watch" thought the
Elder.


1t so happened that Elder Boyd was one
of the directors in a saving institution sina-
ted in the next town, and accordingly rode
over there once or twice month so as to at
tend the meeting of the board.


On the next occasion of this kind the
widow sent over to know if he could carry
her with him, as she had little business to
attend there, The request was readily ac-
corded, Arrived at the village, the widow
desired to be set Off at the bank.


"Ha, ha /" thought the Elder, "that means
something"


lie said nothing however, but determined
to come back and find out, as he could
readily from the cashier, what business she
had with the bank, The widow tripped into
the office, pretending to look very non
chalant.


"Can you give me small bills for $40
gold picce?"


"With pleasure" was the reply,
"By the way, the bank is in very flour
ishing condition, is it not ~ she asked.


"None in the state on better footing,
he said.


ado you receive deposits ?"


"Yes, madam; we are receiving them
every day"


"Do you receive as high as-as $4,000"


"No," said the cashier, with some sur
prise cor rather we do not allow interest
on so large a sum 81 900 is our limit. Dc
you know of any one who"


at is of no consequence" said the widow
hurriedly 81 only asked for curiosity by
the way, did you say how much interest you
allowed on such deposits as come within
your limits ?" she asked.


GIVE per cent"


"Thank you, only asked for curiosity
What beautiful morning it is |" and wen
out.


Shortly after the Elder entered.


GLOW is business Mr. Cashier" he in
quired,


"About as usual"