THE TREASURE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 13, 27 March 1902, Page 23

THE TREASURE.

A YOUNG girl and an old man were sitting in a \ery humble garret, very meanly furnished, but so noatlv, kept as to show that poverty hcprl not brought despair. Order, neatnags., and gpod- taste gave- a." soft \bi c)e r gance 'to- the- poor apartment , everything was in its place, and in the perfection of cleanliness, while 'tiie white muslin curtains had been so often darned as to give the effect of embroidery. Some pots of common flowers were arranged before the open window, and their sweet s6cnt pervaded the room. The setting sun lighted up the room, touched the sweet face of the girl, and played in the white locks of the old man, who was loaning back in his armchair of cane, which a kind h.and had furnished with cushions stuffed with tow-- and covered with cotton patchwork. An old stove, transformed into a footstool, supported the, mutilated fuet, and his only remainu^ a^cjn leaner! on a little round^awe^-^vhere reposed his meerschaitoi'^pipft'-and tobacco pouch, worked with colored beads. The old soldier had a hard and %vrinkled face, too frank and open td look severe. A' grey moustache partly hid the smile which half opened his lips as he looked at the young girl. She was about 20 years old, and had one of those expressive countenances which, like clear water, show all that is contained in t,he depth beknv. Shy \vy»s leading tn& paper to the old main, when suddenly she stopped aird listened . ' What is it "> ' asked the old man. 1 Nothing,' answered the girl, looking disappointed. ' You thought \ou heard Charles,' sa-id the soldier ' Yes,' she answered, blushing a little; it is time for his da,\ s work to be done, and for him to come home ' When he does come home.' interrupted Vincent, 111 a tone tull of sorrow Sic-an was opening her lips to dofend her cousin, but her itidgmont must h.i\e gi\en her a check, for she stopped in embarrassment and fell into a lit of thinking The invalid jmssed his-, hand over his nio.llSta.che, and beg;*>-n In t\vfrt it, as he always did when he was vexed. • Our conscript is march ing" the wrong way,' he said at last . 'he lea\os his work to g-o to feasts and public houses, and all th.it will ha\c a bad end for him and for ii"- 1 ' Don't say that, lm d^ t \v uncle , you will bring him bad luck It is but a bad moment with him ; he wjll get over it, 1 hope. lie has had some notions in his head lately, lie has had no lieaf t to woik.' ' Why is (hat ? ' ' Because he says there is nothing to look forward to : all the efforts of a workman are useless for the future, and so he things "he may a's well get on from day to day without care or forethought.' _ 'Oh ! that> his system, is it "' ' replied the old man. Whoso forehead had contracted. ' Well, he has not tho honor of having- imeuted it We had many such reasoners in our regiment who excused themsoUes from setting out because the way was long., *i\f\ So they idled at tho depots, while the regiments marched to Madrid,' Vfenna, -or Berlin,. Your cousin, 'you sco, does not know that by simp'lv putting one foot before the other, tho shortest legs will got Uome in time ' Ah"' if you could but make him understand' that.' said Susan, with restless ea^rneas-. < • I tried to bring- him round by showing him how much an expert

bookbinder may save, but he only shrugs his shoulders, and says > women do not understand calculation.' 'And then you despair' my p"oor~ girt,': Con Ujryedr. Vincent, with jsr4en'- •' dor Muile.^ ?' $ see: n^w '\\hs tfour ey;es axe^sg h/ten red.' ; '' ;* ?"" 'JMy dear, uncle, I .assume, ryoujMf' ' And -"why you forget to wmcr your flowers, and have left off singing.' Uncle ! ' Susan looked down in confusion, and rolled up a corner of the newspaper. ' Come, come, do not fancy that I am scolding you,' he said, in a friendly sort of gruff manner, laying his hand upon her head ; 'it is quite natural that you should be interested about Charles, who is now your cousin and will one ihxy he ' -Susa«-dnade a-gesturu , ' Well, no, we will not talk of that; I am always forgetting that we must pretend t.9^ be ignorant of what we ktomv 9s?p?rifs: we will sa^vV»no >?uorc ~- ftjjoot' ) j&ijanah,comc back "'to'jfhYs felhave^some friendship," if 'tTiatTiS the right wortl, and who has some for you.' Susan shook her head. ' tie had oi^ce,' she said, ' but fqr some time past he has beo-n 'cold ' *U» ■ me, and always seems tired of my company.' ( ' , ' Yes,' said Vincent, > ' when qnjc©. noisy pleasures are pursued, home seems dull ; it is like drinking poor, stuff .after choice wme .that is "well, known, my child : nao"st""b'f us ■ have Qpms through r^ha-t ' " --? \■? r But liiey have bt>en"ciifed*,"£Mwi so may Charles.. too ; if you would but speak to him, that would T)C * enough.' - Tlyxri <nrld rncin looked as., if .did -iioW think - ; 's6, and j said-:- «'«Tli'esc |T things are to be cured by "acts", nt')t Xk by words. A good man is not made in a hurry, any more than a good soldier. ; . s ho, must have experience, must have" ftriown what ' fntigne- 'is, and boon where cannon-balls are flying. Your cousin, you see, wants t h.c j inclination to work, because he :v-:ddi?'|~i]ot"^ejc/: v - : ddi?'|~i]ot"^ejc / the txge ff«wM s w}«*>t«,di->id fui^bieieU Wk. Ytm-;,MutfLja&B' got^&sy —I will think about it ~ ~ : - f:C " ' Now this time it is really he.' intetfrtipted 'Susan, who had heard upon,, the 'stairs the hasty footsteps of her cousin. ' Silence in the ranks, (hen , do not let vs 7 apptfar Co bp talking of a«.\ ? thing in particular'; go .011 reading .f '• Susan obeyed ; but her trembling .voice would haAC betrayed her emotion to an attentive observer. While her eyes and voice followed the printed lines, her ear, and her thoughts wera all for her cousin, who had *just v opened the door, and put down his cap oit the tablo. He made the reading an excusfe ; 'for not speaking _ to either uncle or cousin, and walki'hgto the window loaned on his two arms crossed. Susan went on withoxit understanding what she said. She was 111 the midst of the 'Miscellaneous Articles,' that compound whore, imdar j. the title, , b;ts of news are often found contradicting each other. ' \ f Charles paid no attention at first, .0 but by degrees lie began to listen. After a string of murders, accidents, and thefts, came tins article . ' A poor pedlar at Besancon, named' Pierre Lofovre, -resolved upon making a fortune, determined to go 10 India, the country, as he heard, of gold and diamonds. Ho sold all that he possessed, and going" to Bordeaux, was taken as helper to the cook ii» , an American \esbol. Nothing was heard , of him for 3 ,'J years. At la.st his relations received a ii.-Hi-r, (<•!-' ling- them that he was coining, after . incredible hardships, with Hie loss fit

jl ;v; v . hdrt si ff"«fies that, with fortune wherov^ travcllin & P,n to arrive nohPr S niL R ? i(i ,y, yu «iin, timidly, raising he. eyes tq her cousin, 'you envy the pedloi^ ; y 6u would give ud youth, health, and limbs ' P • lo be sure 1 would ; find mo a purchaser, Susan, at this price, and settled YinV in - mQn ey • should soon -. be t JJ h tt CC | r ° Was a lonff sil ence, each' of the throe pursuing the same train of -though^Ull -tl»e^lock-»ferik-mg-4ime Susan spread the frugal supper, off which neither she nor Charles couldl SK*i ' f °?i irl s§.. httvin c be ™ half ~tS& A ay th^JW*J»Hc-house with hi^. P^ids, and Spijßjt& having lost her "war hatF ''taught the old -soldier that emotions must not interfere with the stomach, so, he alone desrpatchod (lus-mpal, and) ,soon returned to his- armchair, as^sbefri as she had put everything away, wished him good-night and retired, leaving' him alone with -the young workman. He also was departing, when the old man told him to bolt the d .9°£~tmd listen, to something parUcu'la,rJ>e h;acLso s>ay ttf*^^P^^

1 ' ~;< v r^j— -s^sc^

Ghjartos/ expecting reproaches, stood before the old man, who desired him to sit down, and asked! lijiu if he had well considered what J^e^ad just been saying. ' Are you capable J of making a sustained effort to secure a fortune in the end ? ' 'Can you doubt it, uncle?' saict Charles, surprised at the question. 'So you would consent to be patient and work diligently, and change your bad habits ? ' •If it would be of any use, but. yoi^ask,,? ' .Ji-Vmi sha,l£})iflß(jfc?V said tho^faSfeluU opening tltS^'drawer wMwu^JTSSSbp" the old journals his friends s«pp} J ie( i him v\ ith. After searching foe 'some tune, he found one, which hQ •opened and showed Charles an avUVip whirh he had marked. This w-tv, it 4i^ ! H,^ pal V Sh S° vo 'nnient have taking stops to * ecure a deposit hid in the banks of. the Douro after the battlo of Salamanca. After that famous retreat, tt t;ompany of the (irst division, which had charge of {general ',QPG*U* v .gigu* operated from the rest of the troops; and so hemmed m .by superior numbers of-*the enemy that resistance 'was vain.* The conuiianding .officer, peeing that4tfere was " no ' frope ' ' 6f ' " •eMt&ing a way through - the 'enemy took advantage of the night to have the chests hidden by those of h,js u^en he had mast confidence ; " then,, certain that they would not be discovered. Wfr older ed his- little/ troop to disperse, and escape as well as they '{• o\i 1 d through the. „ eneinjr's , ■ lines . Some succeeded, but the ofneer and the men who knew the place where the chests were deposited all perished in the flight. It is satd -that thtfse chests contained! all< thp^tjfcasure of tfcat division of the "pf-my. and amounted to three millions of money.' Charles stopped and4ook,ed at , .thc- (- invalid with sparkling- eyes. „ " Were you one of this company ? '" he cried. " ' ' - ' I was,' replied Vincent. 'You knew of 'this ?*'--*■ ' I whs one of those employed by the Captain to hide them, and I was..

ISthe only one who escaped the bullets of the enemy.' ' Then you can give some idea as to how they might be- recovered,' Charles replied, still more earnestly. ' With the more certainty, as tho Captain made us observe the bearings of two hills and a rock. I know the place as well as I do where the bed stands in this room.' Charles sprang up. Then your fortune is made,' said he, exultingly. ' Why did you not speak ? The Government would have accepted your proposals.' ' Ferhaps,' said Vincent — ' but it 'would have been useless.' ' Why ? ' ' Spain refused consent ; see here.' He held another journal towards the young artisan, which announced that a request to search for hidden treasure on the banks of the Douro, in 1812, had been refused by the Government of Madrid. ' But who wants leave ? Why get official permission, to make a search that might be done quietly and without noise ? Once there, and the the ground bought, .what should hinder a searcher ? Wlio would suspect the discovery ? ' ' I have thought it over many a time; but where is the money to come from for the journey and the purchase ? * ' - ' Why not apply to someone richer than ourselves, and then let them into the secret ? ' 1 How could we make them believe; or if* they believe, what Should hinder them from abusing our confidence ? And if some chance prevented us from succeeding, or if it happened, like the fable you were reading to your cousin the other day, that when the prey was divided the lion took all, then, besides the journey and tho uncertainty, comes tho weariness of a lawsuit. What good would it do me to be plagued for the rest of my life with so much care? Away with millions that must bo fetched from such a distance. With my pension, thanks to the little* girl there, I .am very comfortable, and have enough for my daily ration and my tobacco ; and for the rest I hold it as cheap as a troop of Cossacks.' 'So,' said Charles, with feverish animation, ' you refuse riches, you let this opportunity escape ? ' ' For myself, certainly ; but for you it is different. I see how ambitious you are, and how much you want to be amongst the wealthy. Well, get together the sum we require far tho journey, and we'll set off together ? ' ' My dear uncle ! ' he said, exultingly ; then added in alarm, ' but how could I ever get so much money together ? ' ' Work diligently, and bring me all your earnings, and I promise you it will come.' * Think uncle, how small the earnings of a workman are.' ; That is my affair.' ' How many years ? ' ' You offered 13 just now, with the addition of an eye and an arm.' «* Oh ! if I were certain ! ' 'To gain the treasure ? You cannot fail ; by the little corporal's bones I promise you.' When the old man made use of this expression Charles knew that he was q,uite in earnest ; and he went on encouraging him, repeating that he had the world before him ; and the young man went to bed, resolving to use every possible effort. But his hopes were too magnificent to allow of sleep ; tho night was passed in a sort of fever, calculating the readiest means of acquiring the desired sum ; then settling how he should use his riches, and contemplating as if they were realities, all the chimeras which he was always dreaming of. When Susan came down in t.nc morning he was already off to his work. Vincent, who saw her astonishment nodded his head, and said nothing ; he had recommended silence to

Charles, and he chose to keep it to himself till he saw whether he would persevere.

111.

The first months -were the most irksome. The bad habits he had indulged in were difficult to break and steady work was toilsome. He was often tempted to give up, but. the importance of his object kept brim steady ; each week when he brought his savings, which were always increasing, he felt that a step had been taken ; however small, still it was a step. Besides each day the effort was less. Man is like a ship, with passions for its sails. Spread them to the gales of the world, and he will be driven at the mercy of all the currents and hidden rocks ; but let good sense tend the sails, and the navigation will be less dangerous ; then, when the anchor of habit is let down in the right place, there is nothing more to fear. Thus it happened to the young workman ; as his life became more regular, his tastes altered. When he had worked hard all day, the evening rest became enjoyment, and the society of his uncle and cousin pleased him that he forgot his noisy companions. Susan had returned to her friendly manner, and she managed so well to give every meal in a festivity. Charles found out qualities in her that he had never remarked before, and she daily became more and more necessary to him, and the hope of pleasing her now had quite as much of his attention as the obtaining of the treasure His dreams of ambition faded : he saw that a quiet, simple happiness was within his grasp, and his idea of perfect felicity was no longer placed in fairyland. All this happiness without his observing it, he did not know that he was changed ; he felt happy and tranquil, and the only change ho discovered in himself was his increasing love for Susan ; he could not imagine any happiness without her, and he now valued the millions as a means of obtaining her ; so he became anxious to know if she shared his sentiments. Ho was walking up and down the room one evening, while Vincent and Susan were conversing near the stove. They spoke of Charles's first master, the bookbinder, who after 30 years of a laborious life, was selling his business, that he and his old wife might retire together. 1 These two good old people have made a paradise on earth,' said the old soldier ; ' always busy, always good-tempered, always agreed.' ' Yes,' said Susan, the richest people might envy them.' Charles stopped his walk before her, and said : ' So you wish your husband to be fond of you ? ' ' Me ? yes — to be sure — if T could * she said, smiling and blushing a little. ' You can, then ; you have only to say the word.' ' What word, cousin ? ' she stammered, still more embarrassed. ' That you will consent to be my wife ' ; and seeing her surprise and confusion, he added tenderly and respectfully, ' I have long wished to tell you so. My uncle knows what I waited for, but it came unawares ; and now, be open, do not conceal what you think of me ; our uncle, who hears us, will tell us if we say wrong.' His voice trembled and his eyes wore moist. Susan bent down her head, and the old man looked at them joyfully. ' Speak, then, shy girl,' said he gaily. ' Susan— one word — will you accept mo?' She hid her face on his shoulder, and uttered an inarticulate 'Yes.' ' Come, come,' said Vincent ; it was difficult to get out the word ; well this evening you make your confidences, to morrow wo speak of business.' The next day he told his nephew that he had saved enough money,

and was ready to set off to Spain whenever he pleased. This news which would have once delighted him now gave him concern. How could he leave Susan, and run all the dan^i gers of a long journey, when it would be so pleasant to stay ? Since the interest of his life had changed, his desire for riches had deaderred. Why go so far for gold to buy the happiness he had found without it ? However, he said nothing of all this to his uncle, who took upon nuns( £ f to make all preparations. He and Susan often went out together f °u this Purpose. At last he told Charles all was ready, they had only to take their places. Susan was out, so he begged his nephew to go with him for this purpose, and as his wounds were painful in consequence of the fatigue he" had undergone, he took a coach. He had all the papers with him that had any reference to the treasure, and he now desired Charles to look them over once more. He read all that he knew before, and thought he had seen all, when his eyes fell upon a letter signed Peter Dafotir. ' That was the name of the quartermaster of our company,' said Vincent. ' That is what he calls hinibelf,' said Charles. ' I thought he had been in tho other world ; let us hear what he has to say, he was the captain's confidant. Instead of answering Charles made an exclamation. ' Well ! what is the matter ? ' If what Dafour says is true, our journey is useless.' ' Why ? ' ' Because the chests contain nothing but gunpowder.' Vincent looked at his nephew and laughed. ' Oh, it was powder, was it ? that is tho reason then why, beforo they buried them, they took out the cartridges.' ' You knew it ? ' ' I saw it.' ' Then, then, you have deceived me; you did not believe the story of the treasure, and you have only, been laughing at me." ' It is true I promised you a treasure, and you shall have it without going to Spain for it.' ' What do you mean ? ' ' You shall see.' Tho coach stopped before the shop door, and they got out. Charles knew the dwelling of his old master, but restored, painted, and furnished with all tho tools belonging to the trade, ho looked for the name of the owner, and descried his own name in gold letters. The door of the back shop then opened, and there stood Susan by a cheerful fire inviting him to come to dinner. Vincent took his hand. ' Here is the treasure I promised you — a good business and a good wife. It is all of your own gaining ; do not be angry at my little trick. You would not taste the happiness that was in your power, so like the nurses I sugared the cup for you, and now you have learnt to enjoy it, I hope you will not refuse it '—Exchange.