e received notice to leave this house. I guess Mr. Haskell, the
owner, wishes it for himself." She did not add that her rent was about
due, and she did not know how to meet the payment.

"Where do you think of going, widow?"

"I'm sure I don't know, Abner. I haven't a single place. You know I'm
all alone in the world."

She looked at him fondly, and he at once fell into the trap.

"Better come an' live with me, Lucy."

"Oh, Abner! What do you mean?"

"I mean that I think a heap o' you, Lucy, an' I'd like you fer my wife.
I know as how we could git along fine together," answered Nat's uncle,
earnestly. Just then that pot of gold seemed almost within his reach.

The widow blushed, and pretended to be greatly surprised.

"I--I never dreamed of this, Abner!" she whispered. "It's--it's so
sudden."

"But you ain't goin' to say no, are you?"

"Well, I--I----" She blushed again. "I must say I like you a great deal,
Abner."

"Then say yes."

"Well, I will," declared the widow, and then she allowed him to kiss
her. Abner felt very happy, and asked her to set the day at once.

"Bein' as you're to git out o' this house, you might as well give up the
boarders, an' come to my house at once," he said.

The widow consented, and said she would marry him in ten days. He drove
home almost in a dream, and at once had the house put in order, and
actually bought himself a new suit of clothes and a new hat.

"It's a good bit o' money to spend," he reasoned. "But I've got to do
the proper thing, or she won't feel like lettin' go o' that gold."

When the time came, they were married in the local church, and then he
drove her home. Her furniture had already arrived. She at once took
possession of the place, and began to set things to rights.

"I won't ask her about that pot o' gold jest yet," mused Abner. "I'll
have to wait a few days at least."

CHAPTER XVI

ABNER VISITS NEW YORK

Several days passed, and Nat's uncle did all in his power to please his
new wife. He found her very tart at times, and inclined to have her own
way, but she was a good cook and general housekeeper, and that counted
for a great deal.

"It won't do to cross her," he told himself. "I've got to find out about
thet gold first."

At last he could stand the suspense no longer and so, one day, while at
the dinner table, he told the story of a rich find of money by a lady in
Philadelphia.

"It was in the weekly paper," said he, "and by the