HIS FINIS. 393 



there. But his name on the bags of money proved 

 who was their owner, and that he had been on the 

 spot. The bags were lifted up, the vault reverently 

 closed over the dead man's remains, and the search 

 continued. 



Vain search ! Yaspard carried the money to Breeta, 

 and told the story. Yet it was left unfinished, for he 

 had also to tell that James Gertson had not been found, 

 though his treasure had. 



Yule morning dawned ! By that time the storm 

 had abated, and Breeta's parents had come to her. 

 Soothed and fondled by the dearest, truest friends that 

 this world can bestow upon a woman, the young wife 

 became composed enough to tell coherently about the 

 Finis which she had seen, and no one except Yaspard 

 doubted for one moment that James had died at that 

 hour. But Yaspard had unravelled one superstitious 

 belief that night, and he was not likely to accept 

 another, though told so circumstantially by Breeta. 

 He believed that it was Gertson's self in flesh and 

 blood that she had seen, and that the old man had 

 stolen away to the Ha' after giving his wife a fright. 



Yule day was not Such a very hard, sad, lonely one 

 as Breeta had anticipated. When a woman's heart is 

 not deeply concerned in a loss such as she had 

 sustained, there is a certain dreary comfort in being 

 the centre of attraction for the time being. 



Sisters, brothers, friends, and above all, parents, 

 hovered about the pretty young widow, offering her 

 such solemn attentions as seemed fitting; and fre- 



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