Discovering Treasure by Crystal Mary Lindsey Page A

of acres when the drought comes.”
    All were amazed, what a good idea! And he was so right, and it was even better, or as good as the one formed in Treasure’s mind. Everyone began to speak at once until Treasure stood up.
    â€œQuiet, I want to say something first before I forget it. Kelvin’s idea is a wonderful one, and I am thinking that his idea with mine could make a big difference to our town when times are as bad as I have heard they can get. Perhaps it’s not an absolute cure, but it would certainly be helpful.” She reached across to put some milk into the tea Ella just poured for her. “Okay, this is my idea. Most homes have a tank to collect rain water and some even have wells. But, there is no water tank attached to the church and only a small tank for the school. I propose we get a much larger one in-ground, for the school and another for the church.” Stirring her tea and then taking a sip, she continued. “As for Kel’s idea, we could all put in large tanks where our dirty house water could be stored for reuse on vegetable gardens, when the drought hits.”
    Connor sat amazed, this girl certainly had her head screwed on right. Not many women would even bother to consider water a matter for concern. Her character rose immediately in his esteem for her. She wasn’t the la-di-da self-consumed young woman he once valued her as; she actually had a good brain in a sensible head on her shoulders, which was a rarity.
    Marcus Kingsley elbowed Connor, almost reading his mind. Since they were seated at a table separate to other church member’s, yet still in proximity, he lowered his voice.
    â€œTo know Treasure and her way of thinking is to have known her grandmother and my dearly departed wife, Treasures mother. They were exceptionally clever women who forever found ingenious ways to promote what they believed in. Due to them I was convicted to defend women’s rights.”
    Marcus cut himself another piece of chocolate cake, looking at it with head down for a moment, then he told a story that Treasure had never heard till now. Perhaps it was the peacefulness of the day, or the sheer contentment of acceptance among friends. For whatever reason Marcus was compelled to share and since none wanted others to hear, they all bent forward to catch the narrative.
    â€œI met my dear wife when I was a nonentity clerk. She came into the bank where I was working to deposit an amount of money endowed to her by her father. She was loveliness in everything about her, unmarried and eight months pregnant. I could see she felt poor in spirit due to, I was to learn later, the loss of the man she thought loved her. We chatted and she asked if I would luncheon with her. Of course I did, I had no family of my own and she was obviously in distress.” Glancing around at the other tables and making sure none others were listening, he continued. “The poor lass were beside herself. She related her whole story to me, with the decision of asking her childless sister to adopt her baby. This was the only decision she could think of that would permit her to have a part in caring for the little mite. She had thought it through from every angle explaining to me how her sister followed her husband on his explorations. So on these occasions she would be able to step in and care for the child as its aunt. This would be a socially acceptable arrangement and one that undoubtedly would reassure the consensual.
    He leaned toward Treasure to continue. Taking a huge breath, and as if he wanted it off his chest, he completed the rest. “Your grandfather had the wisdom to set me up in starting a bank of my own. He was a kind man and we all worked together so that no one knew your real identity. In the beginning of the bank it was hard work. Your mother thought I didn’t care for having children of our own. This was not so, I just didn’t want to burden her with another worry. So you