Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1872-08-15
Miscellany.
THE POr OF GOLD.
BY REBECCA HARDING DAVIS.

,a BY REBECCA HARDING DAVIS
Tss LIEUTENANT CALDERwooD was at his
sisters house on a visit, during his two
weeks furlough. He was sitting with
her one evening in the parlor, while hel
two children were studying their lessons
/. at the table in the back room.
$50 Paul is a lazy scholar. eh9n said
the Lieutenant, lowering his voice.
'No, not at all. He is diligent enough,
provided his studies suit his fancy. But
what are they? If you look over his
shoulder now you'll find him poring over
some Book of Dreams or the History
of Captain Kidd and his Treasures in
stead of his school books. The bow is
deranged on the subject of growing rich
suddenly at some bold master-stroke. /
wish you would talk to him. You are
supreme with him just now 1t may be
) yon could rldicule him out of his absurd
ityi | cannot"
s'But ought he to be ridiculeds"
s'James!''
swell, call Clara in, and I'll go talk to
him while
Mrs. Forbes beckoned her little girl to
her, and the Lieutenant sauntered into
the back room, and, am sorry to say,
lighted cigar
well, Paul, my boy, hard at it,
What's the bootl-Latin or algebrag"
Paul colorer4 little. ''Oh, 1 can run
over my lessons in the morning They're
so horribly dull. I'm reading now"
Head of your classes, I hope; aren't
Paul laughed. mo, indeed; nearer
the o'Gher end. Well, the truth is"
throwing down his book and leaning over
con- 'ddentially. ''Ive got it into my head
to make money Mother has hard work
to get along with Clara and me-"
81 know, Paul." said the Lieutenant,
gravely.
''Now, what good does this scanning
of dead languages and poring over cube
roots des How much meat will that put
in the pot?"
"How do you intend to aid your
mother ~
"Well, sir" whispered Paul, eagerly,
for this was his first patient listener, eff
/ had large sum of money that | could
get all at once, without any delay-a large
sum-then afterward l could make a
scholar or what pleased of myself"
The Lieutenant drew the book Paul had
been reading toward him, "Revelations
by Clairvoyance and Spiritualism regard
ing Hidden Treasures" Paul watched
him keenly as he read the title over, but
not the vestige of smile fitted.over the
Lieutenant's face
T." I'll tell you, candidly; uncle, about it"
(hitching his chair nearer). Erred Parker
came from Jersey, near where Kidd
buried his treasure. You know the
place ?"
"Not precisely; do you %
''Not the exact spot but it is near Bur-
lington. Kidd buried the chest and then
called on his men TO know who would
stand guard over it for aundred wears
So one fellow stepped out and stood firm
while Kidd shot him through the heart.
So they buried h..m standing over the
chest, with dra'@n sword in his hand.
You've heard f.ne incident ?"
T" Yes, but''-
"H'w will I find the place ? Well"-
faui ofgan to fdget little, turning over
the leaves of the book.
perhaps you will laugh at me, uncle,
but [ don't see why you should. The
ancients called in the aids of oracles and
dreams. They knew how to read coming
events in the flight of birds or by the en-.
trails of beasts. If we cannot do so too il
seems to me it is because we have lost the
power, not because the signs are not
there to read. The wisest men have not
been ashamed to be superstitious 1t is
only fools who think there is nothing in
the world but what they can see and
handle"
II quite agree with you with regard to
the fools, Paul"
Paul, who had been defiant hitherto,
blushed with pleasure 81 don't know
he continued, "what credit to give to
spiritual mediums. Fact is, I've run
after them till Pm about tired. They've
got all my last two quarters allowance,
and so I've had to go without new clothes
this winter. But if could succeed! II
could only find the pot or chest! Just
think! 1t would make mother easy fol-
lifer
Very true" said his uncle.
They were both silent for awhile, the
Lieutenant smoking and Paul turning
over the leaves of his book with fever.
1sh haste, glancing up now and then, fur
lively, at his uncle
'What first put this matter into your
head, Paul?"
II don't know. We really need money
z so often. And then Fred Parker told his
stories of Kidd's treasures, and see these
clalrvoyant advertisements in the paper
every day"
CAS- to these mediums said Lieutenant
Calderwood, thoughtfully, ''my opinion
is that they will take your money and you
will get no information in return
never had any Intercourse with them, fol-
/ have no belief in their ability to tell
you anything you do not know already
yourself. A friend of mine, Captain
Johns, told me of a woman, a fortune
teller, who made some remarkable predic
tlons-very remarkable, indeed She
sketched out his whole career for him.
"Who Was she? Where is she to be
found? cried Paul, forgetting to ask
whether the prophesies proved true OF
not-and they were most ridiculously alb
surd and untrue
At No. 81 Poplar street," said his
uncle, after several minutes hesitation
"~he was to be consulted only at night
But that was several years ago."
I'll go and see her tomorrow night,
said Paul He was more nervous and un
settled than usual that evening, and sa
looking in the fire for long time
"The boy is ruined" sighed hi
mother nothing will ever restore him tt
common sense or usefulness"
1t is a long day until sunset" sait
her brother, quoting his faYorite proverb
The next night Paul put ON his over
coat just after supper. and his last dolla
in his pocket. His uncle had not heen a
home during the afternoon. Paul kisset
his mother good-by once or twice.
Where are you going, my son ?"
"To make our fortune" he said gayly
as he ran out.
No 81 Poplar street was soon found
1t was a narrow, dark entry, lighted by
red lamp, which gave ghostly and mur
derous light. Paul went up the windin.
stairs, and found at uhe top door witt
placard, on which was printed with
common pen:
MADAME D'AUBREY, SEEREss."::
Paul tapped. No answer. He tappe,
again.
Enter" said hoarse voice.
He pushed the door open and went in
The room was bare of furniture, excer
another red lamp, which shed it's blood
glare over the gray walls, and blac
antique chair. in which sat tall, gaur
woman. She was robed in a loose, fal