Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-04-29
SILAS BRONSON'S OIL INVEST
MENT.
BY ERsKINE NJ. HAMILTON.

"Weli," drawled SYas in his weak, un-
certain way, "maybe don't know beans
folks say don't, an more'd likely they
know; bat then faint my fault if don't
was born that way an don't see as how
] kin help it,"
Mr. Silas Bronson was standing on his
portico, or what passed for one, when he
uttered the above. The house to which
the portico belonged was q lettering, tum-
ble-down affair, very much awry, and
looking not unlike man intoxicated who
is uncertain about his standing in the
world. And the surroundings were in
keeping with the house. The fences
seemed to possess the same helplessness,
and Struggled about without regard to di-
vision lines, while the garden patch was
laid out with the mathematical precision
of chaos.
mo, faint my fault" continued Silas;
~ did the best l knew how with the
money" amr.r
"No, We didn't" answered Mrs. Bron-
son, sharply, from within the house. Mrs.
Bronson, a care-worn, sharp featured
woman, seemed 10 be greatly disturbed
and her fingers worked nervously as she
gathered up the few dinner dishes. "Ye
did know better. Ye had sense enough to
know your fdmily were out of clothes, the
house an place needed fixin' up, an We
kept promisin' ye'd get all these things
when we got some money. But ye didn't
get the money an we never would have got
il if Providence, as it were, hadn't a just
chuckeds, it into your face by that uncle
dyin' off there in California an leavin' We
a thousand dollars. And then, like born
idiot, you must needs give it all to Judge
Fay to sink in that oil well of his n, where
veil never hear ont again"
"Well, did as we'll as could" again
pleaded Silas.
"Of course ye did weU" emphasized
Mrs. Bronson, with an unconscious pun.
"That old oil well will keep the money
safe enough, reckon; yen never get it
back
Then Mrs. Bronson said no more, and
Silas was quite willing to keep silent on
disagreeable subject A wcil-meaning but
shiftlas man was Mr.. Bronson, not in
clined to work, with little knowledge OF
business, and no practical sense to direct
what knowledge he had. On Mrs. Bron-
son fell the real burden, and had it not
been for her sagacity and executive ability
poor Silas would have Jared badly. In
spite of her efforts, however, the fortunes
of the family were getting at low ebb,
and her complaints of her husbands anna
BILE inability were becoming frequent
moro frequent than Silas liked.
Don't be always a-frettin', Maria" he
said, one day, "Luck's agin US, allow,
but it'll change pooty soon." i,
mot onless We work fort" answered
Maria, not relishing such serene resigna-
ton. "They do say that Providence takes
care Of lazy people and fools, but don't
set no great store ont"
But luck" did change after while
An uncle of Mr.. Bronson died convenient
ly. off in California, and, among other be-
quests, left 81 900 to his nephew. Then
Mrs. Bronson's face frightened. Visions
of homo fixed up, of comfortable cloth.
ing for herself and family, began to mt
before her eyes, But they proved to be
only visions after all. When the letter
came containing the long. looked-forc check
Silas went up to the village bank TO get tne
money, and there he fell In with certain
Judge Fay. That smooth, glib-tongued
speculator met Silas just as he was coming
ont Of the bank and Immediately buttc2'
holed him.
"Harioo, Bronsonl How do you dol
Glad 10 meet you; just the man wanted
TO Sea- o..
Peoty well, thank ye," answered 81
las, smiling weakly. He feltsconIdera6ie
awe of the Judge and began to wonder
what possible business that great man
could have with him. But the Judge ana
not seem to notice his embarrassment; ne
locked arms with Silas and began talking
in very familiar and confidential man
ner as they walked along. p, ~
Show are your family, Bronson ny
tho way, those are mighty smart children
of yours.mighty smart a,;;a,on We" frar,,en.lv entity
we're equally so. My children frequently
tend the same school"
II haven't any boys; they're all girls
it's Jennie, maybe, ye mean," mildly sug-
gested Siias
"Oh-yesl Jennie; SO it is. Strange