Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1881-02-09
[From the Springfield Union.]
A QUEER DEED.
BY HENRY D. TAYLOR,

AOOh1uS, We'll euuciAteu, DuC uOC Ut
fond of society-at least ladies' societ,
He owned a nice little place in Cantor
vile and some city property ths
brought him good living. He was
civil engineer by profession, but neve
practlced except for his own amuseme1
or for the benefit of his few friends.
In CantonvilIe harbor was larg
island, Aurora island it was called, som
half mile long by quarter wide
This was q favorite resort OF his, AM
many days he spent alone on it. I
small grove of trees on one end made
very good picnic ground, but the pas
sage to and from the island was rathe
dangerous owing to the swift tides, ant
the place was not very much used.
Wilson finally conceived the idea tina
he wanted to buy the island and Sc
about trying to find the owner. No on
in town knew anything about it, but tn
town clerk sent him on the right tract
by sending him to the registry of deeds
Here he found the island was owned b,
Miss Nelly Armstrong.
Gan old maid" he SAID to himself, as
he found the last transfer dated bach
twenty years; "now where am to lool
for Miss Armstrong
Back to Cantonville he went, anl
set about to find the lady bearing the
name of Miss Nellie Armstrong. The
postmaster knew no such party. thu
town clerk ditto. Every one who was
likely to know was hunted up, but with
no success.
Then back to the registry office again
we went, and found out who transferred
the island to Miss Armstrong, thing
he should have done in the first place,
but failed to. This party was Ebenezel
Budget. Now then to find out who Mr..
Budget was, and where he lived, claimed
his attention. The first person he met
on his arrival home could tell him all he
wanted to know. Mr.. Budget was an
old miser who died in the town about
nineteen years ago. He LETT one son,
who was alive and probably in Ney
York. His name was Jonathan.
Next morning Mr.. Wilson left for
York. He found Mr.. Budget without
much trouble, and from him learned
that Miss Nellie Armstrong was niece
Of Ebenezer Budget, and that when he
died she was g year old, consequently
she was now twenty. Her parents lived
in Boston the last she knew anything
about them. He would not tell whether
they wero now there or not, but be gave
Wilson their former address, telling him
he could probably find out where they
were if he could not find them there.
The next morning found Mr.. Wilson
in Boston, and he was soon in the
counting room OF Mr.. Armstrong, the
father Of Kittie. He was a fne-looking
man Of some IS years, and Wilson soon
found himself wondering if his daughter
was as nice in looks and manners as her
father. Mr.. Armstrong did not know
whether Nellie would like to sell the is
land or not, but if Mr.. Wilson would
call at the house in the evening he
might talk to her about it. Would it be
convenient for him to do so?
It certainly would, and Mr.. Wilson
left the Office with feeling that he was
in luck, though he could not exactly tell
why, for he had not purchased the island
and did not know whether he could or
not. Still it was with a very pleasant
feeling that he prepared for his evening
visit. say prepared, for he took more
pains with his toilet than he had ever
taken before, even to call on some of his
most intimate friends. And, finally.
several new things had to be purchased
before he was entirely satisfied with his
appearance. A servant ushered him into
the library, where he met Mr.. Arm
strong. That gentleman at once sent
for his daughter.
After the introduction, Mr.. Wilson.
Of course stated his business, although
he would rather have talked on some
interesting subject, for he had lost much
Ct bis enthusiasm in regard to the
island. Miss Armstrong was his ideal
OF woman in looks, and he had no
doubt but what she was intellectually
also.
Il had never thought much about
the island" said Miss Nellie, 'sfor I did
not suppose it was Of any money value
whatever"
In that you are mistaken, said Mr..
Wilson. "This land is quite valuable.
1t has a fine grove upon it, and consider
able timber, besides the land is good
place for picnics, or for a summer resi-
dence. In fact was thinking Of build
ing house upon the island myself if I
succeeded in buying it"
"You are certainly very frank in yo,1r
statement of its value" said Mr.. Arm
strong, "for we know nothing of it at
all, only from the description in letter
from Mr.. Budget which came with the
deed whereby we knew it's location, I
will get the deed and letter and see how
it reads
So saying he arose and took from his
desk the papers. The letter was q
queerly written thing, and, as Mr.. Arm
strong said, very fair sample of his
wife's brothers letters. It was written
thus:
10 Miss Armstrong:
Find Aurora
island just
north Of Cantonville Mills,
down on the coast. A
Minute description: If calm
you can approach it anywhere.
Mind the mud;it
only lies north. I
never 60 from
east because of rocks. The
yearly tides are strong, and many
inexperienced boatmen 20
never to come back. If you
thus profit by my advice. for
hear me it is good, the beach
easily is reached ard you ~ \
can pass -
very pleasant day. Superb II. /
views are to be had, which
European country can
scarcely be found to exceed.
~, astu EBENEZER BUDGET
The deed was very strong, making it
learly understood that the island and
contained thereon was made
yer to Miss Nellie Armstrong, and also
tating that the letter describing the
property must be given if it was sold or
Mr.. Armstrong asked Wilson what he
fought the island was worth,