Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-02-09
[From the Springfield Union.l
A QUEER DEED.
BY HENRY ID. TAYLOR.

Charles Wilson was very old speci-
men OF young man. He was very good
looking, well educated, but not at all
fond of society-at least ladies' society.
He owned nice little place In Canton
vile and some city property that
brought him q good living. He was q
civil engineer by profession, but never
practlced except for his own amusement
or for the benefit of his few friends.
In Cantonville harbor was large
island, Aurora island it was called, some
half a mile long by a quarter wide.
This was favorite resort of his, and
many days he spent alone on it. A
small grove of trees on one end made a
very good picnic ground, but the pas
sage to and from the island was rather
dangerous owing to the swift tides, and
the place was not very much used.
Wilson finally conceived the idea that
he wanted to buy the island and set
about trying to find the owner. No one
In town knew anything about it, but the
town clerk sent him on the right track
by sending him to the registry of deeds.
Here he found the island was owned by
Miss Nelly Armstrong.
can old maid,' he SAID to himself, as
he found the last transfer dated back
twenty years; snow where am [ to look
for Miss Armstrong ?"
Back to Cantonville he went, and
set about to find the lady bearing the
name of Miss Nellie Armstrong. The
postmaster knew no such party, the
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 Ebenezer
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 left one son,
who was alive and probably in New
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 a 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 were now there or not, but be gave
Wilson their former address, telling him
he could probably find out where they
We're if he could not find them there.
The next morning founu Mr.. Wilson
III Boston, and he was soon in the
counting-room of Mr.. Armstrong, the
father OF Kittie. He was fine-looking
man OF some So years, and Wilson soon
found himself wondering if his daughter
was as nice III 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?
1t 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 very pleasant
feeling that he prepared for his evening
visit L 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 his 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.
81 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 fine grove upon it, and consider
able timber, besides the land is a good
place for picnics, or for summer resi-
dence In fact was thinking of build