River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-08-30
able - the wife said.


well, think so, too, Robert"
By and by, after three of the children
the youngest--had been kissed al
around and put to bed, and, by the way
The little four-years- old Robert, name,
after the elder of the Tx, cried lustil
when they tore him away from "Uncl
Obert'-he was to be uncle to them
after this said Peter, in his frank, hearty
off hand way:
"Say, old fellow, suppose you hay
come home somewhat under the wealth
or, chr"
Robert told him that h. had left Sa
Francisco with between two and tire
hundred dollars in his pocket, but h.
ttd been robbed between Great Sal
AXE and Cheyenne of every dollar o
Il Il went to sleep in the car" he ex
claimed, sat night, and must have bee
hol0formed on top of that"
"Well, WE'LL" cried Peter, giving hin
friendly pat on the knee, and speak
ing from the heart, don't you worry.
Thank God, you have health and
strength. Wen fix you up a good com.
and we'll look around and see what car
be done. | wish you could find work
here and live with us. You shan't pay
how, here's your home for now, Rob
ert."
Robert said he would think of it,
And he told the story of his visit to the
mansions of Nathan and Thomas. Pc
ter's brow contracted and his face grew
lark. He said but little. "For my
kitty's sake he whispered, IL never
speak the names of those men when
can avoid it"
1t was very near the hour of midnight
when the trio began to think of bed
AS they arose from their seats Robert
took hand of Peters and one of Kitty's,
and so held them while he spoke. His
voice was tremulous, and his eyes were
Drumming.
"Petert-K itty!-True hearts!-I
don't want you to be spending the night
in speculations upon the future came
back 10 the old home resolved that
would put my three cousins into the
balance and weigh them. | have done
it, and you know the result. / told you
| was robbed on the road. so
was, but | had taken the precaution to
send my fortune on ahead of me; SO
only lost the trifle | had reserved for
expenses on my journey.
Dear beartsl When | came to reckon
no my possessions, six months ago. and
found myself the owner of more money
than [ could ever spend, / felt
the need of the one thing that was not
miHe-a true heart to love-a heart to
love me in rett1rn-and somebody to
help me to enjoy my wealth. There!
Now to bed, and on the morrow we wi II
consider. One thing, my dear Peter
your days of digging and delving are
past and gone. Kitty"
He drew her gently towards him. and
she kissed him-a sweet, ssterly kiss,
warmed with dewy eyes, and a loving
smile, butshe could not speak.
On the following morning Robert
learned for the first time that the grand
residences Of Nathan and Thomas Speed
were for sale. They had reached the
end of their financial means, and wished
to sell out and leave the place.
Then Robert sat down, with Peter and
Kitty, and frankly gave them state
ment of his wealth. At first Peter could
hardly believe that he had heard Alright;
while, as for Kitty, she could not com
prehend the vastness of the sum; but
thew finally knew this: They were to
he Roberts chosen com panions thence
forth; to fear the wolf-they and their
little oneS-no more forever.
Robert went TO New York, where he
engaged an agent-who was to work IN
his own name to come TO Belmont and
purchase every piece of property that
Speed Brothers had to sell.
There was great wonderment when 1t
was known that stranger had pur-
chased all the Speed property and that
wonderment was increased tenfold
when a week later, it became known
that Robert Ashworth was the pur-
chaser, and that the palatial mansion OF
Nathan Speed had been decided to his
half brother, Peter.
Ave, and more still; to Peter Speed,
and to Peters wife and children, had
duly made over all the mills, and
houses, and lands, clear of all encum-
oerance, formerly belonging to the
others aforesaid.
But who shall tell the feelings Of
Natha n and Thomas when it came to
them that the poor wayfarer-the brown
faced cousin whom they had so harsh
~ turned from their doors, was the
s'power behind the the throne" that had
furnished all the money? Oh! the tor
ture of their vain regret and deep char
.rin was terrible, But that was not the
worst. The worst came when Nathan's
wife was brought to the need of,applyinq
70 cousin Robert for help.
Tire browning JOY was yet to come-a
10Y of which Robert Ashworth had
often dreamed, but which he had never
Jared to promise himself. After Peter
an Kitty moved into the great house,
kitty's sister Mary came to visit them
Polly was the name by which she was
always called. She was two years older
than her sister, possessing the same
sweet face, and loving heart
honest heart. Robert fell desperately
in love at sight, and she very soon loved
him in return. When she came to wind
her arms around his neck, and nestle
f1ndly and confdingly upon his BOSOM
he knew that it was himself she loved
and his cup of joy was null to the brim