The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-09-22

man whom he had known in the days of
his boyhood Nathan and Thomas Speed
were still fourishing, their business being
simply the looking after their real estate
and personal property, and in spreading the
glitter of their wealth before the world.
Their half f-brother, Peter, had grown to be
man of one-and-twenty, and was hard at
work in one of the mills belonging to them.
By some sort of hocuspocus, he had been
left poor at his fathers death-dependent
entirely upon his elder brothers. Roberts
informant could not explain, but he be-
lieved that old Solomon, by his will, had
left everything to Nathan and Thomas,
making them guardians to Peter, the
boy at that time having only been nine
years of age.
And still the years sped on. Robert
Ashworth, in the way Of money-making,
was successful. A strong, healthful, hon
orable man, dealing justly with all, and re-
specting the rights of all with whom he
came in contact, made friends wherever he
went, and made no enemies. Early in his
mountain experience he struck prolific
mine, and bought it. When he erected his
shanty on his land there was not another
human habitation within fifteen miles Of
him. At the end of twenty years, still
living upon the same spot where he had
first erected his simple cabin of logs, and
CLAW, and birch bark thatching, he was
father of town of four thousand inhab-
itants-its mayor and its chief man in
every way.
Five-and-thirty years had now elapsed
since Robert Ashworth left the eastern
home to seek his fortune, and the tickle
dame had never, in all that time, played
him false. Only, he had found no society
in which he cared to spend the calm
evening of his days. His heart turned
longingly back upon the old home. In all
the years of his wanderings he had seen no
woman whom he could love well enough
to make her his wife, and he prayed that
he might yet find faithful bosom upon
which he could rest his weary head in
truthful confidence and love. So he offered
all his Dorado property for sale and though
people were panied to see him leaving
them, yet they gladly bid for his valuable
estate.
When all his business had been settled,
and the balance-sheet brought to him by
his private secretary for inspection, he was
truly surprised. At first he could not
believe it. He had known that his property
was extensive and valuable, and he had
known. also, that his bank account was
large, seeing that he owned the bulk of the
bank himself, but when he looked at the
foot of the column of totals, and saw the
total sum of all-saw it running away into
the millions-over three millions
he was assured that he read Alright, and
that the figures did not lie, he was aston
ished.
Government bonds had then come into
the market, and had already reached
premium. His first movement, on reach
inc San Francisco, was to lock the three
million dollars safely up in registered
bonds. The money was deposited with the
sub-treasurer there, with orders that the
bonds should be sent to his address at New
York. After paying for the bonds he had
left between one and two hundred thousand
dollars in gold, of which he received suffi-
cient to pay his expenses on the road,
placing the rest in bank, and taking draft
on the New York exchange, which draft
for security's sake, he gave into the hands
of a reliable express company. And it was
we'll that he did so, for, between the Great
Salt Lake and Cheyenne, his pockets were
picked of every dollar he had with him.
Arriving in New York Robert first
looked after his bonds and his draft. The
bonds were safe and awaiting his call,
while the draft arrived on the very day of
his own arrival, having come on the same
train
And now for his visit to Belmont. If
he could not find a loving heart there, then
he knew not where to look. But if he
was to find true love it must not be known
that he was wealthy. No, the love his heart
yearned for was pure, loyal love for poor
Bobby Ashworth, Just as he was when he
went forth to seek his fortune. So he went
to a clothing store where second hand gar
ments were sold, and procured full suit
as sadly worn and faded as he could feel
comfortable in, clad in which he set forth
on his trial trip.
Arriving at Belmont the steams
cars took him to the very centre of the
town-he found the place wonderfully
grown. Where he had left green fields
and tangled hedges, were now broad streets,
fianked with stores and dwellings. In
short, the place had grown to full six times
its size fve-and-thirty years before. At
the smallest and poorest public house he
stopped and ordered supper; and, while it
was being prepared, he asked after the
Speeds. Did anyone present know them ?
Yes, man was sitting there, in the bar
room, who had formerly worked for them
Said he:
"Well, stranger, it would be very diff
cult to tell you just how they stand. If
you could take EN- for what they think of
themselves, they'd be two of the biggest
men in creation, That's Nathan and
Thomas. About a score Of years ago they
got to feelin' above work and took to playin'
the big bug entirely. They let out the
mills, and went to livin' on the interest of
theirmoney; and its my opinion that they we
come to dippin' pretty deep into their prin-
cipal. Howsumever, they're proud enough"
"And Peter Speed-what has become of
him?"
"Oh, he is here-the same poor hard
workin', unfort'ni man he always was,
He did, one spell, drink leetle too much,
but he finally married woman that made
man of him"
"But didn't his father leave him any
thing?"
'Not outright. The old man, somehow
got set against the boy-thought he was
wild and frolicsome, and unsafe to be trusted
with money; so he left him in the care of
his two older brothers"
"Wen," pursued Robert, "and what
have they done for him?"
'EReally, stranger, l don't like to say
anything against them two men but if the