Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1883-10-11

some sort og hocuspocug. he had been
left poor at bis fathers death-depan-
dent entirely upon kis elder brothers.
Roberts Informant could not explain,
bmt he believed that old Solomon, by
his viii, had left everything 70 Nathan
and Thomas, making them ioint-guar-
dians 10 Peter, the boy at that time
having only been zine years d age
And stiii the years sped On. Robert
AshwoFth, In the way Of money-mak-
lag, was succesfnl. a strong. health
fnl. honorable man. dealing justly
with all, and respecting the rights Of
ell with whom he came in contact.
made friends, wherever he went and
made no enemies. Early in his mDan-
tain experience he struck q prolific
mine, and h0uahtit. When he erect
ed his sIanty on his land there was
not another hnman hahitation 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 legs. and clay. and
birch bark matching, he was father Of
. town Of four thousand inhabitants
its mayor and its chief man in every
way.
Five-and-t thirty years had now
elapsed since Robert Ashworth left
the eastern. home to seek h;s 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 wandering he had seen
no woman whom he could love well
enough TO make her his wife, and he
prayed that he might yet find faith
ful bosom upon which he could rest
his weary head in truthful confidence
and love. So he offered all his Dorado
property for sale aud 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 bis 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-when 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 move.
ment, on reaching San Francisco, was
to lock the three million dollars safety
up in registered bonds. The money
was deposited with the sub-treasurer
theres 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 sufficient to paw
Ibis expenses on the road, placing the
rest in bank, and taking a 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 well 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 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 yearn-
ed for was q pure, loyal love for poor
Bobby Ashworth, just a. he was when
he went forth to seek his fortune. So
he went to q clothing store where
second hand garments 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-and the
steam-cars took him to the very cen.
ire Of the tOwn-he found the place
wonderfully grown. Where he had
left green fields and tangled hedges.
were now broad streets, hanked with
stores and dwellings. In short, the
place had grown 70 full six times its
size i've 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, q man was sitting
there. in the bar-room, who had form.
erly worked for them. Said he:
well, stranger, it would be yerv
difficult to tell you just how they
stand. If you could take senL for
what they think of themselves. ,they'd
Dc two Of the biggest men in creation.
That's Nathan and Thomas. About
q score of years ago they got to feelin'
above work and tool to pIayin'. the
big bug entirely. They let out the
mills. and went 10 Twin on the inter-
est OF their money, and its my opinion
that they've come to dippin' prettv
deep into their principal Howsum-
ever. they're proud enough"
sAnd Peter Speed-what has be-