Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-08-23

the last she confessed that she was
weak, with little hope Of life remain
ing. AT the end Of year and half
he wrote his third letter, from the Pa
cific coast bidding her that she should
direct her answer TO San Francisco.
He was going TO the mountains be-
yond Sonora, but friend in San
Francisco would forward it to him.
Another year passed, at the end OF
which time his last letter to Mrs.
Speed was returned 10 him. She was
dead, and the wanderer wrote no more
letters TO his old home.
Ten years more had passed when
Robert Ashworth--no a strong, rug
ged, brown-faced, full-bearded man of
2S-met man who had come from
Belmont within a year. From
this man he learned that Solomon
Speed was dead, and that the older
sons were carrying on the business.
They were both married, and had fam
lies, and were looked upon as being
very wealthy. At all events, they
were proud and aristocratic
Five years more, Robert again heard
from the old home-this time meeting
with man whom he had known in
the days of his boyhood. Nathan and
Thomas Speed were still flourishing.
their business being simply the look
ing after their real estate and personal
property, and in spreading the glitter
Of theiD wealth before the world.
Their half brother, Peter, had
grown to be man of twenty, and was
hard at work in one of the mills be
longing to them BY some sort OF
hocus pocus he had been left poor at
his fathers neutrality-suspicious. entirely
upon his elder brothers. Roberts I'M
formant could not fully explain; but
he believed that old Solomon by his
will, had left everything to Nathan
and Thomas, making them joint-guar-
dams to Peter, the boy at that time
having been only 8 years of age.
And still the years sped ON. Robert
Ashworth, in the way Of money-mak-
ing, was fortunate. A strong, health
full, honorable man, dealing justly
with all and respecting the rights of
all with whom he came in contact,
he made friends wherever he went,
and made no enemies. Early in his
mountain experience he struck pro
life 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 erect
ed his simple cabin Of logs, and clay
and birch bark matching, he was
father of town of 1000 inhabitants
its mayor, and its chief man in every
way
bive-and thirty years had now clasp
ed 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 we'll 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 trustful confidence and love.
So he offered all his Dorado property
for sale and though people We're pain
ed to see him leaving them, yet they
gladly bid for his valuable estate
When all his business had been set
tied, and the balance sheet brought
TO him by his private secretary for in
spection, he was truly surprised. At
first he could not believe it, He had
known that his property was extensive
and valuable; and had known also
that his bank account was large, see
| ing that he owned the bulk of the
bank himself but when he looked at
| the foot of the column of totals, and
saw the sum total of all-saw it run
ming away into the millions-over
three millions when he was assured
that he read Alright, and that the Zig.
ures did not lie, he was astonished.
Government bonds had then came
into the market, and had already
reached a premium His first move
ment on reaching San Francisco, was
to. lock $4,000, 600 safely up in regis
tered bonds The money was de
posted with the sub-TreasWer there
with orders that the bonds should be
sent to his address at New York At
ter paying for the bonds he had lef
between 81, 600 600, and $1,000, 600 ii
gold, of which he reserved sutlicien
to pay his expenses on the road, plac
ing the rest in banks, and taking
draft ON New York in exchange
which draft for security's sake he CAV,
into the hands of reliable express
company. And it was well that h,
did SO, for between the Great Sal
Lake and Cheyenne his pockets wer
} picked of every dollar he had viii
j him.
= Arriving in New York, Robert frs
looked after his home and his draft
The bonds were safe and awaiting hi
call, while the draft arrived on tn,
very day of ms own arrival having
. come ON the same train
And now for his visit to Belmont
If he could not find a loving hear
/ there, then he knew not where {,