The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1883-08-31


looked upon as being very wealthy. AT
all events, they were proud and aristo-
cratic.
Five years more, and Robert again
heard from the old home-ths time
known in the days of his boyhood. Ma
than and Thomas Speed were still -four
ishing, their business being simply the
looking after their real estate and per-
sonal property, and in spreading the
glitter of their wealth before the world
Their half brother, Peter, had grown to
be a man of one-and-twenty, and was
hard at work in one of the mills belong
ing to them. BY some sort of hocus- po-
Gus he had been left poor at his fathers
death-dependent entirely upon his eld.
er brothers. Roberts informant could
not fully explain; but he believed that
old Solomon, by his will, had left every
thing to Nathan and Thomas, making
them loint-guardians to Peter, the boy
at that time having been only nine wears
of age.
And still years sped on. Hobert Ash
worth, in the way ofmoney- making, was
fortunate. A strong, healthful, honor
able 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 enc
mics 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 habita-
ton within fifteen miIesTof him. AT the
end of twenty years, still living upon the
same spot where he had first erected his
simple cabin of logs, and clay and birch
bark thatching, he WAS father of a town
of four thousand inhabitants--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 soci-
ETY. in which he cared to spend the calm
evening of his days. His heart turned
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 a faith
full bosom upon which he could rest his
weary head.in trustful confidence and
love. So he offered all his Dorado prop
erty 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 set
tied, and the balance sheet brought to
him by his private secretary for inspec-
ton, he was truly surprised At first
he could not believe it. He had known
that his property was extensive and val.
.Eable: 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
sum total of all-saw it running away in
to the millons-when he was assured
that ne read Alright. and that the figures
did not lie, he was astonished.
Government bon Is had then come in
to the market, and had already reached
a premium. His first movement on
reaching San Francisco, was to lock
three million dollars safely up in regis
tered bonds. The money was deposited
with the sub-treasurer there, with or
ders that the bonds should be sent to
his address at New York. After paying
and two hundred thousand dollars in
gold, of which he reserved sufficient to
pay his expenses on the road, placing
the rest in banks, and taking draft Oh
New York, in exchange, which draft for
securtys sake, he gave into the hands
or reliable express company. And it
was well he did so, for between the
Great Salt Lake and Cheyenne. his pock-
cts iwere. 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 every
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 notlwhere 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 rs he was when he set forth to seek
his fortune. So he went to a clothing
store where secondhand garments were
sold, and purchased full suit IS sadly
worn and faded as he could feel comfort
able IN, clad in which he set forth on
his trial trip.
Arrived at Belmont -and the steam
cars took him to the very center of the
town-he found the place wonderfully
grown. Where he had left green fields
and tangled hedges, were now broad
ings. In short. the place had grown to
full six times its size tive-and- thirty
years before. At the smallest and poor
est public house he stopped and ordered
supper; and, while it was being pre-.
pared, he asked after the Speeds. Did
any one present know them? Yes, a
man was sitting there, in the barroom,
who had formerly worked for them.
said he:
"Well, stranger, it would be very diff
ticult to tell you just how they stand. Ii
you could take em for what they think
of Themselves, they'd be two ofthe big.
gest men in creation. That's Nathan and
Thomas. About score of years ago they
got to playin' the big bug entirely. They
let out the mills, and went to livin' on
the interest of their money; and it's nv
opinion 'at they've come to dippin' pret-
ty deep into their principal. Howsom-
ever they're proud enough"
And Peter Sf.cd-what has become
Of hm?"
20, he is here-the same poor, hard
workin' uncomfortnit man he always
was He did one spell, drink lettle too
much; but he finally married woman
that made Il saped man of HIM"
But didn't his father leave hlm any
thing?"
mot outright. The old man, somehow,
got set against the boy-thought.h was
wild and frolicsome, and unsafe to be
trusted with money: 80 he left him in
the care Of his two older brothers."
"Well," pursued Robert, 'and what
have they done for him?"
Really, stranger, l don't like to say
anything against them two men: but if
the truth was told think it would come
out at they meant, from the first, to
have the whole property in their own
hands. For atime they refused to let
the moor fellow have money on the
plea that he would drink it all up: and
then, when he fell in love With Kitty
Moore, they told him il he married her
they would cast him off forever. You
see, Kitty, bless her sweet face! aye and
bless her noble heart, too? Kitty was
poor girl-an orphan-workin' in one of
the mills; and the big-feelin' men