National Republican., 1884-08-02

but there could DO no longer any doubt
that the baulk was, in my regard, q
benignant freak of nature. For IL re-
vealed what, In lieu Of any other way OF
| expressing II, may call q decorative
treatment of tho acanthus leaf This
appeared in about threc-fourths Of tho
| ontiro length of the grain, beginning
| about an eighth from one end and ending
| about an eighth from the other.
What do you think of II nowT
cried, triumphantly, to Watkins.
It's wonderful he said It's the
finest thing Of the kind | ever saw.
Como, I'll give you twice what you paid.
What do you say? IL isn't every day you
get u chance of making two hundred and
siNtv-fvo pounds on one transaction
"Tll Keep my luck" [ cried. I'll
keep 1t, however it may turn out
Watkins once moro went away. Twas
in too great fevcr of excitement to heed
his action, but aftcrward | learned ho
thon sent messenger for Mr. Marion.
In short timo tho old man came briskly
into tho yard.
So, young Bayliss,' he said, 4 hear
you have had n wonderful stroke Of luck
with that log Ohv he cried, cnthasias-
tically, its n beauty! Upon my life. it is
! beauty! VIII you sell It as it standsY
II shook my head. Mr.. Watkins has
been good enough 1 answered, to offer
me five hundred and thirty, double what
gave for 1t, but I'D rathcr not take tho
money, sir, If you don't mind
"Pooh y cried tho old man. I'll make
IL soven hundred and fifty. Eth? Will
You take seven hundred and fftyT
by this timo we had got third
through, and leaf by leaf the pattern had
/ frEn Ia 1tu,u unVn ,.,I -. 4
sign. For u moment | wavercd. Horo
was chance Of making four hundred
and eighty.fve pounds without any risk
whatever. Yet still | was 10th to part
with that log. l said to myself after n
moments struggle Sink or swim, | will
keep it, Then aloud AS soon rs II is
all cut you shall have it, If you like, at
what you consider a fair price
II will not trouble you with nnv fur
ther details beyond telling that cutting
after cutting added to the value of my
purchase, and that by tho timo the great
saw passed through that wood finally,
Mr.. Marston had said to me 1T is worth
every penny of fifteen hundred pounds,
and you can have fifteen hundred pounds
for it, if that will satisfy YOU
1 closed with tho old man there aud
then, hurried out of the yard and, tax
ing cab, drove straight with tho news
to Jane.
That was tho beginning Of my good
fortune. The next and greatest luck that
came TO me was my wife. Since we were
married we have prospered beyond my
most ardent hopes Of the oldon time. /
have always regarded that mahogany log
as the basis of my fortune, tho founda-
tion of my success. 1t has helped me to
the building Of this house. which out of
gratitude to it l have called tho Log Hut.
You may have observed that among tho
presents which kind friends have poured
in upon Kate, my daughter, on this occa-
sion, there was mono from me. | have
kept this story until now in order to give
point to my wedding gift. Tho carriage
is OF tho door. but before the young people
set out, accompanied by the good wishes
of all, think 1t only right that they
should know that the present intend
for them upon the occasion of their mar
riage is the Log Hut of Clapham.-Thc
CornhiH Mdgdsine.