Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-09-19

~ on may laugh " you WILL SuHy, but
there is something in luck, and luck has al
ways been against the Aldens, said John Al
den, despondently, to his sister.
"How, John p Susy turned her round
bright face attentively toward him.
Look at grandfather George Alden and
his sons Why, their estate was the richest
on the Ohio shore. They lived like Irish
kings I've heard people say, and excepting
father they all died penniless."
Grandfather Alden, l am sorry to say,
was too fond of horse racing and cards to
keep money long, and his sons, excepting
father all drank, said Susy, dryly "Liy.
ing like Irish kings, too, is not the most Sc
cure way of keeping a fortune
"Well, now, look at me, " continued John,
with the scowl ON his face unaltered. Il
neither drink nor gamble, nor care for the
turf. I'm nineteen, aud I've tried honestly
to do my duty in every way
"Well, John -
"Well -snappishly-'s the difference
between me and George Harvey. At school,
study AS hard as l could he carried OF all
the prizes. was the dull plodder, he the
brilliant scholar, the genius When visitors
came, | heard him pointed out invariably AS
Harvey, sir. A most promising fellow. Hen
make his mark in the world l was passed
by without word. When we 20 into sUcie-
=
pains to be polite and attentive to the girls
and Harvey laughs and quizzes and is posi-
lively rude to them. Yet lie is splendid and
fascinating aud the incest girls are proud
to have him for a partner, while Im endured
on suiferance. There is precisely the same
difference in business. In every way he is
favored by fortune and am sighted"
Il do not see that, John" said Susy, grave
ly. George has dashy, SNOWY manner,
which commands attention to whatever be
knows But people soon find out how little
that is Even girls, in the long run"
Il hate the long run q " cried John, impa-
tiently.
Susy was silent. She knew very well that
this outbreak was all owing to the fact that
Laura Faulke had shown some attention to
George Harvey the night before. He al
ways did care too much for Laura Faulke's
opinion since they went to the primary school
together thought Susie Indignantly. aud
as for business" she said aloud, Il do not
see that George has any advantage over you
III his position. You both have been left
farms, both are Independent both have the
means of making a sure, though not a large
income"
Now that shows just how little you know
about it. Harvey's farm numbers just the
same amount of acres that mine does it is
true. But his is on the south side of the
creek, in rich alluvial soil, mine on the hill
side, where nothing will grow but pine trees
and Jimson weeds"
"Helloa What's the matter, Jack 2" said
Squire Hall, riding up to the porch on his
grey mare.
Il was grumbling about my patch here, to
tell the truth. 1t will yield nothing abso-
luteiy nothing"
Don't be too sure of that my boy. Come
out here bit, ," beckoning him mysteriously
aside.
They whispered for some time together,
and then John came in his face flushed and
his eyes glowing.
There's great news, Susy! Oil has been
discovered in the bottom, and a company
from New York has sent on inspectors to test
the property on either side of the creek,
among the rest Harveys and mine. If there
are any indications of oil being there, we can
ask our own price for the land"
"Oh John, | knew all would go well with
you"
The little girls face was pretty and spark
ling, and her brother stopped and kissed it
heartily.
The inspection is to be made to- morrow,
and then I'm made or lost for life. If only
luck il not against mel
God will be for you in any case, John"
said Susy gently.
But 'luck" to John Alden which came in
good fortune of dollars and cents, or even
praise, was a much more real thing than the
unseen power which his sister worshipped so
faithfully.
He rose the next morning with a haggard
face, which showed he slept but little.
To-day" he said to Susy, lit will be all
settled. The inspector from New York will
be here by 10 o'clock. In an hour he can
tell if there is any oil on the land. He is an
expert you understand. If there is any,
will sell and build house like Squire Peters's,
only larger. Aud then Susy-who knows =
l might marry. l am as old as Ben Scott"
Yes that is true"
She could not bear to discourage him by
hint of defeat. He watched nervously by
the door for the men to appear, and when
he saw them coming-the New York expert
aud one or two of the proposed stockholders
in the new company and Squire Peters him
self--he snatched up his hat and hurried
down the road to meet them.
Even Susy's heart throbbed fast. She told
herself in vain that it was not a matter of
life and death it seemed to her that her own
fate as well rs Johns depended on few
words to be spoken in the coming half hour.
The hour passed. She had seen the groups
of men passing from point to point of the
farm, until they turned to the right of big
ANh bhih hhh AinhllSaiNN III lbb GOIu ilhlGus
After that they were lost to sight.
Noon came One o'clock The dinner
was ready, but she dared not sound the
horn. The inspection was no doubt success
full, and they were now ohaffering for the sale
of the farm. Would they give the money in
cash Hundreds-thousands- million Su-
sy's ideas on the subject of the price of oil
or oillands was very unsettled.
Two o'clock came at last, and the dinner,
do what she would, was dried to a crisp.
just as the clock struck, Squire Peters and
the stranger from New York rode past the
door. Susy could not help listening ntently
for any chance words she might hear.
"lhe land for the purpose of cultivation, "
said the squire, 'is worthless, perfectly
worthless"
"Ihink 10, eh Now, near New York a
man would make il pay gold to the foot, )"
looking with half shut eyes down to the
ground
"How 2"
''Berres. Finest varieties of berries :"
and with that they passed out of sight.
Still John did not come in. At last Susy
put on her sun bonnet and went through the
garden, the truck patch, the woods, in search
of him.
She found him, after long search, among
the hay mows, lying ON his face, his head
covered with his arms
"Oh John, what is it ?"
He would not answer for a while Then
ne raised his head. Its my luck !" he said
savagely with an oath such as never crossed
his lips before. "There will be a full yield
on George Harvey's farm, and on mine"
"On yours p breathlessly.
'Not drop. Now let me alone / want
no pity;" and he stalked away into the
woods.
But every cup, no matter how bitter, is
drained at last. Months passed by, George
Harvey received from the company a sum for
his land which to his neighbors appeared a
prncely fortune. Derricks and mills were
built The oil poured out like water.
branch railroad was built from the city to the
Harvey Mills"
Harvey himself bade the village good bye,
and went to one of the Eastern cities to live.
Reports soon came back of his lavish extray-
agance, of Partisan clothes, Of diamonds,
and blooded horses.
Harvey lives like prince, people said to
John Alden. "IIe does credit to his native
town"