, 1884-04-05
M'WILLIAMS' LUCK.


AaA H@ 49, @I - ~ WIN
Us though il'luck, having tomahawked him
for his own good, had scalped him as a cure
against further conceit. 1t was high time,
evidently, that the trodden worm should
turn sea-serpent and swallow fits tormentor.
Even a worm that has spirit enough to turn,
gains the fear OF some and the respect OF
everybody. Fate would much rather notice
a spirited worm than a cowardly lion.
Tho favored spot at which McWilliams
was down on his luck was Pithole. All
Americans, and n great many foreigners.
that were alive in the summer OF 1865, will
remember Pitholc. 1t was at that time, and
for II year afterward, tho eighth wonder
Of tho world,n an e~xcitable, erratic city,
built in n day, worshiping the green flood
Of petroleum that flowed up from holes in
the Garth, and baptized in mud n fathom
deep. There has been nothing like 1t in all the
romantic history OF the oil country since.
Oil was discovered on the Holmden farm
carly in the year, and, before summer closed,
the wooded hills upheld an enger city, third
in postal Importance in the great state OF
Pennsylvania. 1t roso in a night, and like
S heavenly prototype, the comet, blnzed
orth for n brief season, and then went out
Perhaps there was a touch Of destiny in
the name. 1t was just after the war,
when good names were scarce, and
the new town was allowed to name itself. A
natural pit, or hole, in the rocks on the sum
init Of a ~neighboring mountain, furnished
material for n title, and the town. with
registering Indifference, adopted the sugges-
ton.
The day on which Mcwillinms admitted to
mis- inner Consciousness that no was down on
his luck was January 20. 1896. 1t was some
thing Of a comfort to him, oven in that con-
iition, to know that fortune had deigned TO
notice him. He had drifted in on that stream
OF men fresh from the trenches of the hostile
south, nnls in comnoI with his neighbors,
had invested his snvings In what was then
mere speculation. He had leased a small
tract OF land on the hillside above the town,
and started to drill for oil. This was in the
carly summer or spring, OF 1865. Develop
ments in the Immediate neighborhood were
so uniformly successful that McWilliams was
looked upon us a lucky fellow and future oil
prince. From the awakening OF this senti-
ent l date the beginning OF McWillinm's
run OF ill-luck, for at this time no wa shame
fully imposed upon by Il young woman In
Oil City.
The young woman was good enough In her
way, but her way, unfortunately, was a lit
tie out Of the orthodox line. Personally, and
as far as any one knew, she stood without re-
proach, but her ideas of life, l grieve to say,
NtIu h|OlneNnhL WhTpcus one was ANXIOUS,
Out, for the sake of euphemism, let Us say
ambitiou) to get a husband. l am inclined
to the belief that she did not expect to love
her husband when she got him, for she had
time enough on her hands to love two or
three husbands, 1t would have been an ensy
matter for her to get married had she cared
less for distinction and n future free from
trades-people's bills, but a p~raiseworthy do
sire to shine as the wife Of an oil prince
csused her TO throw q drag net over the un-
inspecting head of McWilliams. This net
took the shape Of q plausible argument to the
effect that McWilliams' casual meetings with
the young woman were compromising In
their tendency. and that, unless McWilliams
was enough IN earnest to clear her name Of
reproach, he should cave the country until
the society of Oil City forgot him. This was
nrrant humbug, as every iberal-minded
woman in the oil country will attest; but, as
| have said. McWilliams was easily imposed
upon. Like a thorough-going oil man he re-
used to let anything stand between him and
the oil we'll Of his dreams, and in n straight
forward, honest sort OF way, be married the
Young woman out OF hand.
Mrs. McWilliRms ought to ave been
happy; but IL the unsolicited Testimony of
d!sinterested witnesses may be allowed as
evidence, IL would seem that she was
in a state of constant dissatisfaction
and misery. With u arins truly
Scotch in its origin and tendency,
McWillinms refused TO launch into extrava-
gnnce i'll living until the capacity of the
Pithole lease should be known. This vexsd
Mrs. McWiliams beyond endurance; and it
came to pass early in the winter, when the
lease failed to produce anything but the
driest kind Of dry wells, and the Indignant
wife, declaring that McWiniams had failed
in his duty coward her, left the oil country
to try her fortune elsewhere. After paying
his wife's debts, McWillians-now penniless
md friendless-seuted himself on n stump on
tho hillside above Pithole and admitted to
himself, with a dull feeling OF satisfaction,
that he was down on his luck.
McWilliams's luck had deserted him Mt
lastl The hopeful man had waited n long
time for fortunes wheel to stop in front Of
him; and now that it had stopped IA
flying spoke had knocked him down.
Most strong and healthy persons will
resent a blow, sven from fate.
With u Scotch slowness to wrath after pick.
ing himself up and seating himself on thu
stump above the town-McWilliams observed
that his luck had treated him cruelty. Sit
ting there, watching the busy wells around
him, the puts OF steam that hoatod away
like snowy banners from painting engines;
hearing the rattle of machinery and this
clRng Of busy hammers, and noting with sui
len brow the prosperity of hundreds Of men
beside him, McWilliams gave reign to his
swelling temper and with sturdy arm aimed
blows at his fate.
The process of it was altogether unrecoR-
nizsd by McWilliams. This revolt at fate
was in another form, but u remuneration of q
religion. and in the ultimate ISSUE was neither
argued with nor questioned. The subtle sophis.
try Of unknown argument within him did not
find its way to his lipI. So far as can be
learned his l%tterance~ were emphatic and
commonplace. well" aid he, II guess Tn
pretty low down now; luck's all gone To
thunder, and no mistake. Lucki To the
devil with luckl Who said anything abou.
luckl There's no such thing. Hard work
makes it-hhrd, steady, pounding work.
The debate within him sent out no bulletins
to the public for several minutes. At length,
when the sun surused his thoughtful eyes
with golden radiance from the western hill.
tops, McWilliains reused himself angrily
and with u little ITO hell with luckIr strod,
down to the town.
Fate must have paused in surprise to SCI
Its grAndchild, Luck, so grieviously fauntet
by a hitherto harmless slav She must hav,
respected him then, for McWilliams was be
yond her power. He had taken his destiny
into his hands.
The morning OF tho Goth day of January
1860, saw NcWiIlinms at work with a shove
on the edge Of the lease. He was digging
wnter-well. Most likely find quicksand or 1
coal bed here he muttered grimly. "DrillsC
for oil and found saltwater on the uppei
edge. Things seem to go by coptraries Will
me-" Luck having no connection with thi
veil, mother quicksand nor coal were found
The hest smoking tobacco is Ltd,