River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-09-18


of his hay-crOp a voice behind him
cried:
''Mr Twombley, I've got suthin' l
want to show your
He turned. 1t was Simon who had
spoken, and he held in his hand frag-
ment of something that looked dark and
heavy.
,, ''See here" be said, in a whisper;
I've been to the gold mines in my
time, and If this amt gold I'll give up
and say I'm lacking"
Why, to be surel To be sure,' said
old Jedediah, clutching the little chunk
of ore in his hand ITO be sure. Where
did You find it?''
"Why, in the Wilder Appleby's gar
den. Dug it up out'n the fiower-bed you
told me to spade up for her," said
Simon.
Then there's gold on the place, .
said Jedediah. 1--WE always thought
there was gold here. I've always said
so.'
Yes, Ire heerd you" said Simon,
With twinkle in his eye. Now, what
a thing that'll be for the widder. A gold
mine on her place"
Hush whispered Jedediah, with
his eyes cleaning greenly in the twi-
light Hush, Simon; promise me you
won't tell her or anybody. Ill make it
all right with you You're kinder I'M
comfortable where you be, with your
small family. I'll allow you to hev the
frame house on the hill at the same
rent. Don't mention any thing about
it. I'll make it right with Mrs. APP
pleby. Though. after all. this mayn't
be gold
"Pr'aps not; but old miners, like me,
rather calculates to know" said Simon.
''Ef you don't mind, I'll move up to the
frame house tomorrow. Wait a bit
Let's go over to the widder's. I'll pre-
tend it's to SOW the radish seed, if you'll
give me some; and well see if there's
any more there"
''Gocd.~ said Jedediah Twombley.
"A bright idea"
Accordingly, to the widows surprise,
Simon took the seed over; and, the SOW
ing done. brought back to his master,
waiting in the wagon un6Nr the trees,
three or four more specimens of the
!
to celebrated inineralogist of the near
est town, who declared that where
these came from there was assuredly a
gold mine. And trembling with de-
light, Jedediah went back to walk
around the widows house in the moon
light, where she. seeing him through
the curtains, took him for tramp and
was frightened almost out of her
senses
Several things happened to startle
her that day. The first was the appear
ance of Simon at her door in the early
dawn as she was boiling her solitary
cup of coffee over some splinters of
wood.
''Widder," Simon whispered, solemn
IL. TEND to what l say. and don't
forget it Mr.. Twombley is goin' to
make YOU an offer for your place. Don't
let him have it cheap. Rise on him as
bold as brass. Don't chin about any
thing. Don't tell him nothin'. Jest
say: I won't sell for that until you
get what'n keep you comfortable.
Mind. 10 as I say; don't ask questions;
don't chin; you'll give yourself away"
Il don't half understand you." said
the widow; you hev such curious ex-
pressions kinder. but If Cousin Jededish
offers much for two acres of stones and
house like this he's goin' crazy"
.'Mebbe he's seen a ghost" said ST.
mon, but you mind me-"
He was of. Not too soon. for the
wheels of Jedediah Twombley's wagon
ratified down the road the next mo-
ment and Jedediah stood at the door in
the place of his servant
What you said kind o. teched me
yesterday. Samanthy." he said, land
I've been thinking. What yOH want is
rest Sell your place and go board in
the village. I'll buy it. 1t amt worth
much. bat what'll you take?"
The widow looked at him. Ii was not
benevolence that shOne in his eyes, but
greed.
WELL" she said. cautiously; some of
the same blood ran in her veins. and
she could bargain also. well, what1l
you give?'
Five hundred dollars!" said the rich
man. 'Eh?'
Samanthy shook her heed
"Eightr'
'Lor' no." said Samanthy.
"a thousandr'
Samanthy turned pale. but shook her
head.
Two thousandr' said Jedediah.
Il reckon you're calculating I'm half
witted, said Samanthy.
''She knows about the gold, /" said Jed
diah to himself; "or-yes. some one
else knows and has made an offer"
The miser and the gambler some
times mingle in one man. They had in
Jedediah Twombley.
Fifteen thousand dollarsr' he cried.
hurriedly "You can live comfortably
on that. eh?"
''Grandfather's ghost has appeared"
thought Samanthy
WELL" she said. ''if you'll drive
over to the lawyers, and pay me now,
I'll do it"
Ten minutes after this the two were
seated side by side in the wagon. Two
hours more Samanthy was. in her own
opinion. rich wo nan, with no fear of
suffering before her, and no more need
to toll for her bread She was to leave
the cottage that day, and bewildered by
her sudden prosperity, she was packing
hsr few poor possessions. when again.
as in the dawn. Simon stood at her
door.
sold it?- he asked.
''Yes." said the widow. breathlessly:
''for fifteen thousand dollars. I reckon
grandpa appeared TO him."
Simon put his hand in his pocket and
drew out bunch of something.
What's that?- he asked.
The widow looked at what he held
toward her.
Its bit of rubbish threw out of
that case there" she said.
LIS gold ore.r sad Simon. Your