The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-12-25

of two men-one white-haired and absent
minded, the other young and emphat.
ically business like. Wharton gave
them cordial welcome, and after par.
taking of a substantial luncheon the
three men started out for a walk over
the farm.
Little Daisy, intensely happy in the
knowledge that Wharton. had not had
one dizzy turn since their arrival ON the
farm, that he had the appetite of a
Iplough-boy, and was cheerful and full OF
animation was busy baking a batch OF
pies when the three gentlemen returned
! to the house. She could see them from
the kitchen window as they came along
the neglected path, and she noticed that
Wharton's eyes were full of exultation,
his face flushed, his carriage erect. He
looked as if he had heard good tidings,
and all three were talking earnestly and
eagerly. e.,
Daisy wondered little, and scorched
one of her pies. While she was care
fully pairing off the burned edge of crust
the kitchen door opened, and Wharton,
needless of her big apron and bare arms,
ushered in the strangers.
MRS. Hill, accept my congratulations
ing with great Difference.
"On scorching my pies?" laughed
Daisy.
SIN owning 10 acres of coal land"
81 don't understand" faltered Daisy.
"This farm, my dear, your legacy from
your old nurse, is one solid bed of coal,
and there is no mine within nine miles
of it. Nobody knows how much lies
beyond your fences in the vacant land
about us, but in my minds eye l see
this colony of miners"
Are you sure, Wharton"
81 suspected it the first day we came,
but having no experience l wrote to one
of my clients in Pottsville to send me an
experienced hand to see if my suspicious
were correct. These gentlemen confirm
them"
"There is no doubt about the coal,
madam, nor any about its lying so near
the surface that it can soon be avail
able" said the old gentleman.
"The question is, whether you will
sell out or open the mine yourself. l am
authorized to make you an offer if you
wish to dispose of the property" said
the young stranger.
"'fime enough for that" said Whar-
ton. 81 will return with you to Potts
Vile"
"Wharton-no business"
"Don't fear, Daisy; this kind of bust
ness will not injure me. You will let me
deide in this matter?"
Certainly
And the decision, after Wharton had
spent a month in Pottsville, was to sell
out to company that was already buy
ing up the vacant land surrounding the
farm. The young lawyer knew nothing
of mining and had no desire to learn, but
he was no fool, and he made satisfactory
terms for the sale of the estate, and
Daisy returned home wealthy woman.
A European trip restored health to the
young lawyer, and he resumed practice a
year after, with every prospect of one
day realizing his vision of fame, while
Daisy, still rather dazed at her good for
tune, entered upon domestic duties in a
grand house, with servants, carriage,
horses, plate and jewels. ~
ut is like fairy tale, Wharton, she
said, to think of that miserable place
being worth so much. Poor Margaret
little realized the fortune she
was bestowing upon me when she left
me all possessed-her farm"
The Trueman cousins, sharing in all
of generous Daisy's gifts and entertain
ments, no longer jest derisively, but
speak in the most respectaed terms of
that precious legacy-Daisy's farm.