River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-04-23

known want: young and lovely girl
who had suffered. aud through him,
Colonel !" he said. one afternoon, as
they sat together in the hall, did you
lose much by the WARP
Everything. sir" said the colonel.
except this house. which they mad
vertently overlooked. My greatest loss
was in money. l had an iron box full
of gold and silver buried in my cellar,
but they found it.''
'Thief!''
The echoes came back to him from
the past. But he resolved that if that
box could be found, the wronged and
rightful owner should have il.
The next day he set out alone TO that
well-remembered wood. The SCARED
oak was still standing. He knew the
very spot where he had buried the
gold, though it was now greatly over
grown with foliage.
He returned to the house. The
colonel was walking in the garden with
his daughter.
Colonel" he said. Il want You and
Miss Hattie to come with me and ask
no questions | had a strange dream
last night, and l want you to humor
me ia it. Here's spade. Now, where
win we find an AK"
The colonel laughed and his daughter
looked amused
We We're going for walk any
how" he said, so We'll humor You,
and ask no questions, unless Hattie
there"
''Oh, have all woman's curiosity"
said that young lady, laughing. but
I'll obey orders for once, and keep
silent
With an ak and spade upon his
shoulder, Brashwell-f such was his
name-led the way into the wood. the
colonel and his daughter following in
amused silence.
Arrived at the oak. Brashwcll said,
throwing off his coat: Now, not
work while l work.
They stood by in silence, the daughter
leaning on her fathers arm.
Brashwell cleared away the under
brush and then he began to dig.
lie was greatly excited His whole
frame trembled as he worked
Presently the spade struck hard, I'M
yielding substance. and the next mo-
meat the iron box was revealed,
Look" cried the excited man. your
gold! your gold! The iron box, with all
its glittering wealth."
The colonel and his daughter drew
near. Ihey were excited now.
surely. cried the old man, surely,
it is the very same, And yet-we must
be dreaming. Can you lift it to the
lght?"
AYE. thatI cam" cried Brashwen as
with great effort he raised the heavy
box.
Then he lifted the lid.
see he shouted, rapturously.
''your gold! Safe as on the day when
You buried it in your cellar! Safe and
not farthing gone.'
The girl uttered glad cry of delight.
But her father was affected differently.
His hand trembled, his face assumed a
deathly pallor, he reeled and would
have fallen, had not his daughter
thrown her arms around him and Brash-
well FASTENED 20 his side God bless
you,'' was all he could say.
God bless YOU" echoed the girl,
clasping and kissing Brashwell's no
in the fervor of her gratitude
God grant that it may be So cried
Brashwell, as the colonel became more
composed, land that He may forgive
me, toor'
col Broadwell," he continued. his
voice trembling with emotion, 1T was
/ who took your gold from the house
up wonder and buried it here. did not
have the heart to touch tiny honor
forbade it! l returned To Georgia with
but one purpose-to make restoration.
did not know you in those days of
war and desolation; did not know you
or-or your daughter"
He came near breaking down, but
rallied and went on:
But | know You now, and / know
her-thanl1 God! 1t was ! who saved
your dwelling from the flames, and now
l give you back your goldr'
God bless youi God bless you"
cried the colonel, shaking his baud
heartily.
And let me say the same. " cried
Hattie, laying her hand upon his arm,
land thank you from my heart"'
THAT is more than all to me-" said
Brashwell, and he felt his eyes grow
moist Il am happier man to-day than
j have ever been before"
And so am !, the colonel said, TAX
ing him by the hand.
And | am a happier woman" cried
Hattie 1--WE are all 50 happy"
Greater happiness was still in store
for Private William Brashwell. But he
did not gain it until the rebel colonel
gave his daughter to the yankee"
soldier Prank l.. Stanton, in Atlanta