Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-06-28
A GOLD REEF.

you dear old boy" said the girl,
I'm sure l wish it could be-with all
my hearth l have any heart"
Il don't believe you have" replied
the boy gloomily.
We'll, but, Reg, consider. You've
got no money"
I've got $4,000. If a man can't
make his way upon that he must be a
poor stick"
You would go abroad with it and
dig and take your wife with you to
wash and cook"
I'VE would do something with the
money here. You should stay in Lon
don, Rosie"
Yes, in a suburban villa at Shep-
herds Bush perhaps. No, Reg, when l
marry, if ever | dol am in no hurry
I will step out CT this room into one
exactly like it. The room was spIen-
did drawing room in Palace Gardens,
luxuriously furnished. Il shall have
my fOotman and my carriage, and |
shall"
Rosie, give me the right to earn all
these things for your the young man
cried impetuously.
you can only earn them for me by
the time you have one foot in the
grave. Hadn't | better in tfe mean
time marry some old gentleman with
his one foot in the grave, so as to be
ready for you against the time when
you come home? In two or three
r Il
slide into the grave as we'll"
You laugh at my trouble. You feel
nothing"
IF the pater would part-but he
won't-he says he wants all his money
for himself and that I've got to
marry well. Besides, Reg'-here her
face aouded and she lowered her
voice-"there are times when he looks
anxious. We didn't always live in
Palace Gardens. Suppose we should
lose it all as quickly we as got it? OH"
She shivered and trembled. mo, l
will never, never marry poor man.
Get rich, my dear boy, and you may
aspire even to the valuable possessions
of this heartless hand
She held it out He took it, pressed
it. stopped and kissed her Then he
dropped her hand and walked quickly
out of the room.
Poor Reggiew she murmured. Il
wish-I wish-but what is the use of
wishing"
Two men-one young, the other
about fifty-sat on the veranda of
small bungalow. 1t was after break
fast. They lay back in long bamboo
chairs, each with a cigar. 1t looked
as if they were resting. In reality
they were talking business, and that
very seriously.
Eyes, SIR" said the older man, with
something of an American accent, Il
have somehow taken fancy to this
place. The situation is healthy"
'Well, I don't know. I've had more
than one touch of the fever here"
'SThe climate is lovely
Except in the rains
THE soil is fertle"-
I've dropped $4,000 in it, and they
have not come up again yet"
They will. I have been round the
estate, and l see money in it. Well.
sir. here's my offer. Five thousand
down, hard cash, as soon as the papers
are signed"
Reginald sat up. He was on the
point of accepting the proposal, when
pony rode up to the house, and the
rider. a native groom. jumped off and
gave a note. He opened it and read.
r. l.s- -.
or three miles away:
Don't sell chat man your estate.
Gold has been found. The whole
country is full of gold. Hold on.
He's an assayer. If he offers to buy,
be quite sure that he has found gold
on your land. F. G.
He put the note into his pocket, gave
verbal message to the boy and
turned to his guest without betraying
the least establishment or emotion.
Il beg your pardon. The note was
from Bellamy, my next neighbor.
Well? You were saying?"-
only that l have taken a fancy
perhaps a foolish fancy-to this place
of yours and I'll give you, if you like,
all that you have spent upon it."
Well" he replied refectively, but
with a little twinkle in his eye, that
seems handsome. But the place isn't
really worth the half that 1 have spent
upon it. Anybody would tell you that.
Come, let Us be honest, whatever we
are. I'll tell you a better way. We
will put the matter into the hands of
Bellamy He knows what coffee
plantation is worth. He shall name a
price, and if we can agree upon that
we will make a deal of it."
The other man changed color He
wanted to settle the thing at once as
between gentleman. What need of
third parties? But Reginald stood
firm, and he presently rode away, quite
sure that in a day or two this planter
too, would have heard the news.
A month later young coffee planter
stood on the deck of a steamer home
ward bound. In his pocket was a
well SIR said the financ er, you
have brought this thing to me- You
want my advice. Well, my advice is,
don't fool away the only good thiL,
mat will ever happen to you. Luck
such as this doesn't come more than
once in lifetime