The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-12-05

mere ana Il III make a man OF MIN.
Well, to make a long story short, the boy
came out and Joined US, and a bright.
smart lad he was. too. Now, just about
that time my health gave way. Gold
mining didn't seem II suit my constitu-
ton, so | left Ballarat some "a 900 richer
than when l arrived there, and went TO
Melbourne, where / kept a general store
for some years. Whenever Stamper Mace
don happened to be In the neighborhood
he always made my house his headquar-
tiers, and so l was kept fairly well posted
In the affairs of Macedon and Plunket.
AS gold mining progressed, and deep
mining came into vogue, Macedon was one
or the first TO erect a crushing battery;
and as a rich vein Of quartz ran through
the claim he and young Plunket were
working the venture turned out well.
Under the altered conditions Of the laws
they acquired more land, and as time
rolled on the NJ. p. Mine $50 they chris
tened iD employed nearly fifty men, and
became recognized as a steadily paying
concern. The lad took to Macedon from
the first and 1 don't think single wrong
word ever passed between them. Every
month Macedon's official statement" was
dispatched to the widow, but he seldom
wrote to her. OF course young Jasper
correspondent regularly with his mother,
and through him the elder man learned
much about her.
the gold fields. was talking to a gentle
man in the store. when in walked Stamper
Macedon, the same COOL determined Gus
TONER as when first 1 met him. Seeing
that I was engaged, he walked forward
into my office, and there 1 joined him
few minutes afterward.
I'm going to marry Plunkets widow"
was his opening remark, delivered in quite
a casual tone.
Going - to marry - Plunket's wild
ow?" 1 gasped, fairly taken aback.
Yes; leastways, that is, if she'll have
me. I've been thinking it over, and it
seems to me that its my duty to marry
her"
How so?"
"Weu. 1 made her widow. I can't
give her her husband back again, but
can provide her with another; sort of COM
pensation affair, you see
But does she know" I began, re-
calling the circumstances of Plunket's
death. Then 1 hesitated. as 1 remembered
that il might be rather A ticklish subject.
But Macedon read my thoughts, and
without betraying the slightest concern,
completed the sentence had begun. VINO
shot Plunket? No; and 1 don't see any
reason why she ever should. Young Jas
L
preached the other matter TO him, and he
doesn't seem to have any objection 10 my
being his father either on that score or
any other. Decent lad, Jasper"
But you've never seen Mrs. Plunket,
I hazarded.
NO, that's true; but I've heard good
bit about her from Jasper, and I've
sounded her." he replied.
Have you written TO her" l asked.
Yes, eighteen months since; told her
7 Cd 70 hns
asked her if she'd have me-
This was his method Of sounding her.
All, well, that was always mis- way of
going about things Eighteen months
since; then you must have got reply De-
fore now?'
Got it a month ago. Highly honored,
and all that sort of thing, you know.
doesn't think she could refuse me anything
not even herself-after all I've done for
her and the lad: but would like to see
me before giving me a final answer"
And SOP"
and so I don't see what's to prevent
my marrying her now I've made up my
mind to it. As YOU know, we're floating
the NJ. P. Jasper is twenty-One, and will
be director in the company; I've got my
eve on a tip-top man for manager: and
there's nothing 10 stop me from going to
England as som as the arrangements are
completed. The company pay us 100000
in cash and 10000 in shares for the mine,
so l don't see why / shouldn't be a gentle
man for the rest Of my life. I've money
enough for it with what I've saved and
the half of the purchase money"
And so you're going 10 England to
marry Plunket's widow / said, barking
back TO the former point.
Yes" he replied; "and you're coming
with me to be best man at the wedding"
mo, I'm blowed if I am 1 returned,
hardly knowing what l said.
''Oh yes, you are he went on, with
grim smile "Store-keeping isn't what it
was. 1 reckon you are worth close on
10000, and that's quite enough for a sin
gle man with your simple tastes to live
on in England; if it isn't. I'll give you
$3.50 a year to be my private secretary.
Besides, / know you're longing to be back
in the old country again, so that settles
it"
Whether that settled it or not, Macedon
did l was as wax in his hands, and
well. may as well own it. 1 certainly had
a wish to be back in England. L gave my
clerks a weeks nOtdce-Or rather, MacedOn
did for 1 am sure ne had quite as much
to do with winding up my affairs as
had-sOld the business, and in less than
two months (by which time the arrange
ments for the transfer of the NJ. p. mine
to the new company had been cOmpleted)
he and 1 looked our last on the shores of
Australia.
We arrived in London one fine morning
in May, and the first thing we did was to
make our way to Baysws ter, whittier
Plunket'S widow had removed when she
found her means went increasing so
steadily After a little trouble we found
the house, a neat little handbook sort Of
affair in the center of a miniature grass
plot, that reminded me for all the world
Of one Of those models we used to see at
flower shows; and just we came in sight
of the gate a lady and gentleman stepped
into a cab, which was waiting piled with
luggage. and drove away.
Visitors been stopping at the house,
We shall find Plunket's widow alone"
quoth Macedon, as we walked up the tiny
gravel path and rang the bell.
The door was opened by an impudent
little rascal in silver buttons who asked
us what we wanted.
This is Mrs. Plunket's, I take it?" be-
gan my companion.
ut was till this morning, but 1t amt
now replied the lad with grin.
"How's that-has she removed?' 1
asked.
mo, she amt. but she's got married"
This something had never
reckoned on. looked at Macedon and he
looked at me- His face wore a most
ludicrouS expression. Seems we're a
day after the fair, Jenny" he remarked
to me; and then, turning to the boy in
buttons, he added, "And who may she
have married?"
"a gentleman Of the name of Macedon."
replied the lad.
"Macedon?" 1 echoed, opening my eyes
pretty wide.
yes, Macedon-Stamper Macedon, Es-
quire, late of Ballarat-the gent as lust
drove away in the cab with her"