Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1895-08-08
CHAPTER KILL
Money.

MI his hpPSd IL o
~ was that of man
" who had just sus-
tanned crushing blow. He wiped his
moist brow, and gazed, vacantly,
about him.
Good Godl" he groaned, his pinched
features contracting with anxiety and
fear. who would have ever believed
it? How could have forseen this day?
Accused knavesW
Two weeks earlier his agitation
might have been attributed to the
fight of his granddaughter; but in
fact, the old man had sustained her
loss with remarkable equanimity and
resignation.
ut is her Spanish blood" he had
muttered aloud, after reading the note
written by Dolores before sailing.
''She must be full of tricks as she
grows older. Let her go, once for
ALI"
In his profound egotism he might
even have been suspected of senti-
ment of relief that burthen was re-
moved. Sorrow, apprehension, re-
greet for the rash step taken by a
young girl, wholly ignorant of the
world-did these paternal misgivings
fail to touch the heart of Jacob Deal
try? He gave no sign.
When letter from Lieut. Curzon,
dated Lugano, had been received, an
nouncing the marriage, and enclosing
a second, faulty, little missive, written
in Italian, from the BRIDE he had read
the two communications without com
ment, and thrust the crushed envelope
into the pocket of his threadbare
coat.
Now a far more severe misfortune
had stricken the old man, and his
whole being threatened to collapse in
the shock
The event which moved Jacob
Dealtry to despair had convulsed all
native Malta as with an earthquake
throe.
Italy, actuated by the aim of con-
solidating a national currency, had
recalled the coin known as the Sicilian
dollar. The government of Malta an
nouncing the decision, had given an
ultimate date for all money of this
denomination in circulation on the
Island, to be brought to q given place
and redeemed
The unexpected tidings were re-
ceived and discussed with perturba-
ton of which municipal authority
may have previously entertained no
suspicion. The Maltese, bigoted by
tradition and distrustful by tempera-
ment, had remained cold amidst the
fever of modern speculation, boarding
his worldly goods rather than risling
all in bank, railway shares or loans
To possess gold one should be able to
handle and count the glittering. coins
frequently. Such is his creed. More
over, to obey the present summons
would be to fully reveal ones treas
ure, a course to be deplored.
Malta wept, prayed, raved in secret
In vain! The nobleman in his palace,
penurious and abtemious of life, the
merchant, the man OF law, the sailor
the fisherman, equally cursed the tenn
poral dispensation which so ruthlessly
unveiled the actual condition of indi-
vidual finances to public curiosity.
Here was a situation almost unique
in history. The island must divulge
her wealth as far as the Sicilian
dollar was concerned. Now the Sicil-
ian dollar was coin of preference
with all grades of society, agreeable
to manipulate, and sufficiently con-
venient to slip into unsupported Md
ing-places, where neither moth nor
rust need be feared, nor thieves break
through and steal
Swift and unforeseen stroke of des-
tiny coming to overturn the estab.
lished order Of thingsI The world
changes, and one must change with it,
or be flung from the wheel of fortune
and crushed.
During the period of waiting con-
lecture and doubt, when rumor still
lacked complete confirmation, Jacob
Dealtry had gone about like one dis
traught seeking news Each neigh
Dor was absorbed in his own gloomy
meditations, and did not especially
heed the eccentric foreigner
Alone in the Watch Tower, his con-
duct did not astonish grandchild or
servant
At the first hint of impending change
he had haunted the streets of Valetta
and the quay, eager to CLEAN fresh
news from any source. Then he had
returned home, TO sink down on the
stone bench, spent detected and
broken in spirit
In all the prudent calculation of
years it had been impossible to realize
his day.