The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-07-29


recently befallen Percy Gil
- more, now stationed at FIT.
Riley. Kas. Young Gilmore has received
the information that he is heir to the
vast mining properties of his father, John
Gilmore, at San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
which are valued at 100000.
Years ago John Gilmore and his inter-
esting family composed of three sons and
a daughter resided in Indianapolis. The
father was prosperous, his family was
wen provided for, and all were happy
and contented.
But one day the dark clouds of sorrow
came into the little home. The wife and
mother was stricken with g. fatal fever
and within a short time fell victim to
the disease.
After the death of his wife John Gil
more was a changed man.
He no longer went to his business with
energetic steps, and In the evnings he re-
turned to his home wearied and despond-
ent. He seemed to have lost all interest
in his business, his home and family, and
seemed no longer to care for the COM
partnership of his friends.
John Gilmore, Respondent over the
death of his wife, sat with bowed head
and grieved for her. Finally he refused
to leave his room, and was rapidly be-
coming a recluse. To the friends that
called to- see him he sent word that he
wished to be left alone and that he no
longer cared for anything.
Gilmore lived for some time the life of
a recluse with his children, in whom ne
seemed to take but little interest Instead
OF forgetting the death of his wife, the
recollection of 1t seemed to burn deeper
and deeper into his memory with the
closing of each day. He longed to be
with her.
strange conduct of the man, once SO
cheerful and companionable, fearing he
was losing his reason by constant brood
ing over the death of his wife. They
sought to cause Gilmore to forget his
sorrow, but all to no avail.
At this time Charles Searle, a COM
panion of .Gilmore's boyhood days, ar
rived in Indianapolis on his way to the
West to prospect mining lands. He
hunted up his old friend, and was sorrow
fully surprised to find his playmate Of
years ago in such a sad plight.
Charles Searle Is big. hearty, healthy
nan, of rollicking humor. and ever bu6-
bling over with joyous good nature. He
is daring and adventurous. His jolly good
nature is contagious, and he seems to
come to those whose lives may be sad
dened or gloomed as ray of sunshine.
Such was the effect of his coming upon
John Gilmore who seemed startled from
lis lethargy. Slapping his Respondent
friend heartily on the back, Searle ex-
claimed in his hearty manner:
Jack, old man, come out Of this.
You're good for fifty years yet. What
you want is a change. Get out of this
country. Start over, and forget every
thing. Come with me. I'm on my way
West to dig a million"
The words of his old friend seemed to
awaken new thoughts in John Gilmore's
brain. Perhaps there was something for
him in this world yet. There was an ele-
nnent of chance in it which appealed to
his nature. Already he was thinking of
joining Searle and departing to a new
life and new environments.
But he stopped suddenly n the midst
of these thoughts.
MY children" he exclaimed "What
will become of them?"
That's easily fixed" replied Searle
Let some Of your friends or relatives
take them, and If they won't, turn them
over to the orphans home"
John Gilmore debated in his mind what
he was to do.
Leave his home and his children and
bury his grief in western lands in his
quest for fortune, remain and care
for his little family as best he could.
1t did not take him long to decide-to
yield to the solicitations of his friend
Searle to seek his fortune in the distant
mining camps of the far West.
Accordingly the father placed his three
children in the Indianapolis orphans
home when he departed on his quest for
gold
That was many, many years ago.
AS time rolled on people forgot John
Gilmore, and the fact that he mad LEFT