The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1904-05-26

| "a Won know. the bank Ia the best
| friend of the regent, and this mys-
| FERROUS dame, as we are ADVISED Dy
| servants of his grace's household, hath
told his grace such stories of the wealth
of the Messasebe that he has secretly
| and quickly made over the control OF
the trade of those provinces TO THIS
new bank. There is story also that his
grace himself will not lack profit In
| this movement
The hand of Cont smote hard upon
the table. "By heaven! it were strange
thing" said he, "if this foreign trav-
eler should prove the same mysterious
beauty Philippe is reported to have
kept in hiding. My faith, is 1t indeed
true that we are come upon time
| Of mracles?"
| "Listen!" broke in Varenne, his ar
dor overcoming his obsequiousness.
"These are some of the tales brought
back-and reported privately | can as
| sure you, gentlemen, now for the first
| time and to yourselves. The people
of this country are said to be clad in
| beauteous raiment, made of skins, OF
| grasses, and of the barks of trees.
Their ornaments are made of pure, yell
| low gold, and of precious gems which
| they pick up from the banks of the
streams, as common as pebbles here in
| France The climate is such that all
| things grow in the most unrivaled
| fruitfulness. There Is neither too
| much sun nor too much rain The
| lakes and rivers are vast and beautiful,
and the forests are filled with myriads
of strange and swcct-voiced birds. It's
said that the dream Of Ponce de Leon
| hath been realized aud that not only
| one but score OF fountains of youth
have been discovered in this great val
| ley. The people are said never to grow
| old. Their personal beauty is of sur
| passing nature, and their disposition
easy and complaisant TO the last de.
! gree"
My faith, say on, broke in De la
Chaisc Ills surely a story of para
disc which you recount"
But, listen, gentlemen! The story
| goes yet farther AS to mines OF gold
and silver, twas matter of report that
such mines are common in all tie val
| ley Of the Messasebe Indeed the
whole surface of the earth, in some
! parts, is covered with Jumps of gold,
so that the natives care nothing for it.
! The bottoms of the streams, the
| beaches of the lakes, carry as many
particles of gold as they have pebbles
and little stones. AS for silver, none
take note of 1t. 'Tis used as building
stone"
in the name Of Jehovah, is there
support fer these wonders you have
| spoken /" broke in Fraslin the Jew,
his eyes shining with suppressed eX-
element
'Assurcdy. Yet am telling not
| half of the news which came to my
! knowledge this very morning-the
story is said to have emanated from
I the Palais Royal itself, and therefore.
no doubt, is to be traced to this same
| unknown queen of the Messasebe. She
reports, SO it is said, that beyond the
country where L'IIuil!ier secured his
cargo of blue earth, there is a land
where grows a most peculiar plant
The meadows and fields are covered
with it, and ii Is said the dews of night
which gather within the petals of these
flowers, become, in the course of
single day, nothing less than a solid
diamond stone! From this In time the
| leaves drop down, leaving the diamond
exposed there. shining and radiant"
"Ah, BAH" broke in Frasln the Jew.
why believe such babbingS? We all
know that the diamond is product
not of the vegetable but of the mineral
world"
so have we known many things
stoutly replied Varenne, only to find
ourselves frequently mistaken. Now
for my part, diamond is a diamond,
be 1t born in flower or broken from a
rock. And as FOR the excellence of
these stones, It's rumored that the
lady hath abundant proof. Tis no
wonder that the natives of the valley
of the Messasebc robe themselves fl
silks, and that they deck themselves
carelessly with precious stones, as
would a peasant of ours with chain
OF daisy blossoms. Now, if there be
such wealth as this, is 1t not easy to
see the profit Of bank which controls
the trade with such a province? True
there have been some discoveries In
this valley, but nothing thorough. 'Tis
but recent the thing hath been done
thorough"
The Prince de Cont sat back in his
chair and drew a long breath. IF these
things be true" said he, then this
Monsieur Las is not SO bad leader
to follow"
But listen" exclaimed Varenne
once more. Il have not even yet told
the most important thing, and this is
YumOr which perhaps your grace has
caught IT'S whispered that the bank
of the brothers Las is within a fort
night to be changed"
What is that" queried Fraslin
quickly Tis not to be abandoned?"
"By no means. Abandoned would be
quite the improper word. 'Tis to be
lHlIIOF'u tApdHucI, lHCTcdSeu, lHdBHl-
fed! My lords. there is the opportu-
nifty of a lifetime for every one of us
here."
Say on. man, say on!" commanded
the prince, the coyetousnoss of his
soul shining in his eyes as he leaned
forward.
Il mean to say this" and the spy
lowered his voice as he looked anxious
ly about. THE regent hath taken a
fancy to be chief owner himself of an