The Cairo bulletin., 1910-12-27
THE CURSE
OF GOLD
BY CARL SARGENT CHASE
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

then lived. A stranger matter Is that
/ passed out Of 1t when 1t still existed.
was considered dead.
! am Russian by birth and when
/ was growing up to womanhood I'M
bibed the ideas of band that were
then called nihilists. They have since
become revolutionists In Russia, but In
other countries the most desperate
wing Of the sect are anarchists. was
then too young to discriminate between
the different beliefs; but, having always
been very poor, readily fell in with
those who believed the poor suffer
great injustice on the part OF the rich
and that the wealth of the world
should be divided up among the poor.
With this object in view governments
which protect the rich should be de-
stroyed.
had not been nihilist long before
| was ordered to assassinate the min
lister OF the interior. A member Of the
circle to which belonged was friend
Of and trusted by the minister. This
friend was to secure me position as
nurse In the victims family and was
to poison him.
A few days after l received the order
a letter came from America, where
an uncle of mine had gone when boy,
stating that he had died and left me a
large fortune. What a wonderful
change the announcement made In me!
Far from thinking that should divide
with the poor, thought that my for
tune should be my own.
How | left Russia secretly, how !
reached America and was put in pos
session of my fortune ! will not give
here. No one but myself knew OF my
inheritance till after it had been paid
me. But | was sure that 1t would
serve to identify me and that some
one would be sent to lnhict upon me
n sentence of death for not having car
ried out the edict of the society.
converted my fortune-it amounted
TO 500, 0Oo--into gold. ! could get nc
interest on gold, but did not dare to
purchase securities, for my name must
appear on them. Even if ! put my
money in a savings bank, taking a
book In lieu of a receipt, could not
get 1t back without signing my name
| And now began the most dreadful
period Of my life, dreadful in this
must spend money to live besides
money to go from place to place. for
| dared not remain In one location,
| was therefore obliged to draw on my
capital. Besides this, ] must take care
of and move my gold, which was very
heavy. / was In constant dread moi
only of robbery. but that while tray
cling my gold would be lost ! had
very strong ironbound trunk made
padded inside. and In this | put my
gold in little bags, each bag containing
| a thousand dollars. This trunk | new
er lost sight of and was continually
troubled about it. Sometimes the
strangeness of my position would oc
| cur to me. / had believed that thu
poor should take away the possessions
of the rich, and here was l, rich, con
tinually on the rack about my posses
sious. Miserable as l had been in pov
erty, sometimes envied my formel
lot This money that had seemed 81
desirable to me, what comfort was
getting out of 1t? Carting around
trunk that was constantly afraid
would lose or would betray me wa
certainly no pleasure.
Ten years Of this kind of life passed
during which on several occasions
met my own countrymen who knew
were nihilists. Finally ! met Rus
sian friend who had no utilization witt
the nihillsts. She agreed to write t
those | had left behind that she ha'
seen me in hospital, where | wa
lying at the point Of death, and tina
/ had died there. She afterward tol'
me that her story was believed and
would soon be forgotten both by thos
who loved me and those who had con
demned me.
saw now a new life before me.
took another name and invested m,
money. of which |. had $4,000 left
But lived an exile's life and did no
make friends. My money could no
give me happiness. I tried to interes
myself in banks, but had not bee
educated, and I took no interest j
them. Time hung heavy on my'hands
One day went past a factory
Working girls were coming out. an
none Of them had the unhappy fac
that had. thought Of the da
when /, too, was q working girl an
realized that, after ALL was happie
then than / was now. IL could onl
be occupied the days would not seer
so long to me.
The next day went to the factor
where had seen the girls and aske
for position without pay till ! coul
learn the work to be done. My offe
was accepted, and went TO work ii
next morning.
worked for Eve years, then ma
ried fellow laborer. Since my ma
riage my occupation has been carir
for my home and my children. III
cursed gold left me by my uncle
accommodating. No one living but m
. self knows Of It. I don't know VIII
\ to do with 1t. Labor alone keeps !
= contented. do not wish my childrt
q to receive cent Of my fortune.
a. 1t has been curse to me, and