The Devils Lake world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1911-1911, 1911-01-06
THE CURSE.
OF GOLD
By CARL SARGENT CHASE
Copyright, 1910. by American Press
Association.

am RuSSlHn Ey 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 a
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.
l had not been a nihilist long before
l 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 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.
1,Q&
reached America and was put in pos
session of my fortune I will not give
here No one but myself knew of my
Inheritance till after it had been paid
me. But | was sure that it would
serve to identify me and that some
one would be sent to inflict upon me
a sentence of death for not having car
ried out the edict Of the society.
converted my fortune-it amounted
to $1OO.OO0-into gold I could get no
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 it back without signing my name.
And now began the most dreadful
period Of my life, dreadful in this-I
must spend money to live besides
money to so 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. l was in constant dread not
only of robbery, but that while trav-
cling my gold would be lost. had a
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
err lost sight Of and was continually
troubled about it. Sometimes the
strangeness of my position would oc-
cur to me. I had believed that the
poor should take away the possessions
Of the rich, and here was 1, rich, con-
tinually on the rack about my posses
sions. Miserable as I had been in pow
erty, sometimes envied my former
lot. This money that had seemed SO
desirable to me, what comfort was
getting out of it? Carting around q
trunk that was constantly afraid
would lose or would betray me was
certainly no pleasure.
Ten years of this kind Of life passed,
during which on several occasions
met my own countrymen who l knew
were nihilists. Finally met Rus
sian friend who had no utilization with
the nihilists. She agreed to write to
those l had left behind that she had
seen me in hospital, where was
lying at the point of death. and that
l had died there. She afterward told
me that her story was believed and
would soon be forgotten both by those
who loved me and those who had con
demned me.
I saw now a new life before me.
took another name and invested my
money, of which l had $4,000 left
But lived an exile's life and did not
make friends. My money could not
give me happiness. l tried to interest
myself in banks, but l had not been
educated, and took no interest in
them. Time hung heavy on my hands
One day l went past factory
Working girls were coming out. and
none Of them had the unhappy face
that had. thought of the day
when I. too, was working girl and
realized that, after all, was happier
then than l was now. If could only
be occupied the days would not seen
SO long to me.
The next day l went to the factory
where l had seen the girls and asked
for u position without pay till coulG
learn the work to be done. My offel
was accepted, and went to work the
next morning.
worked for five years. then mar
ried fellow laborer. Since my mar
riage my occupation has been carin:
for my home and my children. The
cursed gold left me by my uncle /:
accommodating. No one living but my
self knows Of it. don't know wha
to do with it. Labor alone Keeps II:
contented. I do not wish my children
to receive a cent of my fortune.
It has been curse to me, and
dread lest it be curse to them.
would not object to their receiving
when they become old enough to know
something Of how 1t may be made ,
benefit.
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