Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1912-06-08

siNNAliH ~ 'h' N''' ~
the front gallery. and. giving
my rein to one of our boys. flung my.
self down on the steps near by and
now aud again Joined In their CONVEX.
sutton.
! was much surprised to learn that
our whilom guest. Gordon Orme. had
taken sudden departure during my alb
sence. he having been summoned by
messenger from the village. who he
stated brought him word that he must
forthwith be on his way to Albemarle.
He had asked my father II he cared
to sell the black horse. Satan, to which
he had taken fancy, but this had
been declined. Then II seems there
had come up something OF our late
meeting ut the village. and Orme.
laughing. had told OF our horse break
ing and wrestling in way which II
seemed had not detracted from my
standing In my parents eyes. None OF
US three was willing to criticise our
guest. yet ! doubt II any one OF US
failed TO entertain certain wonder.
not to say suspicion. regarding him.
At least he was gone.
Our talk now gradually resolved It.
self to one on business matters.
ought to have said that my father was
an ambitious man and one OF wide
plans. | think that even then he fore
saw the day when the half patriarchial
life of our state would pass away be-
fore one OF wider horizons OF CONNER.
cial sort He was anxious to hand
down his family fortune much increas-
ed. and. forcseeing troublOus times
ahead as to the institution OF slavery
IN the south. he had of late been TAX
ing large risks to assure success In
spite OF any change OF times. Now.
moved by some strange reasons which
he himself perhaps did not recognize,
he began for the first time. contrary to
his usual reticence, to explain to my
mother and me something Of these
matters. He told US that IN connection
with his friend. Colonel William Meri-
wether of Albemarle. he had Invested
heavily In coal lands In the western
part OF the state In what Is now West
Virginia This requiring very large
sums OF money he for his part had en-
numbered not only the lands them
selves. but these lands of Cowles'
Farms to secure the payment The
holder OF these mortgages was bank
ing firm in fredericksburg. The inter
est was one which In these times would
be considered II cruel one, and indeed
the whole enterprise was one which re-
lac
his. for have said that risk he always
held MS challenge and invitation.
Does thee think that In these times
thee should go so deeply in debt?" ask.
ed my mother of him.
Elizabeth" he said. that is why
have gone In debt Two years from
now and the value of these lands here
may have been cut In half. Ten years
from now the coal lands yonder will be
worth ten times what they are today"
John" she said to him suddenly,
"sell those coal lands or a part Of
them"
Now. that I could not do" he an
swered. for half their value. The
country now Is fuller OF war than or
Investment. But come peace. come
war. there lies fortune for us ALL
For my share there remains but one
heavy payment and tomorrow l ride
10 raise FUNDS for that among our ten
ants and elsewhere. admit that my
bankers are shrewd and seyere-in fact
] think they would rather see the pay
ments forfeited than not. AS Meri.
wether Is away. It Is with me to attend
10 this business now"
That coming day my father rode
abroad as he had planned. taking black
Satan for his mount. since he needed
to travel far. He Ind collected from
various sources. rs his account book
later showed. sum OF over $4,000,
which he must have had In gold and
negotiable papers In his saddlebags.
During his return home he came down
the deep trough road which ran In front
Of the sheraton farms and ours. He
passed near to certain clump OF
bushes at the roadside. and there that
happened which brought to sudden
end all the peace and comfort OF our
lives aud which made me old before
my time.
heard the horse Satan whinny NJ
our lane gate wildly, AZ though In
fright. and even as | went ont my heart
S,nuprl with sudden fear. lie had
Ieupsd tile gate mt the lower end Of the
lane His bride rein was broken and
caught AT his feet ~ he moved about