Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-04-11

wv mother sitting in the cool OF
the front gallery, and, giving
my rein to one OF our boys, | dung my
self down ON the steps near toy and
now and again joined in their CONVEX
sation.
was much surprised TO learn that
our whilom guest. Gordon Orme. had
taken sudden departure during my alb
Sence. he having been summoned 10y
messenger from the village, who he
stated brought him word that he must
forthwith be on his way to Alhemare
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 Il way which II
seemed had not dctractcd from my
standing in my parents eyes None of
us three was willing to criticse our
guest. yet | doubt if any one OF us
failed to entertain certain wonder
not 70 say suspicion, regarding him
At least he was gone,
Our talk now gradually resolved it.
self 10 one on business matters. |
ought to have said that my father was
all ambitious man and one OF wide
plans. think that even then he fore.
saw the day when the half patriarChlal
life of our state would pass away be.
fore one OF wider horizons of CONNER
cia sort. He was anxious to hand
down his family fortune much increas-
ed, and, foreseeing 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 n bank
ing firm In Fredericksburg The inter
est was one which in these times would
be considered a cruel one. and indeed
the whole enterprise was one which re-
quired a sanguine courage. precisely as
his, for | have said that risk he always
held as challenge and invitation.
Does thee think that In these times
thee should go so deeply In debt?" ask
ed my mother Of him.
Eliza beth" 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 part OF
them"
Now. that | could not do" he an
swered. ''for half their value. The
country now is fuller OF war than OF
investment But come peace. come
war. there lies fortune for us all.
For my share there remains but one
heavy payment. and tomorrow ! ride
TO raise funds for that among our ten
ants and elsewhere. admit that my
bankers are shrewd and severe-ln fact.
! think they would rather see the pay
ments forfeited than not AS Meri-
wether is away. 1t is with me to attend
to this business now"
That coming da! my father rode
abroad as he bad planned. taking black
Satan for his mount. since he needed
to travel far. lie had collected from
various sources. as his account book
later showed. a sum OF over $1,000,
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 and which made me old before
my time.
heard the horse Satan whinny at
our lane gate wildly. as though In
fright and even as went ont my heart
stopped with sudden fear He Ind
leaped the gate al the lower end OF the
lane His bride rein was broken and
caught at his feet az he moved about
throwing up his head IN fright as much
as yiciousness. hastily looked at the
saddle. but II bore no mark OF any
thing unusual Not pausing TO look
farther. | caught the broken reins In
my hand and sprang into the saddle.
squirting the horse down the lane and
over the gate again and back up the