Graham guardian., 1913-12-12
A Fish Story
But a True One
By LAURA C. BURNHAM

Edward Cotton was the youngest son
of the Earl of Edgerton Between the
years of fourteen and eighteen as q
member of a noble family he had his
full enjoyment of life. He was a tall
boy. strikingly handsome and a great
favorite. During this period love af.
fair sprang up between him and Laura.
daughter of Sir David Hinchelwood,
an impecunious baronet as proud as he
was poor. Sir Dayid's main object
In life was to marry his daughter to a
man who would be able to lift the
family to its condition of former
years Edward Cotton. being a
younger son in a family all of whose
property was entailed on the oldest
male heir, must of necessity, as soon
as he had grown to manhood, shift for
himself
There was absolutely no hope of his
possessing the girl he loved. When he
was twenty years old he bade her fare
well, being about to sail for Australia.
He looked the matter squarely in the
face. but the girl with feminine faith
would not admit but that something
would happen to turn their present
condition. ...ii ~
That's the loveliest thing aboud
girl" said the lover: she's an optimist
In the very face Of calamity"
Cotton went to Australia more to
break away from associations that
would thereafter be impossible for
him than the hope Of making for
tune. He had not Inherited business
instincts and had no taste for busi-
ness life He found a position In the
counting room Of a wool merchant
named 0ldershaw, but did not retain
1t long Building himself a hut beside
the ocean. he contented himself with
a small remittance sent him quarterly
by his father. He was naturally fond
of fishing and supplied his table with
fish caught in the ocean.
Cotton went TO Australia in lSeS
One day while out for large fish sd
caught a shark on his line. There was
something in the fisb that he needed
possibly little oil for his lamp. At
any rate. he cut it up A number Of
articles undigested were in the stom.
ach. among them a folded newspaper.
which. though soaked. left the inner
sheets In tolerable condition. Quite
likely It had been thrown from some
ship the shark was following for food
and picked up by the voraclous fish.
Cotton took it to his hut and spread it
out before fire to dry. In the even
ing after his supper he took up what
there was OF II TO read and the frst
beading that met bis eyes was.
France Declares War on Germany"
There were two important facts con-
cerning this FIRST news In Australia Of
the breaking out Of the Franco Prus-
sian war First there was then no
cable connecting the island with the
mainlandS secondly. the shark is n
very swift swimmer Cotton had MT
heard Of the breaking out Of the wAr
and did not believe such news bad!
reached Australia. He sat thinking
about the matter In his cabin. and II
occurred to him from his knowledge Of
the wool business that European
war would advance the price Of wool.
Early the next morning he went into
the city. saw 0ldershaw and told him
that an important event had occurred
that would affect the price OF wool
oldershaw agreed that II Cotton would
tell him what it was he tOldershawl
you'd give him half the profit on any
gool he bought or sold on account Of
It, Cotton then produced his news
paper.
Wool was selling at IS cents pound.
and Oldershaw bought all there was at
hand He had scarcely completed his
purchases before a ship came in with
the news of the declaration of war be-
tween France and Germany
The wool that oIdershaw had bought
in pence he sold in shillings. He made
a fortune for himself and one for Cot
ton. The wan was Of short duration.
and fortunately the wool was sold
near the highest point Cotton receiv-
ed his profits within few months
after he had caught the shark that
had brought him his luck and a few
days later sailed for England
He found his love still disengaged.
but resisting her fathers efforts 20 in
iuce her to marry the son OF rich
brewer. There had been no news re-
ceived In England OF Cotton havin&.
suddenly made fortune. and when hsC
appeared no one dreamed that be was
a. very wealthy man. He refrained
from telling OF his wealth. fearing that
his explanation as to how be had ac-
quired II would not be believed.
Laura Hinchelwood was delighted
with his return though she had no
idea that II meant amy change In their
relationship Nhaa Cotton told his
fish story she Thought that something
had hapnrned to turn his brain. VT
when he showed her his hank account
as evidence she was staggered, At
last he induced her to believe that he
was really rich and had made his
money by this streak Of sheer luck
Having convinced her. he was not
afr''d of any one else Sir David
HincheIwood when he Yas assured Of
the truth having found the fortune he
was looking for was nothing loath to
give his daughter to the young man
Edward Cotton purchased an estate
near that of his oldest brother. who
had by this time inherited the family
title. and he is now the financial main
stay of the earl and Sir David Hinch
elwoh