Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1914-02-06
A Fish Story
But a True One
By LAURA c. BURNHAM

|
years Of fourteen and eighteen as a
member of noble family he had his
full enjoyment of life. He was a tall
boy. strikingly handsome and 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 David'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.
THAT'S the loveliest thing about
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 a for
tune. He had not inherited business
instincts and had no taste for busi-
ness life. He found position in the
counting room Of wool merchant
named Oldershaw, but did not retain
it long. Building himself hut beside
the ocean. he contented himself with
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 1868.
One day while out for large fish he
caught shark on his line. There was
something in the fish 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 folded newspaper,
which. though soaked, left the inner
sheets in tolerable condition. Quite
likely 1t had been thrown from some
ship the shark was following for food
and picked up by the voracious fish.
Cotton took 1t to his hut and spread 1t
out before fire to dry In the even
ing after his supper he took up what
there was of 1t to read, and the first
heading that met his eyes was.
France Declares War on Germany"
There were two important facts con-
corning 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
mainland; secondly. the shark is a
heard of the breaking out of the war
and did not believe such news had
reached Australia. He sat thinking
about the matter in his cabin, and 1t
occurred to him from his knowledge of
the wool business that a European
war would advance the price of wool
Early the next morning he went into
the city, saw OldershaN and told him
that an important event had occurred
that would affect. the price of wool
Oldershaw agreed that If Cotton would
tell him what it was he (Oldershaw)
would give him half the profit on any
wool he bought or sold on account of
It. Cotton then produced his news
paper.
Wool was selling at 18 cents a pound,
and Oldershaw bought all there was at
hand. He had scarcely completed his
purchases before ship came In with |
the news of the declaration Of war be- |
tween France and Germany.
The wool that Oldershaw had bought |
in pence he sold in shillings. He made |
a fortune for himself and one for Cot
ton. The war 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 few
days later sailed for England.
He found his love still disengaged,
but resisting her fathers efforts to in
iuce her to marry the son Of a rich
brewer. There had been no news re-
,eived I'm England of Cotton having
made fortune, and when he
appeared no one dreamed that he was
4 very wealthy man. He refralned
from telling of his wealth. fearing that
his explanation as to how he had ac-
luired it would not be believed.
Laura Hinchelwood was delighted
with his return. though she had no
dea that 1t meant any change in their
when Cotton told his
ish story she thought that something
lad happened to turn bis brain. but
when he showed her his bank account
Is evidence she was staggered. At
asst he induced her to believe that he
vas really rich and had made his
money by this streak Of sheer luck.
Having convinced her. he was not
lfraid Of any one else. Sir David
when he was assured Of
he truth. having found the fortune he
vas looking for. was nothing loath to
live his daughter to the young man.
Edward Cotton purchased an estate
lear that OF his Oldest brother. who
lad by this time inherited the family
title. and he Is now the financial main
tay Of the earl and Sir David Hinch
'lwoOd
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