The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1919-07-02
Fair Flotsanl
r.. 0
By RALPH HAMILTON
Copyright. 1919. BY Western Newspaper Union.)

"Fatherw
| Breathlessly vesta Woods uttered
the word. Then, spellbound, she stood
looking down at a heap of bank notes
and a dozen or more articles of rich
jewelry. OF the latter there were
rings set with diamonds, scarfpins, q
massive watch and chain.
| John Woods had thrown his arms
protectingly over the opulent heap
Vesta did not like an expression in his
,eyes she had never noted before. She
read newborn avarice, the gloatins
longing of spirit that suggested Sc
tcrecy and temptation. Then the pure
sweet presence beside him appealed
to the better nature Of the old man
II know what you're thinking, Yes
ita," he said-"that all this wealth
can't be my own. know what you
are going to say-that it must so tc
its rightful owner. l have been tempt
ed, but haven't intended to keep it
Ooh! truly, Vesta. Human nature Is
human nature, though, and I've held II
for a week, dreaming Of the comfort
it would bring to u.s."
;. "Where did you get it all. father?'
! "From a mans vest, tangled in q
floating tree branch, floating down
stream. It's freshet spoil, Vesta. You
remember the terrible flood of week
before last. Well. some poor victim
probably got caught in II, cast aside
his clothing to tighten himself so he
lcould swim ashore, never caring fol
wealth as against his life"
!; The freshet, the flood7 vesta re-
icalled that thrilling season of havoc
and destruction in which even human
|habitations had become the sport OF
the rushing waters. She AMI her aged
father had done heroic work. in behalf
!of the sufferers. More than one beg.
:gared victim they had housed TEN.
iporarily, more than one life they had
saved. They had lost their boat and
their ramshackly barn. ...
i 1t was no marvel that John Woods
had been tempted, for the prospect fer
the year ahead was one that presaged
!privation and incessant labor on the
f1ve-acre plat of farming lapd. Now,
however, the innate integrity Of his
isoul was aroused through vesta. He
/; said with sigh: There's over five
thousand dollars worth in money, and
the jewelry must be worth half az
much more"
Eyes, father" nodded VestN steadily.
! "What are we going to do aOout it,"
"Find its lawful owner and restore
; 1t to him." came the definite and de.
. cided reply. ''Then not a dollar Of
the money 1T would be-robbeTy on onr
part to use 1t otherwise must be
touched, except in an effort to find the
man who lost It,"
! Vesta secreted the splendid spoil Of
the food in safe hiding place; sys.
tematically she advertised In the
newspapers of every town along q
stretch of one hundred miles slignins
the river upstream. A concise adver
tisement notified the reader that some
valuable property had been found in q
vest floating downstream during the
flood period. One ring, the notice
stated, bore the inscription, "Uri
from Mother"
Every week for six months Vesta
kept up this advertising. but with no
result. She had decided when an.
other month went by, to go to soma
lawyer and learn what her next legal
and moral duty in the premises should
be. Then came the crop season. Mr..
Woods fell i'll. Vesta was overbur
dened with the extra labor and put
!up notice in the village post Office
! offering two months work for .
helper at fair pay.
! She never forgot the day when an
answer. came to the notice, in the
appearance Of a young man who up.
piled for the task. He was pale and
thin, and Vesta doubted If he had the
rugged strength adequate to the work
required. His pleasant face smiled.
however, as he, said: i
"Tve been in the hospital for two
months, out Of it just the same length
lof time, but there isn't day that
don't gain and feel stronger. Try me,
miss. I've got to find work and want
to keep away from the city,
"What do you mean by that?" ques.
toned both pretty and practical Vesta.
"Just this: I've gone through the
deep waters, as one might phrase it
I was spendthrift and a sot. Money
was my ruin. broke down financially
and physically-blessed be the ,provi.
dence that brought it about, for am
d reformed mani"
So Robert Landon was hired, and
never was there more CHEEKY and
industrious worker. Mr.. Woods grew
fond of him and Vesta liked his ear
nest. steady ways. AS to Landon,
!!vesta became the light of his eyes,
and he showed it clearly. One day he
was asked by Mr.. Woods to sign as
witness contract he was making for
the sale Of the produce Of the farm.
, "'Robert Uri Landon,' :" read the old
man. "Why, say. that Urls uncom-
mon, isn't it?" IA
1T was the name my mother liked
best" came the response.