The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1921-12-16

renee Prescott came home. and was
often seen cantering about with
Lurina, on a blOoded horse his father
owned.
Jerome worked harder. Occasions
multiplied during which he ami
Lucina met. At first she wondered at
him obviously with dIlating blue eyes, |
then she began TO blush softly.
Jerome's looks at her could have
but one meaning.
In the meantime, Elmira Edwards |
had her own little romance with Law
renee Prescott, but 1t promised to be
an unhappy one. Lawrence was
threatened with disinheritance, and |
Elmira dismissed him. Then she fell |
I'll, and that night was In high fever.
Lawrence came and she did not know
him. Lawrence went home and had
scene with his father.
As under the circumstances Pres
colt could not be employed, a doctor
from Westbrook was sent for. Elmira
was Ill several weeks. Lawrence and
his mother were assiduous in care and
attention.
Her Illness cost so much that
Jerome had not been able to make
good the deficit caused by loan to
Ozias Lamb, to prevent foreclosure
of mortgage on his little home. The
loan had postponed his mill. Some
times Jerome reflected with bitter
amusement upon the bet made in the
village store few years ago. Egged
on by some village wags, Doctor Pres
colt and Simon Basset had signed be-
fore Lawyer Means document where
by they promised to pay for the bene-
fit of the poor, ten thousand apiece, II
Jerome Edwards should ever have
twenty-five thousand and give 1t all
away.
Jerome thought 1t the safest bust
ness deal in all creation. Meanwhile
he worked SO hard he seldom saw
Lucina. He had not the time to call
upon her. He was sure that they I'M
derstood each other although no for
NAL engagement had been made. He
was sure that Lucina understood that
he could not call because he was work
ing so hard for her sake. But Lucina
did not understand. She grew thin
and pale, and her parents fearing de-
cline, sent her West for a change.
But he was not sure when she re-
turned from the West looking bloom
ing and sent him little note, inform.
ing him sweetly but firmly that they
would be friends but nothing more.
Even then Jerome did not believe.
His faith in the girl was almost sub
lime.
The mill was built, and work began
Jerome set himself certain sum ia
be earned before he went to see
Lucina.
One day the village was startled by
the news that Col. Jack Lamson had
come into fortune Of sixty-five thou
sand dollars from some old mining
stock, and had gone to Boston will
Lawyer Means upon business connect
ed with it.
Shortly after that the village hal
another shock. Abel Edwards cam
home. He had been all the time on
farm fifty miles away and had brough
home all his earnings in a tin box.
Jerome was prospecting, when on
night there came rain that was q
, most a cloudburst, the brook ran
! flood, and the next morning the mi
q was carried away.
n Jerome for the first time gave I
! hope, when Colonel Lamson sudden
d died, and left twenty-five thousal
a dollars to him, twenty thousand
Lucina, five thousand to Eben Nc
7 rift, ten thousand to John Jennin,
ID five thousand to Lawyer Means.
[e People at once remembered the {
IN bet in the store. Would Jerome 81
40 away the money! He soon set doul
1T at rest. He gave the money to
tn poor of the village, and factory "
*. to be set up, using the money as c;
ital stock.
iii The bet was not binding legal
Prescott knew, but did not fail
de abide by his word. Simon Basset hr
MIS- himself before he knew he need
rly pay a dollar unless he chose.
Sc, Squire Merritts wife took ha
nat She offered Jerome the five thouss
ing dollars which her husband had int
md tied, to build new mill, but Jero
he refused, although he knew that
full meant giving up Lucina.
Mrs. Merritt said that she infer
me that he did not wish to marry Lucl
,ay Jerome burst out with mad vows
.ial his love for Lucina.
hat Mrs. Merritt returned that he 10
ces his pride more. Finally Jerome vi
to ed. They were standing outside I'm
AXE tree talking and In the parlor "
,wn Elmira and Lawrence Prescott talk
Everything was settled happily
for them. Doctor Prescott had given
In consent.
.ect When Jerome met Lucina In
tree parlor she chung to him and weep
axe first, then she drew him to Il
nsi- damask sofa, and took a letter (
nan, her pocket. They read 1t toget
as 1t was from Col. Jack Lamson, q,
wen just before his death. In II he bel