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About Capital city courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1885-1893 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 19, 1891)
CAPITAL CITY COURIER, SATURDAY, DISCKMBER 19, 1891 n J HOW HE GOT HIS WEALTH A WE1BD NKW YKAIl'S TALK ttV nX-DIPLO-MATIST. Copyright, 1801, by American Press AjssooI tlon.l mOU want to know fwthe origin of my wealth, do your Well, that certain ly Is n rather In discreet question, and liy right de serves no response. But, however, as tonight Is New Year's eve, and I have enjoyed my dinner I don't mind telling you something about It while we nro smoking our cigars besldu the Arc. It's a queer yarn one which jou are at liberty to believe or not, as you think fit. T ho origin of my fortune dates back to an eventful New Year's eve, Just eighteen years ago today, and 1 am in debted for its possession to a conversation which I overheard on the Christmas eve a week earlier. I was a farmhand In those days. You stare 11 know, I don't look much II kn It now more like an old general, elif True, I have been a soldier; in fact, 1 had just completed my time. In the army at tho period which I am speaking of, and I re member what dilllculty I experienced In reaccustnmlug myself to the humdrum and monotonous life of a farm lalxirer after the guy, rollicking times I had In the garrlbon towns of France. Many a night did I lie awako on my bed of straw, lu the long low barn where I slept along with the oxen during the bleak Uriton winters, thinking of my past years at soldiering and regretting I hem. It was Christmas eve, anu m iu return from midnight mass I had tarown myself wearily onto my hard couch, tired and sick at heart and cursing my miserable fate Fatigue, however, soon overpowered me, and 1 speedily lost consciousness of ray wretched surroundings. I suppose that I must have been asleep about an hour, when I was suddenly aroused by the sound of voices close beside me. The tones were strange, mulllcd and uunatural, and lilted mu with a nameless terror which I had never felt before, for I am no coward During a few minutes 1 lay there with closed eyes listening in tently, trying to concentrate all my men tal and physical powers in endeavoring to find out who had spoken. Curiosity at last impelled me to raise my head cautiously and to look around me. The barn was but dimly lighted by a great lantern, but my perceptions were rendered so acute by fear that I could see almost as well as in broad daylight. Again and again I glanced at every nook and corner, but I could discover no one in the stable excepting the cattle, standing kueudeep In the thick Utter, and yet a voice was pro ceeding from thu stall beside which I had made my bed. The occupant of this stall THE OX BPKAKS. was a very aged ox who was kept on the farm more for the sake of his past services at the plow than for any actual preteut use. I peeped through a chink in thu low wooden partition separating u. Now, my friend, bellevu me If you can It was the old ox who was talking! For a short spell I was thunderstruck with astonishment, Then, like a Hash, thu memory of the old legend, utcotdlug to which animals aru endowed with the power of speech on Christmas evu between tlm hours of midnight and daybreak, cam) back to my mind, and, although a cold shudder ran through me, I resolved to bear what they had to say. J When ho had finished his story, its thread was taken up by an equally anti quated donkey at the farther" end of the stable. "Ah I" exclaimed he In conclusion; "how blind men are not to understand the sounds of nature. If they were told that we were enabled on Christmas eve to ieak as they do, they would only shrug their shoulders and laugh In scorn at the idea." "Men only care for us," retorted the ox, "because we assist them to gain money Money is all they arc after. Yes, yes, only money: and nhal If they only knewl 1 could tell where gold and riches are to Im found in such abundance that" "What on earth aro you talking about, old friend " interrupted thu donkey. "You must be getting on toward your dotage to tell such extravagant titles. The clover has gone to your head." 8WATED TO AND FItO. "Laugh away," replied tho ox, evidently nettled by the donkey'- remarks. "Hut for al' that I can -issuro you Unit on the evu ol t, Sylvesi. New Year's eve), once In every liundrv-. ars, at midnight, the old Druldica. loues of Plouhluec, a mile from here, Ieat; tho spot where they have stood so many lung centuries and go down to the sea to drink. Beneath the place they Icavu vacant during that time aru great holes II lied to the brim with treasure anil I have been told long ago that the glitter of the stones which men call dia monds, the soft gleam of pearls, the llery light of rubies heaped up therein, make 6 halo around the spot equal to that of the brightest moonshine " "Wbewl" exclaimed the donkey, "that must be a grand sight. Hut how is this treasure to bo readied?" "Tho treasuru is known to none; th secret thereof Ins never been betrayed, and even If man knew about it It could not be touched, for tho stones would rush back I'lid crush the thieves liku Insects under their ponderous mass, unless the blood of a Christian were sacrificed to the spirit which animates these monumeuts of past and pagan ages." As thu ox pronounced these last words a distant bell boomed forth the hour of day break. This was thu end of thu timo allotted to the animal's yearly power of speech, and with a deep drawn sigh they relapsed Into silence. Moru dead than alive I lay thero almost stunned by what I had just heard. Could all this hu truer Could it bo within my reach to become one of the wealthiest men on earth? A cold and clammy perspira tion gathered on my brow, and I shook in every limb at thu meru thought of it. (irndually 1 grew moru accustomed to the idea, ami a linn resolve filled my heart to make thu attempt, and to enrich myself by lobbing thu stones of somu of their treasiite, if human strength and courage well) of any avail. The light of dawn was stealing into the stable when I arose from my bed. All was Mill and silent around minis 1 inadu my way towaid the door. Hut as 1 was about to open it I paused transfixed with astou i'lnuent, for there, stretched out on a Im ml lu of straw, I caught sight of a human form. It was that of an old man, mUur ably clothed lu rags, and with long, un kempt locks of grizzly hair falling in dis order about bis wrinkled and emaciated face. I druw nearer, and recognized in him an old beggarof evil tepute, who wandered bout thu country craving Ills dally bread from thu peasants and fishermen. On the impuUoDf thu moment I bent over him, nnd rudely shaking him by thu shoulder I cried: "What nre you doing here, Kerrick, and who allowed you to Intrude. In my master'. Immr" The old man opened his bright, glitter ing eves, which shone strangely in Ills yel low, parchineutllku countenance, and shak ing mu olT impatiently hu said, with an ugly grin: "Keep quiet, my lad; you nnd I had bet ter be friends. Tor there Is much at staku for both of us if wo agree. The inastei al lowed mu to take shelter lu his stable last night, and I thank thu spirits that he did so." It was evident from his words that thu old man had, liku myself, heard thu words spoken by tho animals, and 1 realized at orce that I must, submit to all he might ask, even if It weru to share witli him tin1 wealth which I hoped to obtain from the stones of I'louhiiiec. I had surmised right, ami, aftera short discussion, wu finally de cided upon going together on the vigil of St. Sylvester to thu Hay of I'louhiiiec, and If wu really found that thu words of thu ox had been true, to unite our efforts ami to carry away all we could gather of gold ami precious gems. During the week which followed this eventful night 1 lived as one in a dream, j and mi tho .list of December I was almost ' sick with anxiety and expectation. At 11 o'clock on thu vigil of St. Sylvester I started, accompanied by old Kerrick, for the Hay of I'louhiiiec. The weather was very cold and the waves weru rolling heavily with a deep roar upon the Iteach eighty feet below thu cliffs along which ws were walking. All around us rose huge piles of Menhirs and Dolmum, sacred Druldlcal stones of thu times of tho Gauls, looking ghostly, weird and terrible In thu fitful rays of thu moon, which now and again was hidden lehlnd banks of angry, snow laden clouds. It was almost 'i ' o'clock when wu reached thu spot where the gigantic lmwlders known as the , "Stones of I'louhiiiec" raised their rugged beads toward thu sky. Silently wu couched behind a rock close to thu edgu of thu ell IT, in near proximity to a steep Incline leading down to the beach. Wu remained quito motionless, gazing anxiously at thu apparently unniov able masses of gray, storm beaten lasses of granite. The minutes seemed hours to us, but at last thu dim sound of thu faraway church bell was wafted toward us as It began to striku thu fateful midnight hour. One, two, tlireu a smothered cry es caped from my lips. For now we could uo longer doubt. Thu enormous stones weru lowly oscillating on their buses. They Till: STONE'S IIKVKNC1E. swayed to and fro, faster and faster, with a heavy swinging motion, till at tho last ntrokoof 12 they toru themselves from the mot where they had stood, and rolled pell mell past us down thu incline, on their way to thu sea For several minutes we remained spoil bound. Then we rushed toward the places left empty by the erratic memorials of pa ganism. Oh! what a sight met our eyes! In the cold light of th! moor, now shining brightly, diamonds sparkled between heaped up gold bars and nuggets. Itlible, emeralds and sapphires glitteied and scintillated, and twinkled like so many wii Ued eyes alluring and tempting us, in thu open llauks of thu earth. "Fill your pockets: hurry, hurry, hurry," whlspeted Kerrick, fulling on his knees, and throwing handful after handful of gems in a capacious canvas bag which hu had brought with him. Feverishly, pas sionately obejed his directions, stulllng the precious jewels in the bosom of my nhlil as quickly as my trembling hands would allow mu to do so. Suddenly a tearful rumbling noise reached our ears. "Thu stones are coining luck," shrieked Kerrick, and as he spoku thu great gianlto blocks niiiii! rushing back toward us up thu incline, knocking against each otherlu thelt feu fill haste to reach us. "Wo aro Inst, I calif d despairingly. t niggling to my tat. "Yon nre; not I," yelled the old beggar throwing himself on mo. At this frightful moment I remembered the last words of the ox's revelation, name ly, that the blood of a Christian could alone pacify the spirits which animate the stones! Kerrick, to save himself, was going to kill me. I saw thu Hash of a knife In his upraised hand. Gathering my strength together I wired thu old villain by thu throat and hurled him ngalnst thu lowering block of granite w hleli was already almost upon us. There was a scream of agony, nnd I fell In a dead faint on thu ground, When I recovered consciousness I gar.ed mound mu lu horror. The stones of I'lnti lilueo were, standing motionless at their old places as If they bad never stirred, but theie, closu liesldn me, lay tlm blood stained body of Kerrick, with his shattered skull pillowed on thu bagful of stolen treasuiu. I sat up and tried to collect my scattcicd thoughts. In spite of all I was lost, for t should ceitaluly Iki accused of thoman'ii murder and also of robbery, fur nobody iwiiilil irtvit mtwtiiiif'ii In mi uf riimrii atnl-l' Nothing remained for mu but Immediate iigni As soon as I was able to stand on my feet, 1 dragged the corpse under a project- lug rock, covered It Willi furze, and, shout derhig the precious bag, wended my way along thu cliffs toward tin; oak forests of 1'eiierck, Thciu I remained concealed for somu hours, and on thu following night I walked to thu next seaport, which wasouly some miles distant, I worked my passago to this country be fore tho mast lu a small trading vessel, and I only breathed freely when I reached America, Such Is the origin of my wealth, my friend. It Is romantic, I confess, and per chance many would doubt thu truth of my story, for only those who will ho ullvo a century from now can prove tho veracity of my statements by visiting the Hay of Plouhluec, when thu sacred stones will once moru go ami drink at thu sun, laying bare thu sources from whunce I obtained riches. In thoalmvn I have striven to reproduce exactly as It woe given to me, only in moru condensed form, thu curious story told mu one Nuw Year's uvu by a rich old Frenchman lu Nuw York regard ing thu origin of his wealth. That his riches are considerable Is wull known to evurylsidy lu New York. Hut It is only right to add that there aru many strange rumors as to Its source among his country men whom he persistently shuns. In deed there aru not a few who assert that Its derivation Is not altogether free froai crime and bloodshed. KX-DlPlOMATIBT. Nnrnrii Off. The chimney stood up straight In air, Said he, "Comu now, no Joking; I nm resolved this year, nt least, That 1 will give up smoking." SENSE AND NONSENSE. lie stood uM)U the tbeatiu steps, And longed to h in Koine, Ur any oilier place, because llu'd left his tickets homu. Ileudquttrtcis for ladles lints, the great 'J5 cent store, ll'-M O street. There Is an Irish Negro In this city. Ho of coursu has a wooly head and a llanuul mouth. Our competitors advertise ladles "cheap hats ns well us good". We sell good hats cheap. (Irent 25 cent store 1121 O street. Insurance Kxamiuer: Art you engaged in a ny hazardous huslncssf Applicant; Uni, wull yes. Thu fact is, I nm a ot. Ladles line velvet hats milliners prices S.(H). Wu make to older thu same for $:i.'A1 it tho great SB cent store. Kvangcllst; Young man, did you know you were on the road to Hell Young Man: No, not till I met you. Just upf Misses cnjiH, usual price $1.00. Tlio great 2 cent stole sells tiiem for 40 cents. Awkward lliirbcr Does this razor hurt you, sii I Patient Customer Only when it guts under the skin. (Jood News, One trial will convince you that wu aru lenders in ladies line hats at pileus that as tonish all. (ireat -'" cent storu, 1121 Ostrcct. She Her father Is an undertaker in Chicago, Isn't lief He Yes. Shu told mu sliu was the daughter of a planter. Life. Ladles felt hats lift cents at thu great !i cent storu. An Artitle showluir. No windows along O stns't have the at 1 1 net ion for p-ivi by'nsdo tlio-u of the Globe i lothlng house. The new show was made the foreuut of the week and on Thurs day tint curtains wciii raiwd. ois-iung to pub lie vluw two of the most artistically decorat ed show windows ever seen III tho city. Car ilciilnrly Is h wist window attiaetivu mid shows clever tuMu of the designer Ynhl liosii-'iin, theittr.ihluiiud etll -lent head salesman is the aitlst an I Is making his inaik asa window diesserof no uiuiii merit Hu is to be congratulated on Iih I'isl elfort. I'm- lliu (ileal (In litmus Dinner. June, the iiiepit-sublii dealt r ill dellica I.'Smii, i-oiner Thliteeutb an I O, has ls-eu making el.d.or.it.. preparation lur the holiday liaoe nod In i -putiitlon as bead piaiteiH fur all tUi e -est lahl Mall s Will not sullitl le t.eek ICwu J tiling lootli-ome and d he. -an in tlm way ot I'oillli'j, (rers, ilanie, ee., will lie on aim ill iililUMlilliee. Hut ns lh' 1 uli will oguat -s tho jovial CliiUtiuns tide comes oil, it would be wiill In- nil to leav.i ordeis ns soon n cm niieiii so that evi r want mat' Ui fill 1 v satnliiil " Here's to a cheap MILLERHeGROCER. GREAT REMOVAL SALE. Having leased thu store Hosselman on Klcvcnlh street which We Will Move Kvo llllVO decided thill it WOlllll out our present large stock than to move it. We will there fore commence on Monday to dispose of everything in the store at such prices as will certainly be to every ones advan tage to buy. THIS IS NO FAKE but a genuine removal sale and everything in our present location will be sold if low prices are an object. It is the great chance of the season to stock up for the winter and especi ally for HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES. The goods will go and we propose to keep them going even if we sacrifice part of the cost. There .are too many art icles on which to quote prices, but the following are fair spec imens: Imported Valencia Raisins $ 6 worth $ 12 Strictly Pure Boiled Cider 80 u 1 10 Fancy Spanish Queen Olives 20 " 40 Strictly Pure Maple Syrup 1 25 " 1 75 (This Is positively the best syrup made.) Maple Syrup in Bulk 65 " I 00 Fancy English Walnuts 18 " 25 Salad Dressing in Glass Jars 10 u 25 Pure Olive Oil 30 u 60 All Package Codecs 20 " 25 Pickels, Mediums 5 " 15 Dunham Shreded Cocoanut 30 " 40 We could quote prices to fill a page of this paper but that would not sufiice to give any further information than above. A call at our store will convince you that this sale is strictly business and for your interest to buy. MILLER, THE GROCER, 11 30 N St. After Dec 27th, 143 S. Ilth. ARE YOU AT HOME, AT HOME? We arc receiving some of the handsomest kind of compliments on our thirty-five dollar bed room suite. If money saving is an object, It Is a suite that will suit you to perfection. You have read a yood deal about furniture and perhaps you have not quite believed all that you have seen In print hut this suite tells Its own story and you will be lost In wonder when you see It. How It can be sold nt such a figure will be a riddle to you. Come along and echo w hat we say about It nnd don't forget to take ad vantage of tlie opKrtunily which our visit will afford us to show you out fine stock of holiday goods. A. T. Gruetter & Co. 124 to 134 North 13th. Opposite New Lansing Theatre Block. Oilier, Cur. Illlli mill riioiiu 7111. O M. ViiiiN, Kilo 11111I Phone 707. Streets Christmas dinner." heretofore occupied by George next to Miller & Paincs, into Next Saturik iy 1)0 cheaper K) reduce or close P BARTON EXCLUSIVE Agent for QENUINE Canon City Coal Also Itest (iriule of Hard Coal . IMea-e do not be deceived by imitations of our famous Canon Citv Coal. Satisfy yourself as to I the CJKNl'INK before ordciiu. " X
