Jasper County Democrat, Volume 16, Number 83, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 January 1914 — A Fish Story [ARTICLE]

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 is a member of a noble family he haq his full enjoyment of life. He was a tall boy, strikingly handsome and a gceat favorite. During this period a lo\» affair sprang up between him and Lgura, daughter of Sir David Hiuchelwodd. 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 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, shi't for himself. There was absolutely no hope of his possessing the girl he loved. When he, was twenty years old he bade her farewell, 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 Joveliest thing about a girl," said the lover; “she's qn 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 fortuiw. He had not inherited business instincts and had no taste for a business life. He found a position in the counting room of a wool merchant named Oldershaw, but did not retain it 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 ISdR. One day while out for large fish he caught a shark on his line. There was something in the fish that lie needed—possibly a little oil for his lamp. At any rate, he cut it up. A number of articles undigested werp in the stomach, 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 voracious fish. Cotton took it to his hut and spread it out before a fire to dry. In the evening after his supper he took up what there was of it to read, and the first heading that met his eyes was. "France Declares War on Germany.”

There were two important facts concerning 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 very swift swimmer. Cotton had not 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 it occurred to him from his knowledge of the wool business that a European war would advance the price of wool. Efirly the next morning he went into the city, saw Oldershaw 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 newspaper. AV obi was selling at 18 cents a 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 between France and Germany. The wool that Oldershaw had bought in pence he sold in shillings. Fie made a fortune for himself and one for Cotton. The war was of short duration, and fortunately the wool was sold near the highest point. Cotton received his profits within a few mouths 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 father's efforts to in* duce her to marry the son of a rich brewer. There had been no news received in England of CJotton having suddenly made a fortune, and when lie appeared no one dreamed that he was a very wealthy man. He refrained from telling of his wealth, fearing that his explanation as to how he had acquired it would not be believed. Laura Hinchehyood was delighted with his return, though she had no idea that it meant auy change in their relationship. When Cotton told his fish' story she thought that something had happened to turn his brain, but when he showed her His bank account as evidence she was staggered. At last lie induced her to believe that he was really rich and had made his money by this streak of sheer luck. Having convinced her. hq was not afraid of any one else. Sir Dav|d Hinchelwood when he was assured of 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 mainstay of the earl and Sir David Hinchelwood. The Rothschilds of London made a large fortune by receiving news in advance of the eventful battle of Waterloo.