jyiarfe Chester: H jMill and a jVKUion ( b- : ^ ;'.: : MARK CHESTER: OR A MILL AND A MILLION A Tale of Southern California BY CARLYLE ETERSILEA, /?. A MILL AND A MILLION. 163 "Good bye, for this time, mama, dear. You shall soon hear from me again. "Your daughter, Mrs. Marcus Chesterfield.'' Mrs. Kester kissed the letter and laid it away in a little casket containing her treasures, and then drew the five thousand dollars from the Redondo bank. The old fisherman looked at the money. Tears came to his eyes. Then he whistled softly. Then he kissed his wife and called her a cooing dove. "Wall, thet thar eagle hes gone an' soared away. Yer can't make doves outer eagles an' yer can't make eagles outer doves. Lions ner lams wunt lay down ter- gether, no how yer kin fix it, unless yer put the lam' in- side ther lion an' ther eagle will claw ther dove, sure. Let thet thar eagle hev hur own way. She is a right royal eaglet, she is. Calls me a old hulk, do she? not much better'n Molly an' ole ignerunt fisherman! Wall, jestice is jestice, an' thet thar gal is right. I am a ole ignerunt hulk es sure es yer live, turkle dove; but, fur all o' thet, Molly, she loved me an' you love me, turkle- dove an' Mark Chester loves me an' all them thar people at ther settlemint, loves me them Shantyvillers, es ther eaglet calls um an' a most o' ther peoples here in Redondo, calls me unkle an* I gess es how ther most er them wuld trust ine with ther wimen an' darters an' may be, wud like ter borrer a dollar er two o' me, oc- casionally; so, I gess, ther ignerunt ole hulk kin git along, sunihow. "Natur is kind ter me jest es kind es tho' I was es wise es Solomun. Jest tew think whut thet thar sea hes dun fur me an' look at this ere gardin. Did yer ever see anything grow like it, turkle dove? an' them thar roses blow es red an' smell es sweet fur me es fur eny uther man, an' I wudent swap my turkle dove fur ther richest an' beautifulest woman es ever lived. "Thar air eaglets, an' thar air turkle doves, au' thar air lions, an' thar air lams, an' thar air ole! hulks; an* yer can't change one inter tother; but, howsumever, I will take ther gal's inuny, an' thank hur tew; fur, turkle dove, I am a gittin' a leetle stiff in ther jints, an 164 MARK CHESTER: OB rumiticks is a gittin' inter my back an' sholders, an' sumtimes, when I am a rockin' in thet thar boat, an' ther sun's a blazin' away at my ole head, ther same's tho' I war a yunger man, I gits a leetle dizzy, like, 'specially when them yaller-tails refuses ter bite. "An', marm ole gal ten thousan' dollars '11 set us up in good shape, an' no mistake! "I think we kin afford ter forgive Jane." "Jane has never been a very bad girl," said Mrs. Kester, "but an exceedingly wilful one." "Wall, marm; she sez es how it hes ben ther will es hes done it; but, dew yer think, turkle dove, es Jane '.'I be happy?" "I believe she will be happier as Marcus Chesterfield's wife than in any other way," answered Mrs. Kester. "As you say, she has not the heart of a dove. Her pride is more easily wounded than her love; but I think as she does, that Marcus Chesterfield, with all his wealth, would have made Isabel Morton miserable; and, prob- ably, she would have died of a broken heart." A MILL AND A MILLION. 165 CHAPTER XXX. MRS. MORTON BATTLES WITH A SPECTRE. Mrs. Kester sent Mrs. Morton a note in which she said: "Mrs. Morton: "Dear Madam. I am exceedingly sorry to inform you that my daughter Jane has married Marcus Chesterfield, and they are, at this time, on their way to Europe. That Mr. Chesterfield has not dealt honorably by your daugh- ter, I am well aware; still, there are many other young men who do not deal honorably with young ladies. I hope you will forgive his error. Of course, my daughter Jane is not guiltless in this matter; but I have already forgiven her. "I hope, dear madam, you will not take this misfortune very greatly to heart; for, really, after all, it is your daughter, Isabel, who is the wronged parly. "I can only say, madam, that I am very sorry that my daughter could find it in her heart to wrong so sweft and beautiful a girl as Isabel. "My husband joins me in good will and wishes for you both. "Yours truly, "Mrs. Nathaniel Kester." When Mrs. Morton received this note, and had taken in its contents, she stood, for a moment, like one who had received a mortal blow, and then fell to the floor with a dull thud. The servants hearing the fall, rushed into the room, room. Isabel, who was standing at the time before the mirror, combing out her long, beautiful hair, also hurried to the spot, still not thinking the noise to be made by her mother. The servants hastily placed the lady on her bed und then applied restoratives. Isabel took the missive from the hand of her mother and read it; and, as she read, her countenance beamed 166 MARK CHESTER: OR with delight, and nothing but her mother's condition caused her the slightest sorrow. But that mother soon rallied, then went into screaming hysterics. The doctor was hastily summoned. He ordered quiet and a sedative, and when the lady had recovered her composure she desired to be left alone. She sat in her room speechless for hours, her eyes filled with a wild, despairing light. "Oh, could it be possible," she asked herself, "that Jane Erie, whom she had looked upon as little less than a beggar, was the wife of her carefully nurtured, and beautiful Isabel's affianced husband?" O! She could not believe it. She would not believe it. There was his last letter, now, lying on the table. In it he had said that he was soon to be paid his price for the mines five mil- lions of dollars and he hoped to return to Redondo be- fore the winter months, that he might be in readiness to lead his promised bride to the altar by New Year's day. This note which Mrs. Kester had sent her, was an im- position that was certain. Probably Jane herself had caused it to be sent from a spirit of revenge. "The spiteful cat!" muttered the lady. And thus she sat cogitating until the shades of night set in. She would not go down to thet dinner, but or- dered a cup of tea and some toast instead, for, truly, she could not eat. After the tea things had been taken away, she lighted the grate, as the evenings were once more becoming a little chilly, and then, as her life forces began to return, her rage knew no bounds. She walked back and forth in her room like some wild animal. Her soul became like that of a ferocious wild tigress, and if Jane Erie had been in the room, in person, Mrs. Morton would, no doubt, have torn her in pieces, if it had been possible to do so. "The vile huzzy!" she ejaculated. "The miserable, plotting demon! She has long been in league with Satan, I know. A vile imp who could do what she has done, should be hung without judge or jury; she should by lynched and torn in pieces, flayed alive, tortured oh, there is nothing that would be too bad to do to such A MILL AND A MILLION. 167 a vile good for nothing, but evil huzzy. If I had her here now, I would wring her neck as I would that of a fowl. Beheading would be too good for her." "If you had me here now? Well, madam, I am here." A voice had spoken. Or, was it the rising wind or the moan of the sea? No, it was not; for there she stood that spectral form which the lady had seen before. She really stood there, her great, flashing eyes fixed on the raging woman. "Here I am," said the apparition. "Wring my neck, if you can. Much good might it do you. Your thoughts are fixed so intently on me, madam, that my soul is drawn into your presence. Madam, I am the conqueror! You are the conquered. What difference does it make to Eternity which of us is the vanquished party?" Mrs. Morton stared, foaming with rage, at the vision. "Spectre, devil, or both," she gurgled, "I will tear you, whatever you are," and she rushed wildly forward with extended hands and clawing fingers. The spectral form advanced to meet her. The raging woman passed directly through it, half falling against the wall in her mad charge then, she faced about with glaring eye-balls and, there stood the form the same as before their positions simply being reversed a scornful smile curling the lips. Again Mrs. Morton charged like a mad bull, passing directly through the form, as before; and this she did a half dozen times or more, until her strength was ex- hausted, then she threw herself into the large chair, panting heavily, with heaving breast. "Allow me to ask you a question, Mrs. Morton," whis- pered the spectral form. "Which one of us is the huzzy which the demon? I am sure I think epithets fit you; however, I am perfectly willing you should have them. I can well afford to be generous, madam, not only in soul, but in material wealth. The six millions are mine, Mrs. Morton, instead of yours. We tilted for them, you see, and, my soul or will power being the stronger, I broke your lance, that is all. "What do you care for Marcus Chesterfield, except as an adjunct to his money? I have not tilted with your daughter, madam. I scarcely would have dared to cross 168 MARK CHESTER: OR lances with her. Her purity and innocence would have appalled my soul and rendered me cowardly. She is good. I am not. She does not love Marcus Chesterfield neither himself nor his money. I love him as much as I am capable of loving anyone, and his money far better than himself. "Madam, it is you whom I have fought and conquered. I am now Mrs. Marcus Chesterfield, and, if I can help it, you shall never meet my husband again. This is the last time I shall trouble you. I have thrown you aside as I would an old rag; so, good-bye!" and the spectre was gone. Mrs. Morton did not leave her room again for a num- ber of weeks; and when at last she once more appeared before her household, it was with a sorrowful and sub- dued air. She never mentioned to anyone having battled with a vision. A MILL AND A MILLION. 169 CHAPTER XXXI. SPIRITUAL RAPPINGS. The next day the old fisherman went out, as usual, with Mark Chester in the boat. The old man was un- usually silent and thoughtful all day. They caught an immense load of fish, and when the boat was hauled up on the beach, Nathaniel said: "I think es how, pardner, I shell hev tew stay an' help yer; so jist yer make coffee fur two, an' fry a double lot o' fish. I am jest about starved, fur sartin." Mark lighted a fire, made the coffee for two, and broiled the fish, very glad, indeed, to have the old man keep him company. But Mr. Kester had a double motive for staying tonight under any circumstances, for he wished to talk with Mark about Jane. The young man, as yet, had heard nothing, and had not the remotest idea where she could be. The old man gulped down his first cup of coffee. "Fill 'er up agin, Mark," said he. "I telled turkle dove, up thar, ter go tew bed an' not tew set up fur me, es I shud stay an hour or tew with you, es she knowed I hed sumwhat tew say ter ye. "Mann hed a letter, she hes." "A letter?" asked Mark, elevating his brows as he gave the old man an inquiring look. "Yis. She's hed a letter frum thet thar gal o* hern, an' I'll be durned, pardner, ef thet thar jade haint gone an' got married." "Married!" exclaimed the young man. "Married? To whom?" "Wall, now, I don't beleve yer cud gess frum now till doomsday." "I do not know about that," said Mark with a wise, but still curious look. "But, of course, dad, you do not object to tell me?" "Not I," answered Nathaniel. "She's jest run away an* got spliced ter thet thar cussed millioner, whose name is somewhat like youru, my boy." 170 MARK CHESTER: OR "Do you mean Marcus Chesterfield?" "Wall, shiver my old timbers ef I don't." Mark's countenance lighted up with joy. "Then, Miss Isabel Morton is free!" he exclaimed. O! indeed, uncle, you have made me very happy, or, rather, Jane has." "Wall, I jest knowed es much aforehand. Yer dead in love with thet thar gal, ain't yer, now?" "I love her better than my own life," answered the young man solemnly, but with shining countenance "and, now, uncle, I must tell you of something that happened to me last night. I was sitting by my fire, as usual. I had been writing in my book for you must know, daddy, that I am writing another novel and in my book, my hero was situated in his love affair, just about as I am- or, rather, was, until you told me that Isabel was free. I did not know just how to get him out of his difficulty, so threw down my pen and sat gazing at the fire rather dejectedly, when that particular electrical chill ran through my frame, and I became conscious that my mother's spirit was bending over me. You know that I can always feel her long and beautiful hair sweeping about my head and face at such times. I turned my face up toward her rapturously. " 'Mother,' I said, 'you have told me, since you went to the spirit world, that the human will was all powerful if properly exercised; but I cannot hope to marry the wo- man I love, for she belongs to another, and it would be dishonorable for me to supplant him.' " 'My son my darling son,' she softly whispered to my inner consciousness. 'Isabel Morton is already free. You will marry the woman you love;' and now, tonight, you corroborate that which she had already told me. O, indeed, indeed, I am a happy man!" "Wall," said the old fisherman, "ther wurld do pro- gress, thet's a fact; an' I am powerful sorry thet I didn't know about ther human will afore say, when I war a yung man 'cause I mite hev hed a edacation an' larned all about grammer, an' so on; an' then, thet thar gal wudn't a hed a reson fur callin' me a ignerent old hulk o' a fisherman." "Did she call you that, Uncle Kester?" A MILL AND A MILLION. 171 "She did, my boy, an' she telled ther truth, she did. I ain't a goin' ter blame no man ner woman nether- fur tellin' ther truth." "She certainly is very thankless and unfeeling." "Wall, she may not be quite es earful o' my feelin's es you be, Mark; but, fur all o' thet, she is not thank- less, fur she sent turkle dove a check on thet thar bank fur five thousan' dollars, an' she's a goin' fur ter send five thousan' more." Mark opened his eyes in astonishment; and yet, after all, was it any more than she ought to have do'ne? "Really, uncle, if she were to give Mrs. Kester half a million, she would do nothing more than what would be right. But, nevertheless, uncle, I am very glad, indeed, that you and your wife have come into such good for- tune." "Wall, now, boy, so am I, an' I am glad thet I wus alers good tew thet thar gal. Sum step-fathers mitn't hev treated her well." "Uncle, one word more before you go." The old man had risen to depart. "I desire to marry Isabel Morton, and I also desire to be worth a million dollars. Do you believe that by exer- cising my will power to the utmost, I shall be able to ac- complish, or bring to pass, that which I desire so much?" "Perhaps so, boy perhaps so. This is an age o' steam, this is a age o' electricity, an' they bottle up sound, an' when they git ready they let it off a whizzing, an' I'll be durned ef I didn't go inter a show the other nite, right here in Redonder in this ere little town o* Redonder an' see a bull fite, an' a lot er men a mo win', an' a murder er tew, an' a woman a washin' of a black boy ter make him white; an' ther betenist thing o' all wus a train o' keers ther 'lightnin' express,' they called it an' thet thar train o' keers wus a cumin* rite down onter me an marm, es sure es yer live; rite thar in thet thar hall, an' we a settin' in our seats. I jumped up an' yelled with all my mite: 'Stop them thar keers stop um! What in thunder air ye a doin' ?' Turkle dove she pulled et my coat, an* ther people all laffed an' cried: 'Down in front down in front! Put him out put him out!' I didn't keer a fig fur all ther yellin', but when marm 172 MARK CHESTER: OR pulled et my coat an' sed, smiliu' an' soft like, 'Na- thaniel, it's only a pictur', I sot down an', Jerusalem- jewhiteker! ef thet thar train o' keers warn't out o' sight in a jiffy, an' a gal wus a dancin' an' a whirl-a-gigin' about like mad, an' she wus a mity purty gal, tew. Now I say, yung feller, thet this is a curus age, an' ef they kin make picturs run like ther litenin' express, an' fite like Spanish bulls, an' dance jest like a surcus gal, an' ride bosses, an' so furth picturs, I say, thet kin dew all this I gess yer hev steam enuf inside o' yer er will power, es yer call it pears to me it's all one an' ther same 1 gess yer kin do a most enything yer like." "Well, uncle, I will tell you what I should like." "Oh, I know what yer'd like, an' what a most eny uther man erd like. Yer'd like ter be rich, now, wudern't yer?" "Yes: I desire to be rich very rich, indeed; but I desire riches for a particular purpose. Not for my own selfish gratification, but that I may benefit mankind in general, and the very poor in particular. I am thinking continually of plans whereby I might benefit poor men and their families. Uncle, I have made considerable money this year, but the amount of money I could make in these various ways would not be sufficient to do much. I am sure, if I were worth a million or so say, for in- stance, as much as Marcus Chesterfield is, I could work for the world to some purpose." "Wall, lad, thar is only one way about these parts thet a man kin git very rich; an' thet way pears ter be all luck an' chance. Ther biggist rascal as ever lived, stands jest es good a chance es a 'onest man. Thar air sum big mineral deposits in them thar mountins, over thar, an' ef yer cud disciver a big gold mine in them hills yender, an' cud sell it ter sum o' them New Yorkers, yet mite be rich in no time." "Then you think, uncle, that is my only chance here?" "It's yer only chance o' gitin' teribul rich." "But the trouble is in knowing just how to find one of those rich mines. I might prospect for a life time and not be successful." "Thet's jest what I sed, young mam. It's all luck an' chance." A MILL AND A MILLION. 173 "Perhaps not. This is an age, as you have already said, when hidden forces are being brought to light. I believe, dad, that there are hidden forces which can be brought to bear in finding gold mines." "Wall, now, I hev hed sum sich thots myself, specially arter I seen them thar picturs es cud dew eanamost eny- thing thet livin' foks kin dew." "Sit down, uncle, and let us talk this matter over a bit moreover, I have something I want to tell you about. "You know that I have written one novel, and that I am now writing another. My first story has already been published, and received considerable commendation." "An' dew yer expect ter airn a million dollars a 'ritin' o' novils?" "No, uncle. I do not expect to earn a penny at the business of story writing; quite the contrary. I give my time, talent, postage stamps and paper gratis. I even am obliged to buy my own ink; bufi this is not the point; it is something else I wish to tell you of. While I sit at my little table writing, I hear peculiar sounds, raps or knockings." "Dew tell, now! Why, boy, them thar sounds must be spiritual rappins!" "I think you are right, uncle. At first I thought the sounds were accidental; but I soon discovered they were not, for I noticed that when I was writing anything par- ticularly good especially anything pertaining to the wel- fare of humanity they would be loud and distinct. To make sure that it was not the creaking or snapping of the table, caused by the motion of my hands and arms in the act of writing, I leaned back in my. chair, simply allowing my hands to rest lightly on the table; then the raps would come, sounding very much like the ticking of the electric telegraph. At last I began to ask questions, and I soon found that I was talking with intelligent beings. The answers to my questions soon informed me that my mother's love for me was so great that she, be- ing in constant rapport with me and, consequently, know- ing or reading my mind, had interested a number of great, grand, and good spirits in me and that which I wished to accomplish; they have also informed me, in 174 MARK CHESTER: OR this manner, that they are unceasingly and untiringly working for the enlightenment and uplifting of the whole world, and that it is only through unseen forces that this can be done. They desire that all war shall cease; they desire that all men shall be brothers; they desire that there shall be no exceedingly rich men and that there shall be no poverty stricken ones; they desire that no one human being shall prey upon another; they desire that men and women shall be equal; they desire that men shall be as pure as they expect women to be, or as society in general expects them to be; they desire that all monopolies shall be expelled from the earth, es- pecially land monopolies, for give the poor man land, which he really should receive free, and poverty would cease to be. Now, all this was told me by the clickiugs or rappings on my own little table as I sat alone, and they told me what you have already said, that there ex- ist many large and valuable gold mines in the Sierra Madre range of mountains. They also told me that they would lead, or guide, me to some of the richest of them and that the desire of my heart should be gratified; but that after I had become possessed of the now hidden wealth, if I did not use it for the benefit of humanity, it should be taken from me in various ways instigated by them; for they who are high in the spheres of spiritual life will assist no one in obtaining wealth at the expense of his poorer brother man." "An* how kin they show yer whar these mines air?" asked the old fisherman. "My mother has promised to show me in a dream. She says thafc;by opening up these hidden treasures the world's riches will be augmented, but they should never be snown to anyone who will not work for the good of the world. The earth holds concealed within her bosom untold wealth, vast resources, and those who will work for the good of all, for the good of truth, for the good of right principles, for the downfall of error, will be aided to obtain this wealth that truth and justice may prevail. That is all I have to tell you, uncle, but I soon expect to be guided to those mines by this band of spirits that my loving mother has brought to me the band of powerful invisibles quietly in my room." A MILL AND A MILLION. 175 "Wall, boy; what hes thet thar tew dew with your a gittin' o' thet thar million o' money?" "Very, very much to do with it, uncle, as you will soon discover. I want this money to help bring about* the state of things I mention. All the theorizing and writing in the world will never bring these things to pass. It must be done by practical persons who have money or means to do with. A man without means is already beneath the wheels of the car of monopoly. He is help- less. He can do nothing. It is rich men men of large resources who must become interested in these great truths. "Take, for instance, a dozen or more multi-millionaires, and let them desire nothing so much as to benefit strug- gling humanity, and see the millions of human beings they could make happy and content. But how is it now? These millionaires grow richer and richer by robbing the poor man of his hard earned money. Otherwise they couldv not grow so immensely wealthy. "Now I desire money that I may do good with it, and I desire to obtain it in such a way that it shall make no man poorer in consequence. I do not wish to rob, in any way, any human being; but in whatever manner I may obtain wealth, I desire that the means by, or through which I obtain it, shall be a benefit to the poor man." "Yis, lad, I understand. Wall; why didn't yer ax them thar sperits ter help ye?" "That is precisely what I did do." "Wall, it's one o' ther beaten'ist things I ever hearn tell on. It is better'n them thar livin' picture; it's better'n them yaller-tails; but, arter all, I don't know bout thet." "Well," said Mark, smiling, "the sea first supplied my wants the land has given me a surplus the mountains shall give me wealth and the sea, the land, and the mountains, can all be taken in at one sweeping glance. I can easily travel from the sea to the mountains be- tween sunrise and sunset and rest a couple of hours in the heat of the day besides. "Good night, daddy. Kiss that turtle dove of yours for me, for is she not my motheV by adoption, and Jane my sister?" 176 MARK CHESTER: OR "She is yer marni, fur sartin, boy, an' thet curus, wil- ful gal's yer sister, an' no mistake. Good-night, lad. God; bless yer, an' all them thar sperits help yer. Gess, lad, es how I will go with yer ter them thar mountins, an' I'll let thet thar poor feller es broke his leg, hev Molly an' thet reminds me es how I, tew, hed a curus dream. I thot es how Molly cum an' telled me thet I shud be rich fur sartin, an' thet when it all cum ter pass I should let thet poor feller an his wife hev my boat ter git a livin' with, es, he cudn't wurk on ther land, owin' ter his lameness. "Good night! Good night!" A MILL AND A MILLION. 177 CHAPTER XXXII. A DREAM, YET NOT A DREAM. Mark loved Isabel Morton, as the reader already knows; and, before going to the mountains, he deter- mined to have an interview with her and plead his suit, for he had reason to think that she was not indifferent to him. She was now free from her former bonds. Still, he had a secret misgiving that Mrs. Morton would not favor his suit; yet he knew, intuitively, that it had been Marcus Chester field's millions that had gained that lady's favor more than his personality. He would like to have the mother's full consent as well as the daughter's. He hoped that if he married Isabel, they, together, might make that lady happy. He well knew that it ought not to require a million dollars for that purpose, yet the mother's consent and happi- ness entered largely into his calculations, and was an- other secret incentive for him to strive to obtain the amount of money he desired. He had not been able, thus far, to see Isabel alone at her own home, but he was determined to ask her for a private interview when he should meet her at the next rehearsal and this he did. While they lingered a little behind the others, he took her hand in his. It trembled within his grasp. This gave him hope. It was ten o'clock in the evening, but it was nearly as light as day, for the moon was full. "I greatly fear, Mr. Chester," she said, "that it will not be possible for us to converse alone at my home, but I will sit a moment with you on yonder bench. The evening is exceedingly beautiful, and it is almost as light as day." Mark's heart gave a bound. The bench toward which she pointed was the very one where he had sat the night of his arrival at Redondo. They lingered, walking slowly behind the others, and then stole quietly down upon the beach and seated them- 178 MARK CHESTER: OK selves on the fateful bench fateful on account of its solitude, as some people are on account of their solitude. Mark in a straightforward and manly way told Isabel of his great love for her, asking her to become his wife. He then told her everything concerning himself, and his life, even to the minutest detail, for Mark Chester had no secret sins to conceal. He told her what his present means were, and how he hoped to find wealth in the mines; he also told her how he had been influ- enced in that direction. The young girl told him, with many blushes, that she loved him in return, that she believed she must have loved him from the first time they met, but she did not think her mother would consent to their union, at least, not at present. She then solemnly promised to wed no other, arid when he returned from his quest, she would be his wife, even if her mother was not willing; but, she added: "I think my mother would consent to our union if you were to be successful; for my own part, I would marry you if you had not a farthing. We would strive to- gether, dear, and amass enough to make us comfortable. We could gain a competence, I am sure." Mark was also sure of it, but as he told her, he wanted to do good for the world at large. "Something of that kind has been the dream of my life, as well," she replied, "but, until we met, I did not know how it could ever be accomplished." "The dreams of one's life are never fulfilled until those who are intended for each other, by nature, are wedded," he said; "and, you and I, darling Isabel, are the true counterparts of each other." Mark returned to his room that night happier than he had ever been before in the whole course of his life. Isabel, the woman whom he loved, had promised to be his wife the only woman, as he believed, he should ever love. He desired to love all the world, but only one as the other half of his own being. Isabel, when she returned to her own room that night, laid her head on her pillow, a sweet smile hovering about her lips and happy contentment in her heart. Mark fulfilled her girlish dreams. She desired to marry A MILL AND A MILLION. 179 for love and love alone. Her womanly instincts were not at fault. Her heart desired a man, pure, noble, and good an unselfish man but, not unmindful of self, how- ever, a man who would be mindful of self enough to provide well for his own household, a man broad and noble enough, when he had accomplished this, to work for the rest of humanity: a capable man, so capable that he not only would be able to provide well for his own household, but to help elevate others. She believed Mark to be a man of this character; and, as the reader has already been made acquainted with the young man, he can readily see that she was mot doomed to disap- pointment. When Mark laid his head on his pillow, he prayed earnestly to his mother to come to him: "Mother dear mother, I desire wealth that I may use it to benefit the world, and you have promised to aid me. Now, dearest mother, in my dreams tonight, show me the spot in the mountains where I shall be able to locate my mines to the best advantage. Bring to me this powerful basd of spirits, who desire to use me as an instrument toward helping the world in general, and show me the place." He then fell asleep, believing that his prayers would be answered, and he was not disappointed. That night it seemed to him that he left his body and went out into the starlight. It seemed to him that he was floating, or hovering in the atmosphere, some ten or, perhaps, twenty feet above the solid ground; the beautiful form of his spirit mother by his side, her large, soft eyes gazing into his so lovingly. Her angelic hand was clasped in his, supporting and sustaining him. Her robes gossamer in texture were floating back- ward as she moved along, showing the graceful outlines of her superb form; the dark masses of her unbound hair flowing about her like a veil, her beautiful fea- tures eipanating a halo of light, love for her boy glori- ously shining forth upon him. "My son, my darling boy!" she said in silvery tones. "I have heard your prayer and am here to answer it. You desire riches to do good with, consequently, the angels will help you; and they are willing to help all 180 MARK CHESTER: OR who desire wealth for the purpose of using it toward elevating humanity. There is not a man, or woman, on earth, who earnestly desires means, wherewith to bene- fit the world, but whose prayer shall be answered, and wealth shall be given for the purpose; but those who desire it for their own selfish gratification, their prayers shall not be answered. "My son, look about you." Mark cast his eyes around, when, to his astonished gaze, there appeared a large concourse of spiritual be- ingsbeings so beautiful and bright, that, at first, they dazzled his sight; but, gradually, his eyes became accus- tomed to look upon them; then, a number of them approached him, and one said: "Young man, you have been found worthy, therefore your prayer shall be granted. Come with us." Then two powerful and beautiful spirits placed them- selves, one on either side of him, sustaining him be- neath his arms; another, brighter and more powerful, even, than the others, led the way, and they all glided toward the not far distant mountains, and, as they thus glided, a beautiful city came into view the city of Los Angeles. Here they paused as if to show him his bearings. "My son," whispered his mother, "note well all the places where we make a pause. We pause that yow may take note and remember. You must come to Los Angeles first." Now they floated on, pausing once more over a vil- lage the village of Glendale, a beautiful glen among the foothills of the Sierra Madre range; on once more they moved, until they paused at one of the Sierra ridges. This mountain was bare and rocky, with white zigzag paths running over it and around and about it. "Now," said the voice of one of the band, "it is in this mountain that the largest amount of gold will be found. Look at it well, that you may not forget." And Mark looked with his heart in his mouth. The mountain was not quite as high as some others not as high as Mount Lowe and was covered by white barren spaces, this mountain showing more of them than any other. Then Mark was taken directly to the largest A MILL AND A MILLION. 181 of these barren, white spots. From this spot they began to float downward, until they reached a wild gorge, and here they found quite a stream of water flowing. The water was as clear as crystal. They followed this stream up until they came to its source. Here they found a number of large springs, some spurting or bub- bling up into the air a foot or more. The spot was wildly, grandly beautiful. "Now," said one of the guides, "observe and remem- ber. Within the bowels of this mountain are hidden vast stores of golden ore, besides other valuable minerals. You may open the mountain at almost any point within twenty paces of these springs and you will come upon gold; but, twenty paces to the right of the largest spring, you will strike a large vein. This vein has been caused, in past ages, by the trickling of a stream of water, as it wept its way through a large pocket or mine or deposit of gold. We would advise you to tun- nel, or follow the vein until you come to the pocket. You are worth at this time over three thousand dollars. This amount will be sufficient to do all that is neces- sary. When you discover the pocket, sell, as soon as possible, for one million dollars. There is hidden within this vicinity at least ten million dollars; but do not keep it. One million is all you need for your purpose, and the labor of working it for more would be more than you could bear. Let others delve for the gold. Go you and benefit the world." "But who will buy?" asked Mark. "A New York Syndicate," answered the spirit. "Re- member! Do not forget the way, nor the spot, and all will be well with you." Saying this, the company of spirits departed from his view all except his beautiful mother, who accompanied him back to the hotel in Redomdo. 182 MARK CHESTER: OR CHAPTER XXXIII. PROSPECTING FOR GOLD. When the young man awoke again within his mortal body, the clock was just striking twelve. He had not been unconscious, or asleep, more than an hour, yet he had been shown all these things. The old fisherman and the young man did aot go out in the boat the next day; but the lame young man and his wife went in their stead, and Mark and Uncle Kester had a long interview. When Mark had finished telling the old man of his dream, and what had been thus shown him, Nathaniel remained in deep thought for some time. "I beleve every wurd on't," said he at last; "but, how- sumever, we both need a rest an' change o' sene. Now I'll jest tell yer whut we'll dew. We'll buy a fust class travelin' van, with a pair o' good, stout hosses; then turkle dove she shell go with us in her cuverd buggy. We kin git ter thet thar spot in jest about three days good travil. We'll jest load thet thar van with pix an' spades an' plenty o' provisions, an* a cupple o' nice tents, an' we'll jest go thar to thet thar spot an' pitch our tents. Turkle dove shell take a good, strong gal along thet'll dew our cookin' fur us, an' we'll take one o' them thar strong yung fellers frum ther settlemint, an' we'll go thar an' camp, hev a good time meanwhile, an' see whut we kin disciver." Mark thought this an excellent plan, and he and the old man were not long in putting it into execution. Mrs. Kester was delighted at the thought of going, and the next week found them on their way. Mark had another interview with Isabel. She also was very much pleased, and never a doubt entered her mind but that her lover would be successful in his quest for that which is called filthy lucre, still, all are struggling and grasping for it, some for one purpose and some for another; but very few, indeed, for the purpose of bene- fiting their brother man. A MILL AND A MILLION. 183 When all men and women lose sight of themselves in their efforts to help others in the world who are weaker, greater wealth will be given them; for then the whole angel world become interested, and together many come to aid them; for the higher angels think of little else than how they may benefit those below them, the op- pressed, the down trodden, the weary, the hungry, the cold, the ignorant. The words of one who lived" long ago are ever in their thoughts. "Come to me all ye who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest." How little people in general of the past have under- stood that text. They have supposed it to mean, to pray to Christ the Lord Jesus; but the words really never meant anything of the kind. They do mean: Pray earnestly, and look to the Spirit World for help. We may call the Spiritual Realms Christ, if we please. It is not one being, in the person of a Christ, who answers prayer; but many, very many good spirits within the spiritual world. Mark, together with those who accompanied him, found themselves beneath the shadow of the mountain, on the third day of their journey. The sun was fast nearing the horizon, apparently ready to take a bath in the gleaming ocean, when they unharnessed their tired horses and commenced to strike their tents for the night. A camp-fire was soon blazing and by the time the full moon rose over the top of "Old Baldie," they were clinking cups and saucers, knives and forks, laughing and talking gleefully. The scene before them was most grand and sublime, and their laughter rang and echoed among the hills as though there had been quite an army encamped there, instead of simply five persons. The moon shone so brightly that after supper the old fisherman and Mark thought they would look about a little. They had walked but a short distance when the old man exclaimed: "Jewhiteker! Jerusalem! Ef thar ain't them thar springs yer telled on, rite ahed." "I believe you are right," said Mark. "Those who love us in the other life, do not deceive us. Here aiv the springs just as they showed me. You must ^remember, 184 MARK CHESTER: OR uncle, I have seen these springs before. They look pre- cisely as they did when I visited them with my mother and other spirits." "An' they telled yer twenty paces ter ther left, didn't they?" "No, uncle. Twenty paces to the right." "Egzactly! Now, let's pace it off, pardner." So they paced off twenty paces. "Let's put a big rock here fur luck," said the old man. So they rolled a huge stone to the spot. "We'll commence ter dig here in ther mornin', yung feller," cried the old man. "All right, uncle! That is what we are here for." "This ere is ther betenist thing I ever hearn tell on. I'll bet a taller candle thet yer'll soon be a cussed mil- lioner, arter all. But who cud a thot it thet night as yer set all alone, out thar on thet thar bench, on old Re- donder beach, without a cent in yer pockit, nowhar ter sleep, ner nothin' ter eat?" "You forget, uncle, that I had one mill in my pocket." "Thet's so, yung feller, an' at ther end o' a year, or perhaps next New Year's eve, yer'll hev a million." "And I swear by the bright moon above me, and by all the beautiful stars, and by my loving and sainted mother, and the guiding angels who were with her, that if I do find myself possessed of such an amount of money, 1 will give the remainder of my life, all of it except that part which must be devoted toward making Isabel Mor- ton happy, to suffering humanity for the amelioration of their woes. I w r ill help to redress their wrongs and try to do my part toward setting the world right." "Amen! Amen!" ejaculated the old man. "I am a gittin' nerly thro* with this life myself, but I'll help yer all I kin, be sure o' thet." "I know you will, uncle." They clasped each other by the hand to seal the com- ract and turned their faces upward toward the bright moon; as they did so, both started; for surely there were many misty forms hovering over them, one more distinctly outlined than the others, and that one, the beautiful, spiritual form, with the dark floating hair, the spirit of Mark's mother. But they soon melted away in the A MILL AND A MILLION. 185 bright rays of the moonlight, and Mark and the old fisherman returned to camp. Turtle dove was soon taken into the old man's confidence. "Dearie," said he, "them spiritual bein's watch over us, es sure es yer live, an' no mistake." "I have long been convinced of that fact," answered Mrs. Kester, "and we are all benefited when we listen to the voices of the invisible ones." The next morning, bright and early, long before the god of the day made himself visible over the crests of the mountains, Mark Chester and the old fisherman went forth from the camp prospecting for the precious metal, gold. Gold that does so much good, and gold that does so much harm, according to the use which men and women make of it. They went directly to the spot where they had placed the large stone. They had taken with them picks and spades, and here they commenced digging. It did not take them long to tunnel five or six feet into the moun- tain side, when they struck quartz. They chipped away at the quartz rock until midday, then they filled two sacks brought for the purpose, with some of the finest looking specimens, and each shouldering one, returned to camp. Here, in the presence of Mrs. Kester and the young man and maiden, they carefully examined their treasures, when lo! they discovered that the quartz was streaked heavily with gold. "Wall, yung feller," remarked the old man dryly, "thet thar rock is good fur sore eyes, fur sartin." After they had eaten a good dinner, in company with the young man they had brought with them, they re- turned to the diggings, and there worked bravely until the sun sunk into the Pacific or, at least, it appeared so to them. By this time they had tunneled quite deeply into the heart of the mountain. They had now dug quite through the quartz and struck a large vein of golden ore. They then filled three sacks and returned to camp. On examination they found this ore as rich as any they had ever seen on display, any- where. This was now all that it was necessary for them to do at present, and a merry company they were, as 186 MARK CHESTER: OR they sat around the table which they had brought with them in the van. "Thet thar mine '11 turn out millions o' dollars, ef she's well worked, or my name ain't ole Kister," said that worthy gentleman with a beaming face. "Mark, my boy, yer in luck, sure. Ther fust chance a' stakin' '11 be yourn fur sartin. Stake yer claim fust, my boy, then I'll stake mine, an' thet thar yung chap kin then stake hissen. Gals, wouldn't yer like tew take a cupple o' claims?" The young maiden said she should like it very much, and Mrs. Kester thought she might as well. They passed a happy hour or two more by the bright camp- fire and then retired. The next morning they all repaired to the mines, and claims were staked out for each one of the party; and after once more partaking of a hearty dinner, they started on their way back to Los Angeles. Here they registered their claims and had the ore assayed; and it proved to be all they had expected it was. When they returned they found Merry and Alstain at the hotel in Redondo. Mark was already slightly ac- quainted with these gentlemen. After polite greetings and handshakings, Mr. Kester and our hero asked for a private interview, for Merry and Alstain were there as agents, or representatives, of a large New York syndicate. It had been through them that Marcus Chesterfield had found himself able to dis- pose of his mines. At this interview it was decided that the following week Mr. Merry and Mr. Alstain were to accompany Mark to the newly discovered treasures; and if they found all things as they had been represented, they would, forthwith, inform the syndicate, and negotiations would at once be considered. This they did, and before another month had passed, Mark Chester found himself a millionaire. As he had the first choice of claims, his proved to be of greater worth than the others. The old fisherman sold his for thirty thousand dollars; the young man who drove the van for them received twenty thousand and Mrs. Kester and the young girl re- A MILL AND A MILLION. 187 ceived ten thousand each for their claims, and we will here state that the syndicate took many millions of dol- lars from the mines; and, at last accounts, were still working the mines at an immense profit. Vein after vein and large pockets after pockets were discovered of the golden ore but we will let the syndicate take care of itself while we follow Mark Chester and his adopted father in their careers. 188 MARK CHESTER: OR CHAPTER XXXIV. THE MARRIAGE OF MARK AND ISABEL. Mark now sought Isabel openly, and when Mrs. Morton was made acquainted with the young man's suc- cess, she opposed his suit no longer. She forgot her former grief and chagrin and once more became the proud and haughty lady, who kept the aristocratic and exclusive private hotel, "The Morton House." Mark was now supposed to take the finest rooms at the Redondo Hotel the ones formerly occupied by Marcus Chesterfield, but to the astonishment of all, he still kept his old room, and spent not a cent more than formerly. This caused much comment, all coming to the conclusion that the young man was a despicable miser, but they were destined to find out their mistake before many months rolled by. Mark Chester asked Mrs. Morton for the hand of her daughter Isabel in marriage, and she readily and even eagerly gave her consent. She hoped that at last she should reign at the head of the elegant establishment of a millionaire; but Isabel told her mother that Mark aad herself had no intention of setting up a grand estab- lishment; on the contrary, Mark intended to spend his money toward alleviating the woes of mankind. The lady raged violently at this and wished to with- hold her consent to the marriage, but preparations had been so largely entered into, for the event, that she found it impossible to do so. Mark settled a splendid annuity on Mrs. Morton, and then he and Isabel de- sired to be left to take their own course in life a course in which Mrs. Morton could not, and would not join. Mark Chester and Isabel Morton were married on New Year's Eve, just one year from the evening that Mark had arrived at Redondo and taken a seat on the lone bench on the beach without a friend or even an acquaintance in the town; no, he had not even ever looked on the face of a sojil he afterwards met there. He had but one mill in his pocket and that was worth- A MILL AND A MILLION. 189 less to him as far as funds were concerned; it was also cold and after dark and he was hungry. In just one year from that evening he finds himself a millionaire and leading to the altar a sweet and beautiful maiden, the only woman he could or ever did love. Many young men, situated as he was, at the time of his arrival in the small towa of Redondo, would have become tramps, thieves and vagabonds, and would have remained such until they had ended their careers in the penitentiary; but Mark gladly accepted the first employment that offered, no matter how low it was, if it were honest work. He availed himself of every opportunity pre- sented and readily, industriously and honestly applied himself, determined to better his condition, and suc- ceeded. All young men may not succeed as well as he did; but, be sure they will succeed, even to their hearts' content, by patiently persevering in a straightforward aad hon- orable course in life. Mark did not wish to lay plans for his future until Isabel was his wife and helpmeet. He felt that as a single man he was but half of a whole; he desired to become a perfected whole that the other half of him- self might be joined to him that she might take an equal part in whatever enterprises they might under- take; but they would first enjoy their honeymoon and afterwards lay plans for their future course in life. This they did. They took a pleasant trip to San Fran- cisco. Mount Shasta, Shasta Springs and Oregon; then to Puget Sound, and all the places of note in that vicin- ity, but they determined that Redondo should be their permanent place of abode. They felt sure that they could do as much good there as elsewhere, and so, from day to day, they perfected their plans, which we shall, in due course, lay before the reader. Ban^r * * * * SMUG We do not care to follow Jane Erie or Mrs. Chester- field, rather, in her career but we will here say that it was an entirely selfish one. Like thousands of other wealthy women she lived for fashionable society and for self aggrandizement. To be a very queen was her ambition. She delighted in adulation to have the world 190 MARK CHESTER: OR bow down before her was her greatest ambition. Mr. and Mrs. Chesterfield kept a princely establishment in Paris Marcus often visited Monte Carlo, where he, at last, gambled away all he had, but a couple of million settled on his wife that he could not touch. He had squandered and gambled away three million dollars; he was pale, haggard, trembling, excitable and peevish, almost to the point of madness. He never had performed a good or an unselfish act in his life. He had never tried, with his vast wealth, to make the world better or to help mankind. His life led to nothing but vice and vicious companions and his influence upon the world was to drag mankind downward into misery, pov- erty and degradation. His wife was little better. Marcus Chesterfield sunk into a profligate's grave before he was forty years of age. His wife lived to marry a titled gentleman of high degree, but one as selfish as herself. He was ruined financially when he became her husband and married her for her money. Not long after the death of her first husband, Mrs. Chesterfield was sitting alone in her private apartments. It was evening, and her room had not yet been lighted, when she saw Marcus standing before her, as of old. She put forth her hand to clasp his, but he .receded. "Do not touch me," he whispered. "I am now a spirit, but, wife, a most unhappy one, at present. They tell me here that when my past follies have been re- trieved, I may be happy and progress into a better con- dition I hope this may prove true. Oh! Jane, my wife; strive to lead a more useful life; try to do all the good you can, for this is the only way to find happiness here." He disappeared. She laughed a mocking laugh, as she said: "I will make myself happy here, on earth, first. One world at a time, say I," and here we will leave her. ***** After a delightful honeymoon, Mr. and Mrs. Chester returned to Redondo and to the Morton House. It was no longer necessary for Mrs. Morton to keep a private hotel, consequently the heretofore exclusive hotel be- came an exclusive private residence. Mrs. Morton still kept her servants and set up her A MILL AND A MILLION . 191 carriage with coachman and footman in livery. Many beautiful things were added to the house wings, and an elegant conservatory among them. Mrs. Morton en- gaged a landscape gardener and the grounds were made extremely attractive. Everything possible was added to the estate to make it luxurious and beautiful and this was to be Mrs. Morton's home as long as she chose to remain in it. She was intensely disappointed that Mark and Isabel did not care to set up a princely establish- ment in New York city; but they had other views in life. Now, Mark would open his heart to his wife, and she could help him to perfect his plans. "Isabel," said he, when they were talking over what their future work should be, "where do you think we had better locate? Where can we best carry out our designs? Of course, we know there is much poverty and suffering in the city of New York; but one million dol- lars would be a drop in the ocean, in so large a city." "That is true, dear Mark, and we are Californians. Don't you think it would be better to work in our own sphere, here at home, doing the work that lies nearest to us, and doing it with all our might? I find this to be an excellent rule, dear husband." "You are right, Isabel. We need not go abroad to find work to do, but begin at home. And now that we have decided to remain at home, the question is, darling, what shall we do, and how shall we do it?" "Suppose, Mark, we begin with that settlement of Shantiville, out there on the beach. Those people are in extreme poverty, most of them ragged and hungry; their little huts and tents are not much better than dog-ken- nels. Let us begin right there, Mark." "So be it, sweet wife." "And, besides, darling; you know there are a great many poor families right here in the city of Redondo." "So there are, Isabel, very many indeed so many that I fear a million dollars will not be enough to do very much." "Never mind, husband. We will do what we can; that is all that is required of us, I think." "Well, darling, how do you propose to begin?" "That is a very bcautful field you hired last year, the 192 MARK CHESTER: OR most beautiful spot in all this neighborhood. Suppose you purchase that field, dear Mark?" "That would be fine," he replied "and then what?" "How many acres are there in it, dear?" "One hundred," answered Mark. "I believe, then, we can provide for one hundred fam- ilies." "Yes, I think that would be possible by managing so that they might be self-supporting." "That is just what I was coming to, Mark. We will purchase that field it is for sale, as we know; we will fence it off into one-acre lots." "That is easily done, Isabel." "Then, within each lot, we will build a Heat, comfort- able, convenient cottage a home." "We can easily do all that, my dear." "But before we put up our cottages, we will run streets east and west, north and south, at the termina- tion of each acre. This will cut the land up into squares of not quite an acre each, for the roads must be taken from each acre alike; we will set out trees on both sides of the roads and there will be two hundred roads, one hundred each way. We will employ these poor men, who cannot find work, to build the fences, grade the roads and set out the trees, and we will pay them two dollars per day for eight hours' work, one dollar for four hours." "All right, my dear wife." "Now we must find a competent builder and contract with him to erect the cottages, asking him to employ poor men whenever possible; and, when all is done, we will give a life lease, to any worthy poor man or woman who has a family, of a cottage, together with its acre of ground. At the death of any one, so holding a lease, the property reverts back to us, to be renewed by the oldest child or the father or mother who may be left, or to the one who decides to remain, or, perhaps, the one most worthy. These cottages shall all be alike, that there may be no jealousy between those who lease them." "Now the question arises, how can these men and women support themselves?" A MILL AND A MILLION. 193 "Will what I have proposed take all the money, Mark?" "Well, no, dear. I think not." "Mark, do you remember that beautiful tract of land, not a half-mile from town, that you looked at so eagerly the last time we took our drive?" "Yes, I remember that I thought there must be nearly a thousand acres in it." "Do you think you would have* money enough left to purchase that tract?" "Well, darling, if I do not have enough, I know who would have enough, and I am sure would be glad to in- vest it that way." "Uncle Kester? Oh! he would indeed. Mark, I am sure of that, and then you and that good man can raise hay, Yankee beans, and anything else that will pay and employ these men to work for you at one dollar for four hours' labor, or two dollars for eight hours. I feel certain that you will be able to clear the money, thus invested, and, perhaps, something over." "Yes, with good management I am sure we could." "Mark, can we benefit the world in any better way than this?" "I cannot think of any better way, my dear." "Then we will put our plans into execution directly." 194 MARK CHESTER: OR CHAPTER XXXV. MILLENNIAL. The old fisherman was now quite wealthy indeed. He had made a little Paradise of his cottage and grounds, and he needed nothing more, so he said; and when Mark and Isabel told him of their plans, he entered into them with great zest. "Jest whut every rich man oughter dew," he said, "take his surplus money an' use it fur the benefit o' his feller creturs, an' no marter whut other men dew, I'll dew jest whut I like with my money. I shell buy thet thar field, lad, an' I'll go an' see about it this very day." And he kept his word. Before a week had passed the thousand acre field belonged to Mr. Nathaniel Kester, the erstwhile old fisherman. "Mark, my boy, we'll be pardners agin, an' ef we carnt push this ere thing thro', nobudy kin." And so operations were commenced at once, and on that one hundred acre lot, when next New Year's Eve came around, that lot that Mark had hired the year before, stood a beautiful little city of lovely cottages and one hundred men and their families were taking possession of them with happy, hopeful faces; contentment beaming from every eye. As soon as the rains would warrant, the one thousand acre tract, belonging to Uncle Kester, was to be put under cultivation. Not one plan miscarried. When spring came, that great field was waving in grain and produce of all kinds that thrive in California, enough to feed thousands of men, women and children. Mark was busy contracting with parties for the sale of the produce. A market for it must be found. He had not much trouble in doing this, for nothing was raised that the world did not need. There must be food for man and beast. Mark Chester had, long ago become convinced that by exercising the human will to its utmost capacity, and grasping every opportunity as it presented itself, almost A MILL AND A MILLION. 195 anything might be accomplished; but there must be no wavering a firm, continuous, determination; not neces- sarily a rush, but quick to see and using, as stepping stones, anything and everything that is honorable. Mark Chester had thus risen in one year from a mill to a million. Mark Chester in two years had founded a beautiful little city, which he called Millennial; and a very Millennial it proved to be. No one need live in it if not disposed, but there the homeless found a home, the weary found rest. The widow with her orphan children starved no more. Mark and Isabel did not stop their good works after Millennial had been built. Mark now desired that his people, as he called them, should understand that the two worlds the Spiritual and the Natural were inter- blended. He wished to tell them how his sainted mother had guided and watched over him, and how it was by following her advice he had attained to his present pros- perity and happiness; and, that, really, all that they now enjoyed was owing to this circumstance. He determined that a large and elegant temple should be erected wherein the people, who lived in Millennial, could congregate to hear those who taught of spiritual communion. He was not long in bringing this to pass. Uncle Kes- ter gave two thousand dollars; Mark and Isabel, one thousand each. The young man, who went with them to the mines, gave one thousand so also did the young lady for they had both become residents of Millennial, and, consequently, could well afford it. All the poor men in the community gave as much as they could af- ford which, all told, amounted to about two thousand more. They now had eight thousand dollars, and with this sum a beautiful building was soon erected, and those who taught the Spiritual Philosophy were invited to join forces with them. Thousands visited Southern California to look upon the city of Millennial, and give forth teachings upon the ros- trum of the beautiful Spiritual Temple. After awhile two or three hundred Spiritualists clubbed together and purchased two hundred acres of 196 MARK CHESTER. land, not far from Millennial, and built a city upon it, just like Millennial, comprisiag two hundred cottages; and these beautiful cities kept on increasing in number until the whole country was dotted with them, and at last, in this way, there were no more tramps no more hungry men, women or children. The old selfish state of things, wherein the rich became richer and the poor poorer, where the oppressor rode rough shod over his victims and monopoly stalked broadcast through the land, was no more. Dear reader, this story is prophetic. Such men as Mark Chester will arise in your land. Such cities will be built. The old-time millionaire will cease to be, and monopolies will be, at length, driven to the wall. The End.