They could scarcely believe the good news was true, even when the kindly old gentleman, with tears in his eyes, congratulated the young couple on the fortune in store for them.

The Major followed with a happy speech of felicitation, and then the three girls hugged the little school teacher rapturously and told her how glad they were.
"I think, sir," said Joe, striving to curb his elation, "that it will be better in the end for us to accept the royalty.

Don't you ?" "I do, indeed, my boy," was the reply.

"For if our people make an offer for the land of two hundred thousand you may rest assured it is worth much more.

The manager has confided to me in his letter that if we are obliged to pay royalties the timber will cost us nearly double what it would by an outright purchase of the tract." "In that case, sir," began Joe, eagerly, "we will--" "Nonsense.