Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-06-09
OUT WEST

''Ruined!" exclaimed Mr.: Buel, and he
clasped his grey hair in his hands and drop
ped il on the dining table, with motion Of
despairing helplessness.
Mrs Buel arose and left the room. She
was not strong enough to offer consolation
to her bowed and stricken husband.
Ellen got up, too, in sore distress, and
went over to the table, and touched her
father arm with her slight girlish fingers,
on one OF which sparkled diamond ring.
Don't grieve so, dear father. 1t can
not be quite as bad as you think.
1T is thous nd times worse, child, than
you immagine. Every cent of my property
has been sunk in oil spccuiatons. y month
ago | thought myselfa rich man, but to- day
am beggar Do you know what that
means?"
Il only know you suffer, dear father, -
said Ellen, tearfully, getting down on her
knees beside him; and | pity you from
the bottom of my heart.
Pity yourself and your poor mother"
Il must think OF you now because you
feel this blow more keenly than we can. Is
there nothing to hope for in the future p
What can | hope for?' repeated Mr..
Buel, almost querulously. ''As an honor
able man must abandon every cent l am
worth to my creditors Nothing remains
but your Uncle Lathorp's offer of western
agency. He has farm out in Egypt which
he would allow US to occnpy rent free as
long as We cared to stay there. 1t is des-
Gate, out Of theway place, ten miles or
more from any town or railway station.
haven't the heart to propose such
change to your poor mother. Her nerves
are terribly shattered already"
'lt would be thousand times better to
go out there and live independently, said
Lien, catching at the plan, titan to starve
genteely here in New York, or to live on
any Of our relations. The boys are growing
up and few years of genuine country life
Will not injure them. Fortunately | have
Just finished school, and am blessed with
eSeelen; health. Mother is the only one to
De considered, and | think can win her
over to the plan"
You little know, child, what you are
eonsentIng TO-, said Mr.. Buel, in soften
Cd tone, As he touched Ellen's forehead,
NyIngly You will be cut off from eve
y social advantage, and doomed to hard
WORK and all manner of privations.
! would gladly work for you, father,
cried Ellen, impulsively. You have
screened and sheltered me ever since l was
OoTn' and studied in every way to make me
HapPy 1t Is high time that l begin to pay
'Ou Oaek so let us think about going west,
= Soon as we can sell the house and wind
~ matters here.
lou are good girl, Ellen, and lean
Vi you, IN this hour of trouble, more than
I"s body else. Perhaps L never should
--Ne found out what brave, strong heart
sOd carry 10 your bosom, if we had lived
VI, Prosperous and happy
hiien Buel had heretofore scarcely shown
herself different from other New York girls
'. neF Class. Born and brought up in the
MY with luxurious surroundings, and no
"a Iafe Tor the morrow, her girhsh tastes had
Tioolned IN kindly air. There were a
thousand pleasures, thousand agreeable
A''tements at hand. Each season brought
'He Dress maker and an inundation of new
s''ls' and Ellen was measured and fitted
VI oeeoming and pretty dresses, of which
sue ieit no scorn. For each summer vaca-
g @'iOn a trip was planned to Cape May,
a'atoga, or the White Mountains. Life
hke fairy book She was fond of
~Hool' and came forth with a bran-new
parchment of the sciences and of one or two
OueFn languages, but no available knowl-
se Of any branch of learning. Ellen had