The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1875-05-01
one dav as they rambled through the

| loNeu nlin IN return, auu Jney were eu-
gagged. ., .,....ti.t .4.f -f.
! They were much together after this
she aiding him in his studies, and smil-
ing encouragement at every evidence of
| progress. r,a..-t.a.e .Ff-rI
Bobby Atchinson sighed oftener now
as he looked at the dear, bright face
full of affection for him, aud as he rea-
lized that his income was yearly less.
When could he hope TO call Kate Sad
don his wife? Why did he not prosper,
he often asked himself, when he was 80
industrious and temperate? Katie never
allowed any repinings in her presence.
She always spoke of future better days
when he should have overcome all obs
stacles, and be recognized by the
! world as the great man she felt assured
he would be.3 h1lH 'rr IucT D19
/ But one day he made wonderful
discovery-aone that caused every nerve
in his body to quiver with excitement.
For several weeks. every day he could
spare from regular work, he had been
out prospecting with special object in
view. Certain ground gave evidence
of the presence of cOal-beds beneath
| There was no coal mine within four
hundred miles of his farm, and the dis
covery of it would insure him a fortune.
He did find the vein, but unfortunately
it was on the land of his neighbor, Jacob
Harder. diu4p slti gl Da9e4f.N o..
He said nothing of this to a human
being; but in the quiet watches Of that
eventful night came the great Tempter,
and made suggestions which caused the
hot blood to flow from every member
into his honest face. Alas, poor Bob
bic did not have strength enough to
say "Get thee behind me, Satan!" and
so the Evil One continued his whispers,
amounting to this: Harder had frequent
ly expressed desire to sell out his
property, as he was anxious to remoye
to another State. Here was golden
opportunity. Wealth beyond calcula-
tion for a little price.
Here Bobby's conscience began its
reproof. "a little pricel Do you place
no greater estimate upon your
honor than this? Would Jacob Harder
take only fifteen hundred dollars for
the land if he was aware of the coal
vein? Is it not worth more than ten
times as much?"
Then the evil one again:
"You discovered it; it is yours. You
will be giving the close-fsted old miser
all he asks. Think how secure your
future VIII then be. Wealth, position,
leisure, and beautiful wife will all be
yours" . -it
Poor Bobby was dazzled, and, like
many another before him, he gave way,
put aside the warnings of conscience,
and fastened over to Farmer Harder's. :.
The old gentleman was very willing
to close the bargain Immediately, and, i,
full of excitement, Bobby fastened to
tell his changed prospects to Katie Sad
, don. .fp1 /
A moments silence followed the re-
ctal, for Bobby told the fair girl the
whole truth; then the pure, speaking
eyes were raised to his face, and he
knew before she spoke that he was
condemned. nE rl
, "Oh, am so sorryl'
How:eyerything seemed clouded. His
brightest visions faded.
~ did not expect you to be sorry,
! Katie, | thought you would be re,
jOiced." ., SFNiNI IN a "A 4
What! Rejoiced over your doing a
dishonest action? No, dear Bobby. /
cannot believe you have really taken
advantage of MIR, Harder's Ignorance =
Katie, ] paid him every dollar he
asked" 2 t... '..Il ~.
! "He was not aware, of its value
when lie sold iI?'' 90
"of course was not foolish enough
to tell him then"
Katie stiIl repeated her sorrow, and
all Bobby's brilliant castles were swept
away. ,.
Earnestly and eloqueutly he spoke to
. her of wealth and fame and happiness.
There were winsome magic in his
words, and Katie sadly listened.
! 81 sincerely wish, love, that all you
tell me could be realized. Ii is impos-
r slble under these circumstances. You
, must undo your bargain," she finally
said, .,bt a., ..u..
/ 81 cannot do 1t, Katie. have bIdden
farewell 20 toll aud privation, You
t will now have reason to be proud OF
{ me. Wealth will overcome all the OBJ