The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1877-01-20
The Price Of Dora's Gold !
BY 8. ANNIE FROST.


often in the last two weeks that at last
he was reused to answer.
"See here, Dora," he said, pulling
his wife down upon his knee, and hold
ing her fast, "do you mean that ? You
have said it about fifty times, since this
expedition was talked about, now tell
me if you want me to 60"
Dead silence on the part Of Dora.
81 have been working hard for five
years, to clear of the mortgage upon the
farm. that might have home for
you," continued John, earnestly, land
| 1t is mine now, clear of debt. We are
not rich, but am strong and not afraid
of work, and you have been brought up
farmers daughter, and know 10 du.
| ties of farmers wife. Six months ago
you were happy as bird, my bride
and darling, but now
"Now interrupted Dora, "I see an
opportunity for you to become rich in a
few months, instead of toiling and slav-
ing for life, as your father tOiled and
slaved to make q bare living by farm.
ing. They tell us that gold can be
picked up at the Black Hills in pocket
iuls at time"
"WeH."
"And we could be rich. We could
leave this miserable farm and go to the
city to live in great house, with ser
wants, carriages, fine furniture, Oh,
Johnp
Dora had slipped from her perch up
on her husbands knee, and stood be-
fore him, her little figure drawn erect,
her big blue eyes flashing, her cheeks
crimson with excitement.
"And it would make you happy ?"
asked John, wistfully.
eyes OF course it would. Who
would not be happy with plenty of
money!"
There are two sides to the Iue6-
tion," said John, quietly. 'The In
dians have the right to keep us off this
promising gold country, and they de-
fend its passes. 1t may be your bag of
gold will be only John Raynor's scalp.
ed headl'
"Oh, if you are afraid to go, that
ends It'll" Dora said, quickly.
1t was q cruel speech, and it stabbed
the honest, loving heart of John Ray-
nor TO the core. He was no coward,
but strong, brave man, with asnoble
nature, but he was fond of his home,
of the farm he had worked so faithful
ly to clear of debt, and of the wife he
had loved for five long years.
Only six months had PISSED since hts
wedding day, when Dora seemed en-.
tirely happy in his love, and in the cosy
hest he had taken an honest pride In
winning for her.
Then the young men of the village Of
TOpham became smitten with the gold
fever, and about dozen of them re-
solved to form an expedition to so to
the Black Hills,
DOra's brother, Tom Haven, was the
prime mover in the scheme, and coming
every day to lay all his dreams and
plans before his sister, he had inspired
her with the same feverish thirst for
gold that was driving him from home
to brave the tolls and perIs of the eX.
petition.
Like many women brought up to
work hard, to own but little finery, to
live upon plain fare, Dora s6t lictiti.
GUS value upon the delights OF wealth.
She built gorgeous air castles founded
upon the few works Of fiction she had
read, and dreamed of an existence to
which that Of princess in a fairy tale
would have been dull and prOsaic.
And with head fnll of these air vi
siOns, it provoked her past all patience
that John was content to follow his
| plOw, to eat green's and bacon, and
wear coarse clothing, as he had done
all his life. He would listen to all
Toms glowing descriptions OF the ex-
pedition with a grave, quite face, some.
times speaking word Of caution or
warning that fell upon deaf ears. He
would answer her hints and taunts by a
gentle
"I'm well content here, Dora, with
my lifelong home, and my darling
wifeI"
But at last he was reused not to any
hope such as spurred the others on, but
to the fact that Dora wished him to go.
"She thinks more of the gold than Of
mer' he thought, rising heavily from
his chair, and speaking slowly.
'Since you wish it, Dora, l will gOl"
| he said, ard even her enthusiasm was
held in check a moment by bis pale
face.
"Oh, I don't want to drive you"
she said, pettishly, "if you are content
to vegitate for life in this miserable
hole, suppose can put up with it,"
81 will go %
He spoke the three words with stern
emphasis, and left the room. His heart
seemed breaking.
For five years he had had but one
dream for the future Father and
mother lay in the churchysrd, brothers
and sisters he had none, and the entire
love of his heart was given TO pretty
Dora Haven. He was burdened with
debts his father left for his sole legacy,
his home was heavily mortgaged, and
he would not ask Dora to share in the
prlyatiOn and toll by which he freed
himself, And when at last he could
ask her to come and brighten the home
he had made for her, it had seemed TO
him his cup Of happiness brimmed
over.
lie passed from the room where he
had announced his decision, aud wand
] cred slowly all over the house IL was