The Red Cloud chief., 1881-05-05
MANSION OR DUG.0UT.

VIZ Dbu.OJIs
John Hcndcrby WAS telling pretty
Mary Ansely his plans for the future
telling them in a strained. eager voice
that made Mary 5 hands tremble slight
ly ovcr her work.
Now that nv sister il married."
John was saying, "Clara and Jennie
will live with her. L have given them
all the money that j a spare, that SIS
tcr's husband may not feel the children
too great a burden; and for myself L
have taken a homestead claim, and now
/ am going West TO improve it. Mary,
when | have made 4 home may | not
hope that you will come and share IL
with me? | cannot put my love IN
words, but you know that you are the
one woman in all the world TO me-"
John paused, and leaned eagerly for
ward. Mary was looking demurcly
down at her work, but there wa a mis-
chicvouS light in her eyes.
John, YOU have done me the honor
&c offer me a possible home in the far
West. Why, / have received an offer of
the grand mansion over the way
Mary's light tone Jared on Johns
Ovcrstrung nerves.
You have accepted if, of course"
said John, bitterly, as he rose and strobe
10 the window.
Yes, there stood the beautiful stone
mansion, half hidden by grand trees;
and John knew that in the shadow of
tko-c trees fountains threw up their
sparkling Jets, and statuary CLEANED
white; that wealth had been spent with
. l,.s-l, ba,,l A.. p,al. this S,a4f n rar-
den of beauty. But John knew, too,
that old Mr.. Green, now dead, had
gained the most of this great wealth by
grinding the faces of the poor, and that
the son was following in the footsteps
of the sire. 1t hurt HIM cruelty that
Mary should choose such Il man, and
his voice sounded harsh rs he said:
"lou can. at least, give me the priyi-
lcTc of hearing an honest mo TO my
question:
John" said a gentle voice at his
elbow, "you asked me to share your
home after YOU have made il. All L
ask is. let me 90 with you, and we will
build mp on home together"
IL is unnecessary TO state what fol-
lowed; suffice IL 10 say, John acted as
any lover would act who. fancying him.
self a Iejected sutton, suddenly finds
himself transported TO the heaven OF
acceptance.
John told Mary of the hardships of
pioneer life, and urged her to wait UNI
iii be had earned a comfortable home;
but Mary WAS eager 10 try life III the
far West. Besides, she told John that
though Cousin George and Margaret
were kind To her in their 4 m her
horne with them was comfortable, V C
beautiful, still she could not but feel her
dcprnlcnccupon them. And John, con
trusting the long, lonely ride, and the
still |lonclier bachelor quarters, with
the pictures OF Mary sitting by his
side. while they rode ovcr miles and
miles of country, and Mary presiding
over his humble home, could utter but
feeble remonstrance TO her eager
wishes.
50 il was settled that Mary should go
with him. and that they should begin
wc%toGcther.
- .John walked home past the beau
tiful mansion. he could but think what
a fine setting all this grandeur would
be for his precious jewel. and he won
dcred if Mary would ever regret her
ckh:cc.
Eut, 10 Mary's way of thinking.
Johns true. honest love far exceeded
in value all Silas Green's wealth. John
had worked long and hard to support
his mother and sisters, and TO cancel
~. long list of debts his father had left
unpaid. Now that his mother was
dead. his sister married, and every
debt paid. John was compelled 10 GO
Wxt 10 build up q home for the
woman of his love. Mary knew all
tais, and was satisfied.
When the announcement of their
srcedy marriage was made, 1t met with
some opposition. Cousin Margaret
could not see why Mary should choose
10 20 away out of civilization, when
she could be mistress of a mansion;
and then "'what would the children do
without her?" Poor, careful, saving,
hard working Margaret was 10th 10
confess what a loss Mary's assistance,
checrfully given, would be to her. In
stead of a dependent, Mary was, in
reality, a help and a blessing to her
cousin.
Mary was firm in her determination
"a 90 with John. and when their ar
Engagements were made. and their small
store of goods WAS packed IN the big
covered wagon, then Mary, attired rs
became the wife of an emigrant, walked
into the church with John, and was
made his wife.
When John and Mary stepped from
the low stoop into the prairie schoon-
er., there were tear-dimmed eyes and
hearty God-blcss-you's from the simple
villagers. for they were great favorites
with these people. Silas Green was
there, and his haggard face showed his
inward suffering: for despite his great
wealth. he envied the mar in the lum-
Der wagon with his pretty bride beside
him.
Was ever happier bridal tour? No
proud lips to curl in scorn at their love
Gassa@cs. Riding all day long past
farm houses. acros streams and
through towns, camping out at the
close of dav. with nothing to disturb the
hush of night save the murmur of the
leaves overhead, or the wash of the
stream neal by. John rifle furnished
them with many a savory mess OF game.
Sometimes they would let the horses
have a long incoming while they fished,
sitting close together and planning for
the future. Johns small store of
money, they planned, would build them
q wee little house, subject to additions
when crops came in. John would get
work enough the first winter TO supply
,bem with the n-ecesSaries of life. When
breaking season came, John would
break an hundred acres or more,
and raise enough sod corr to
H. G.-r xna~ and SOM
to sell; then he rext spring
he would have eighty acres of wheat,
and the remainder corn. Eighty acres
of wheat. they figured, averaging twen-
ty bushels to the acre, at n dollar per
bushel, would bring sixteen hundred
dollars. This would finish their house
fhafr faprn