Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-05-07
THE MINERS RETURN.

| shAl4S VIC Cdh LudhO W pay our way anu
there's nothing much laid away. It's
10 use trying any longer with this old
arm. It's worn out, and that's the end
Of it
Don't talk that way, Abner," re-
piled his wife whose pale cheeks and
hin form plainly indicated that she
performed her share of work to in
crease the family wealth. You make
ne uneasy and restless when you talk
ike that. We have plenty to carry us
along with, and that's better than many
other poor mortals,"
Yes, you're right, Mandy, but that
amt the question. There are many
better off than we are, too. That old
Jacket of yours amt fit to be worn an
other year alongside of that new one of
Bill Jones's wife. She had a new one
IN the other day, and she was all stuck
up in her fine feathers. You are Just
as good as she is, every mite. and you
amt made to wear poorer clothes"
Abner shook his head discontentedly,
and looked across the wide open fields
as he pulled away at his pipe: He
would clothe his wife, who had toiled
faithfully with him for dozen years,
as well as any woman could wish if the
funds were only his; but his labor and
planning did not seem to yield him
more money than was needed for cur
rent expenses.
"Abner / don't want a new jacket,
his wife replied. coming closer to his
side. Il can fix over the old one this
winter, and maybe by another year
we'll be better off,"
No, no, we won't" was the dis
couraging reply. ats the same old
story. We won't be better off on this
place. 1t goes back every year, and
there amt no money coming in"
But we ought to be satisfied with
what we have. We have each other
and little Jack is growing to be such
fine lad. He'll soon be able to help
you on the farm"
The proud father cast look of ad-
miration at his young son, who was
growing up to be the very image of
himself But his smile soon left his
face, as he thought of how poorly he
could provide for the education of such
a son.
That's it again, Mandy; it's another
reason why we should make more
money. Jack needs better education
than can give him. He must 90 away
to college. We must make money; we
must get rich"
He did not notice the worried ex-
preston on the pale face before him,
but after short pause he continued:
1--we been thinking of prospecting
for money. l might strike something
rich in the mines. Who can tell? I
might be one of the lucky fellows to
pick up fortune. Then you wouldn't
have to work any more, and we could
sell this old farm and live in comfort.
Wouldn't that be fine? We'd be like
another couple then, and we'd see
something of the world"
The clouded face frightened up
wonderfully as he described the picture
of his future existence, but Mandy's
did not reflect the expression. The
troubled look on hers deepened and in
tensifed.
"Oh. Abner, don't get such silly no
tions in your head. 1 am contented
with my life and never grumble.
We've worked along together so far,
and let us keep on. Mining is more
uncertain than farming. I'll wear all
of my old clothes for years to come,
and never think about them. Come,
cheer up, and don't let such thoughts
come into your head"
That's the way with women. They
don't want to change, or let a man
make a change. But nothing, risked,
nothing gained"
Abner Landon was not convicted by
his wife's words. Although he had
found her advice profitable many times,
he now felt that his own knowledge OF
the case was far superior to hers. He
wanted to make money faster, so that
he could realize a good, comfortable
bank account and dress his wife better.
As he returned to his work in the
fields he thought over the past dozen
years, and evolved in his mind many
plans and schemes for the future.
When he married Mandy he had prom
ised on her wedding day to make her
rich. but he had never redeemed his
promise. 1t was no fault of his, for
he was an honest, Woodworking son of
toll, and he had done everything in his
power to make the old farm yield
more. But it was hard work to lay
anything aside, and the work of get
ting rich was slow and discouraging.
The thought then entered his mind
that he must make a change in his
occupation. Others had embarked in
new enterprises and realized fortunes.
1t might be within his power to do the
same. The thought of leaving his
home and travelling to the mines was
not pleasant but the prospect of get
ting suddenly rich spurred him on.
That night. and several succeeding
nights, he pretended to read his paper
by lamplight. but he was really turn
ing over in his mind the schemes OF
making money. He looked round on
the poorly but neatly furnished room,
and thought how he would soon change
all of this The old family heirlooms
no longer had any attraction for him
They seemed poor and worthless COM
pared with the articles Of furniture
which he saw in his night dreams and
day visions.
One day ne walked out to his fields
as usual, but perhaps with more than
affectionate parting with Mandy