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

fortune.
He left a note behind, explaining to
Mandy that he would be back wher
his fortune was made. Then he would
come and make life happy and pleas
ant for her. He left all his money
with her, amounting to several hun.
bred dollars. which would pay ex-
penses until he returned. If he did not
come before that was all exhausted,
she could mortgage the farm.
Everything was left in Mandy's
hands, but Abner was gone. He jour
neyed on foot and by rail toward the
distant mines, where he was to realize
his fortune. He was prepared to meet
with failure at first, and ne was not
easily discouraged.
Life in the poor mining camp was
rough and laborious, and many night
Abner Landon longed for the quiet
farm. He struggled along the best he
could, hardly making enough to sup
port life. He could not send any funds
home, and he had not the courage to
write until he found better luck. From
one camp to another he drifted, follow
ing every story and rumOr about rich
discoveries.
The once sturdy, strOng-limbed
farmer degenerated into a lean,
hungry-looking miner, with long, I'M
cropped hair and beard, and staring,
wild eyes. They said he half starved
himself to hoard up some money with
which to purchase a small digging. He
prospected late and early, examining
every foot of ground around the camps.
Life was becoming desperate for him,
and his chances of making a fortune
were dwindling.
Two years passed, and he was still a
poor miner. His spirit was nearly
broken, and his courage was oozing
out slowly. He longed for sight Of
his cosey home, and the loved ones in
it, and in his dreams he talked and
spoke of Mandy and Jack. But his
pride kept him from returning in a
poorer condition than when he left.
Several diggings were bought by
him with his hard-earned and carefully
boarded money, but they all proved
failures. None of the precious metal
could be found. Then he returned to
his old labor, and saved and toiled for
another venture. His physical strength
gradually left him under the intense
mental excitement and strain.
The time came when fortune seemed
to change. He had saved enough to
make one more venture. He examined
the ground carefully before purchasing
the claim, for he felt that everything
depended upon his final effort. Failure
would kill him. He felt it in his
bones, and he shuddered at the
thought.
When the transfer was finally made
he went to work feverishly. and work
ed almost to exhaustion. No signs of
the precious metal was found, and his
spirits began to fail. He returned to
his poor cabin. and wrote Il letter to
Mandy, telling her of his long strug-
giles and failures. This was to be
mailed to his wife if death carried him
away unexpectedly.
As last effort he returned to the
claim and 10 lis work. He labored
mechanically, and without a purpose;
but suddenly his eyes opened wide with
establishment and he leaped up with
the exclamation, Eureka
He had triumphed. The mine was a
fortune in itself, and his long -anticipat-
ed wealth had at last been realized.
The fearful cost at which it had been
purchased was nothing now to the joy
of returning home. and carrying the
good news to his wife and son.
Steam could not carry the half
frenzied miner fast enough. and he
was far ahead of the cars in spirit. At
last he reached the home of his boy
hood, and rushed up to his old farm
house, which was now as dear and
precious in his sight as it was before
unpleasant. Strangers and neighbors
were coming in and out of his home,
and he wondered at it. He hurried on
across the field.
He was in his rough miners clothes.
and his old friends did not recognize
him. He pushed his way through
the small crowd and inquired the
meaning of the assembly.
why, man. it's death; Mandy Lam
don is dead, " replied a stalwart farmer.
Then noticing the pale, reeling man at
his side, he continued: why, bless
me! it's Abner Landon himself.
The roughly dressed miner could
mako no reply. He sank into a chair,
while everything seemed to swim about
him. 1t seemed like the vision Of a
brain, and for long time
he remained in quiet stupor. Neigh
bors sympathized with him, but they
could not lift the weight from his
heart. His fortune had brought him
sorrow rather than pleasure.