Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-08-25

speak she woulu not prlage the gu1f
with little lies. "You have not been
stern, but exacting and fretful."
He was SILENT never having received
such blow. ITO you?" he said In
low voice. "You have found It hard to
bear?"
Sometimes, my husband" She went
up to him and put her arms about him;
but he gently pushed her aside.
Il would rather be alone. I exacting
and fretful"
He had always felt that he was deal
ing love as largesse about him, receive
Ing poor return; and he had been tile
suspicious, unreasonable tyrant, maxi
Ing home intolerable! He had never
seen this face in the mirror before, but
he knew it was his own.
"Ask the boys to defer their prepare
tions,' he said to his wife. II will talk
1t over with them when 1 can think
clearly"
But they never talked it over.
Mr.. Moxon had been tempted to in-
vest heavily in q mining speculation.
The news Of Its failure came to him that
day. He read the telegram aloud and
laid it down.
Are you deeply involved In 1t, Ed
ward?" his wife asked.
eyes. If this be true we shall lose
everything-stocks, land and house. I
am an old man to begin the world
again"
"Why, father!" Bob sprang from his
chair and ran to him. ''We'll begin it
together; you and Tom and I. Three
boys! Well go to California and start
afresh."
Tom had his arm about the other
shoulder. Edward looked up at them
ond at his wife who was kneeling athis
feet. He laughed, but the tears came.
"Please God, 1t may not be as bad as
we think, but if it is, boys, I'm ready"
1t was even worse than they thought,
When the business was settled there
was bare pittance left, hardly enough
to take the family to California
But through these dreary days 1t was
noticeable that not word Of complaint
came from Ned Moxon's lips. The man
in him rose to face this real disaster. He
was hearty, cheerful, courageous.
Every day he came to Alice to tell her Of
some new proof of kindness from his
friends, who crowded about him in this
dark hour.
"But it is the boys who will carry us
through!" he said, with triumph. "They
stand by me shoulder to shoulder. They
have heads for business such as never
had, Alice"
The Moxons, father and sons, have
had a. hard fight for success in Califor-
MIA. For years they marched together
over bare space in life, facing poverty
and even want. Edward Moxon knew
that 1t was his own folly which had
brought his wife and children into these
straits, and he worked with desperate
energy to protect them from hardships.
All the strength and tenderness Of his
character came out; the aggrieved
whine never was now heard in his voice.
II WONDER" said Rob one day to his
mother, show ever could have thought
father ill-tempered. He bears the worst
troubles with such large, calm good
humor."
That evening Rosa, putting her sugar
in her tea, balanced the tonges on her
fingers. Light weight, mammal
Where did they conc from?"
Her father frowned. "They came
from man." he said, "who in the time
of my trouble offered to back me with
money to any amount. If you notice
every disagreeable trife, Rosa, you will
make life a burden"
Then Alice felt that her husbands
cure was complete.
But there are SO many Ned Moxons In
the world! So many wives and children
ere crushed under their many virtues
and their single fault
Is there no cure for them but bank
ruptcy or death ?-The Independent.