Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1901-12-20

5 Out on the Pampas )

r i.

Mrs. Hardy asked her husband one even
ing. after an unusually long silence on
his part.
We'll, my dear, l was thinking of IL
good many things. In the first place l
began with won lering what | should
make of the boys; and that led to IL train
of thought about ourselves aud our cir
c-umstanccs."
MIR. Hardy spoke checrfully. but his
wife saw at once that it was with an
effort that he did SO. She moved her
chair nearer to his by the fire. lit is IL
serious question, Frank. "bom. the boys.
Charley is fifteen now. and Hubert four
teen. woAder myself sometimes what
we shall do With Them"
There seems no opening here in Eng
land for Young fellows. The professions
are crowded. ever if they We're not alto
gethcr beyond our means: and as To Il
and stick to it,; they would he far hap
pier. and nearly as well paid. The fact
Ia, Clara" and here MIR. Hardy paused
a little. as if to gain courage to say
what he feared would be very Disagree
able to his wifc--.'the fact is, we are
altogether too crowded here. The best
thing for the children, by far. and 1
think the best thing for ourselves, would
be to cmisratc."
Mrs. Hardy gave a little sigh, but said
nothing, and sat locking quietly into the
fire, as her husband went on: You see,
my dear, I am just, and only just. max
ing enough for us to live upon. Nor is
there any strong probability of an in
crease of business. The boys are grow
ing up, and l see no prospect of giving
them a fair start in life. Abroad it is
altogether different; we can buy land II
stock it for next to nothing. We should
live roughly. certainly: but at least there
IS no fear for tho future, and we should
start our boys in life with a fair Ger
tainty of success. Still, it is far too
serious a matter to decide upon hastily.
] only threw sut the suggestion; and If
you, after thinking it over, are against
It, there is an end of the NATTER"
Mrs. Hardy WAS silent for IL little, and
a tear sparklcd on her check, then she
said: 81 am not surprised, Frank, at
what you havc said. In fact, l have eN-
pected it for some time. l have observed
you looking over books upon foreign coun-
tries, and have seen hat you often sat
thoughtful and quiet. guessed, there
fore. what you had in your mind. OF
course. dear, as n woman, l shrink from
the thought of leaving all our friends II
going TO quite a strange country. but l
don't think that l am afraid of the hard
ships or discomfort. Thousands of other
women have gone through them, AMI
there is no reason why | should not do
the same. | do think with you hat it
would he a good thing for the boys. per
haps for the girls. too: and that, when
we have got over the first hardships, we,
too, should be happier and more free
from care than we are now. So you will
meet with no opposition from me: and il,
after deiibcration. YOU really determine
that it is the best thing to do, l shall he
ready to agree with YOU"
Mr.. Hardy was IN architect, as his
father had been licforc him. He had not.
however. entered the Office AT the usual
age. but when eighteen had gone to the
United States. to visit an uncle who had
settled there. After spending some time
with him. the love of adventure had talk
Ell him 10 the far Nest, and there he
had hunted and shot for nearly three
years. till a letter cntreated him to re-
turn TO England. as his fathers health
Il iiA nv az olltt SlstlNtl VI A1Ie
land. He was a good draughtsman. and
was shortly abe TO take Il great burden
off his fathers shoulders.
He had not lNen long mt home. how
ever. hefc.r he fell i'll love with Clara
Ai:strcA The dauglter nf II clcrgyman:
anI his 4~.ti,cr ul..i.ll. over to him IL.
share in the business, they were marie |
Just as Frank attained his twenty-fourth
~nnr hiS ,t..f, min, ,1,n,,. ,,tn flN.,~
years nfter the marriage MIR. Hardy
senior died, and from that time Frank
had carried on the business alone.
His father had been possessed of n
small private fortune. but had rashly
entered into the mania of railway spccu-
lation. and at his death had left about
6fteen thousand dollars to his son. This
sun Frank Hardy had carefully pre-
served intact. as he had f~orescen that
the time m ght come when it would. for
his chillrrn's sake. be advisable to emil
CRATE. He had long looked forward to
this. but had ahsiaincd from taking any
step until his sous were of an age 10 be
able to make themselves useful in Il life
In the bush or upon the prairies.
The subject of emigration once started,
was Frequently continued. and presently
BOOKS an. maps began To he consulted,
and the advantages and disadvantages of
the various countries and colonies to he
debate. Finally. Mr.. and Mrs. Hardy
agreed that the Argentine Republic. i'll
Its magnificent rivers, its boun.less eN.
tent of fertile land, in its splendid eli.
mate. its cheap labor. and it's probable
prospects. offered the greatest advan.
tages.
The decision once arrived at, it was
determined to announce it to the children
Breakfast WAS over, when their father
said: "Wait a moment. boys; there is
something he want TO talk to you about
Your mamma and l have been wondering
what you boys are to become. and we do
not see any openings likely to occur here.
Now. what should you say to us all emf.
g%ratingi"
"What, going abroad, papa" they both
exclaimed. joyously.
"Yes, boys: settling in the backwoods
OF in the prairies." j.
ooh. that would be jolly" Charley said
sY know. mana. having fights with In