El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1901-03-22
R REVERSE OF FORTUNE
BY NELLIE J. Y


John and Miliie Thompson had been
married but four years when Il financial
panic came, and the firm for which John
worked closed its doors, with several 9TH
er business houses in the town of Bren-
vile.
Johns wages had, by dint of careful
management. little more than paid the
family expenses.
What to do was the question he pom
dered as be walked home that first night
with the discouraging news. Even
2-year-old Madeline could not bring the
usual smile to the fathers face. and as
the little mother came to the door she
saw by her husbands face that the
dreaded crash had come.
Long into the night they sat and tried
to think of some plan by which their lit
sacrifice and which was now nearly half
paid for. might be saved.
But neither could think of any plan,
and in the morning John started out with
a heavy heart to look for something, any
thing honest, to do.
But after several days of fruitless
search he came home one night and told
his wife that one of the other men had
Just received a letter from a brother in
the west urging him to form a party and
come out at once to work in a mine
which promised rich increase.
AS the days went OF one man after
another Joined the party, and they talk
ed enthusiastically to John Thompson Of
the wealth they were sure of gaining in a
49, I---.-- L.. - Ah~-
The day before the party intended
leaving for the west John and Mile
decided that possibly in a year or two
he would be able to make his fortune,
and while he was gone she would sup
port herself and the child with the needle
and by helping the neighbors with their
work. 81
AS the train bore the men away the
next morning Mile Thompson faced the
problem of self support for the first time
in her life. She soon began to realize that
the neighbors were feeling b hard times
themselves and were obliged to 10 their
own work. but she struggled bravely on,
hoping in a few months to hear from her
husband that the mining was a success.
But after a few months had passed and
letter after letter came with discouragirg
news, Miles courage began to fail her.
After about a years struggle she Sc
POSAehoh eS Wv
overs family several miles from the
home town. -
As time went Oh the letters bringing
news of varying success in first one claim
and then another became less frequent,
until at last they ceased altogether, but
Mile kept sending cheerful letters until
she got word that the Brenville party had
struck a vein in another state and b
in the old camp had lost sight Of
them.
After two years of uncertainty she re-
ceived a copy of a western paper con-
tanning this ITEM: Mine explosioni MIN
men killed." Then followed the names of
the dead, and among them John Thomp-
son.
The last blow proved too much for Mil
lies health, Inc she was obliged to give
up her position as housekeeper and take
some money she had saved and go to an
other town several miles away to try 10
regain her health by resting.
Her health improved but little, and she
crushed her pride and wrote a letter to
her wealthy father in the south, whose
wishes she had disregarded in marrying,
begging him for the sake of her little girl
to forgive her and take her and her child
home.
Her letter was returned with "You
chosen your own course, written
across the top.
Several years passed by, and Mile
from one place to another, earn
ing a little here and there, until she found
q home III n country town in northern
ermont. where she could do the village
sewing and support in ease herself and
Madeline. now II years OLD.
Throughout the town the widow and
little Lena" were loved and respected.
One afternoon as the child was play
in q foil nonr tho ros.ool t.c.l. -
heard Il rumbling and, looking up, saw
to her horror that n huge rock had slid
the opposite hillside directly on the
track. Just then she heard the whistle
or the daily express. H~urrying up the
toward the bend, she snatched
the red sunbonnet from her head and
waved 1t at the engineer as the train
came speeding toward her.
The engineer, thinking something must
be wrong. applied the brakes and stopped
the train jus. a few rods from the great
rock.
There were but a few passengers on
the train. and as they alighted beside
frightened child they questioned her As
to how she had saved the train.
The train hands found they could not
the rock and told the passengers
they would not be able to resume their
that night at least.
The passengers, thankful for being saw |
ed, asked the child where they could
lind lodging for the night, and she di-
rected them to the village inn.
But one kind looking gentleman whom
Madeline had noticed stepped up to her
and. taking her hand. said: Il want first
tell this little girls parents that they |
shOuld be proud of her. Will you show |
where you live. my dear?"
The child's home was very near. and
rs she opened the door she said, mann
this is az But mamma tainted in
strangers arms.