Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1903-07-10
CHAPTER l.

Mrs. Hardy asked her husband one even
ing, after an unusually long silence on
his part.
"Well, my dear, 1 was thinking Of a
good many things. In the first place l
began with wondering what L should
make of the boys; and that led to train
of thought about ourselves and our cir
cumstances."
Mr.. Hardy spoke cheerfully, 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. 1T is
serious question, Frank, about the boys.
Charley is fifteen now, and Hubert four
teen. l wonder myself sometimes what
we shall do with them"
'There seems no opening here in Eng
land for young fellows. The professions
are crowded, even if they were not alto
gether beyond our means; and as to
clerkship, they had better have trade
and stick to it; they would be far hap
pier, and nearly as well paid. The fact
is, Clara" and here Mr.. Hardy paused
little, as if to gain courage to say
what he feared would be very disagree
able to his wife-''the fact is, We are
altogether too crowded here. The best
thing for the children, by far, and l
think the best thing for ourselves, would
be to emigrate."
Mrs. Hardy gave little sigh, but said
nothing, and sat looking quietly into the
fire, as her husband went on: You see,
my DEAR 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 | see no prospect of giving
them fair start in life. Abroad 1t is
altogether different; we can buy land and
stock it for next to nothing. We should
live roughly, certainly; but at least there
is no fear for the future, and we should
start our boys in life with a fair GER
tainty of success. Still, it is far too
serious matter to decide upon hastily.
l only threw out the suggestion; and If
you, after thinking it over, are against
it, there is an end Of the matter"
Mrs. Hardy was silent for little, and
a tear sparkled on her cheek, then she
said: 81 am not surprised, Frank, at
what you have said. In fact, | have ex-
pected it for some time. have observed
you looking over books upon foreign coun-
tries, and have seen that you often sat
thoughtful and quiet. | guessed, there
fore, what you had in your mind. Of
course, dear, as a woman, | shrink from
the thought of leaving all our friends and
going to quite a strange country, but L
don't think that am afraid of the hard
ships or discomfort. Thousands of other
women have gone through them, and
=. II oh ,nt IL
the same. l do think with you that it
would be 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 if,
after deliberation, you really determine
that it is the best thing to do, shall be
ready to agree with you"
Mr.. Hardy was an architect, as his
father had been before 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 tax
en- him to the far West, and there he
had hunted and shot for nearly three
years, till letter entreated him to re
turn to England, as his fathers health
was failing. He at once started for Eng
land. He was a good draughtsman, and
was shortly able to take Il great burden
off his fathers shoulders.
He had not been long at home, how.
ever, before he fell in love with Clara
Aintree, the daughter of clergyman
and his father making over to him a
share in the business, they were married
just as Frank attained his twenty-fourtl
year, his wife being about nineteen. Two
years after the marriage Mr.. Hardy
senior died, and from that time Frank
had carried on the business alone.
His father had been possessed of {
small private fortune, but had rashly
entered into the mania of railway specu
lation, and at his death had left abou
fifteen thousand dollars to his son. Thi,
sum Frank Hardy had carefully pre-
served intact, as he had forescen tina
the time might come when it would, FOL
his children's sake, be advisable to emf
crate. He had long looked forward t,
this, but had abstained from taking an,
step until his sons We're of an age to b,
able to make themselves useful in Il liz,
in the bush or upon the prairies.
The subject of emigration once started
was frequently continued and present.,
books and maps began to be consulted
and the advantages and disadvantages o
the various countries and colonies to h,
debate Finally, Mr.. and Mrs. Hard.
agreed that the Argentine Republic, il
its magnificent rivers, it's boundless OK
tent of fertile land, in its splendid eli
mate, its cheap labor, and its probab
prospects, offered the greatest advan
tugcs.
The decision once arrived at, it wa