Red River prospector. (Red River, Taos County, N.M.) 1900-190?, 1907-05-09
BinnersOn's Secon6
Reformation
BY GEORGE

Uncomfortable sobs shook join
Binnerson's frame as he gazed at the
yet girlish face of the one who hac
been wife, counselor, and cCelrade tc
him for five short years.
The dying woman stirred r~estlessly
on the bed, then opened her y e
Seeing his plight, they filed WITH
such compassion as a mother bestows
on her child in pain. Don't cry
Dave she urged. Stupid. I'm no
worth it. Bring Ed. l don't thinl
I'll last long"
Death was beyond the comprehen
sion Of ed, and he little understood
the farewell words or kiss. He no
ticed more particularly the grie
which shook the stalwart frame OF
his father. Farewell words spoken
to the child the woman summoned al
the powers of her mind for a last
talk with her weeping husband. She
asked him to look well after Ed, anc
then urged him to beware of gam
bling, drinking, and evil companions
She argued and implored with hin
to remain steadfast to the leading OF
a clean and manly life. He hung OF
her words, occasionally mutely nod
ding assent to the logic of her coun
sci. She had the clearer brain. thu
stronger will, the ability to prOtec
her husband from himself. He haC
not realized the fact, but thought hi.
reformation was due to himself.
Don't leave me- he cried. 90
can't exist without you. / owe every
thing to you
The face of the little oma lit III
with pleasure at his acknowledgment
She strove to a~rticulate a last bless
ing on the standing pair, but feI
back.
Although, until his wire's death
BinnersOn had failed to understand
the value of his wife as a %protecto.
from himself, his old-time friends
well had appreciated why he had be
come a reformed character. Thet
fiocked back to Binnerson, and within
a few weeks had him. Soon he begat
to drink heavily and foolishly. trying
to forget his sorrow in the eXcitemen'
of gambling and scenes of dissipa
ton. The memory of the death scent
gradually became dim. and in threi
months time he showed every evi
dence of shortly becoming a worth
less man.
Then an incident happened thai
changed the current of hi life'i
events-a thing so slight, impalpabla
and shadowy that for the life of hin
Binnerson could never afterwards sat
isfactorily explain how it really hap
pened. He hurried to his place o
business n afternoon, and ran NJ
the flight of steps, at the top of which
was his private office. He was abou
to enter his room quickly wher
something made him give pause. Con
trolled by an indefnable impulse, he
opened the door softly. In his chair
sat Ed, but he was not merely sitting
there waiting. About this little figure
there hung a look of detection, Of
woe, and sorrow. He had his head or
his hands, and apparently was think
ing deeply.
Into the drink-sodden brain of Bin
nersOn came sudden emOrse for hii
conduct. Poor little beggar,' he re
hected. In his childish way he's try
ing to think out things. He's wonder
ing why he's not so happy as he was
a few months ago. Maybe he's fgur
ing out what he'll become. A hart
life this is with the best Of training
What chance will he have with md
for a father and guardian? Suppose
ne copies my example? He's her boy
as well as mine
Perhaps for three minutes Dinner
son had hold of the knob of the door
Suddenly he let go of it, but before
doing so a heroic resolution had
taken possession of him. His mind
made up, he strobe heavily across the
floor and greeted the boy with the re
mark. Hello, Ed; how'd you man
age to come down all by yourself?"
The boy started from his reverie
and explained how his nurse had
brought him and would be back in
half an hour. His question, however,
showed what he had been thinking
about. Wont you stay home to.
night, papa? It's so lonely without
you, now mammals gone
Then the telephone hell rang
Three times Binnerson said mo" tc
something, and then he grew angry
you and the whole bunch can &C
for all l care" he shouted into the
m|outhpiece of the phone. I'm going
to look after my %youngster, homo
and business better in the future