The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-11-24
The EDening Story
Horn of Plenty.
CBy wentworth Brown.)

(By Wentworth Brown.)
The little cabin chung to the scar
red hillside and pine trees clustered
around it if to protect the tiny
home from the cruel blasts of the APP
preaching winter.
In summer it was very lovely there.
Birds nested in the deep pine woods
behind the cabin and robin had
But now the robins had fled and the
woods were quiet save for the scold-
ing chatter of blue jays. and the oc-
casional bark of squirrels. The grass
had died under the touch of a blight
ing frost and the wind whistled keen
ly down the mountain.
Hester Prentice leaned against the
doorway and looked sorrOwfully at
bleak hillside and the dark hole in the
earth where her husband had delved
gold had rewarded his efforts and al
though he still maintained an outward
air of cheerfulness Hester read grow
ing despair in his stopped shoulders
and evasive eye, and only this morn
ing she had noted with little shock
that his dark hair was silvered around
the temples.
'.And Dick is only thirty she muir
INJURED to herself with a catch of the
breath. ''That awful mine! With its
alluring promises that are never full
filled it is sapping his life of youth
and happiness. Such a mockery to
call it Horn of Plenty The YAM
pire' would be a better name"
Tears cIouded her blue eyes and for
the moment she lost the cheerfulness
that had sustained her ever since her
marriage to Dick Prentice six months
before. Family and friends had pro-
tested at her foolhardiness in risking
everything upon the mining claim
is Dick, you know" she had smiled
confidently at them. with Dick,
would go anywhere-take any chance
in the world!"
summer had been an ideal one. but
November was upon them and
Thanksgiving only a few days away.
Homesickness tugged at her heart
strings. Back there in New England
they were making elaborate prepara-
tions for the great festival. They had
written and urged the young pioneers
to come home for Thanksgiving.
Hester smiled bitterly Why there was
scarcely a bushel of flour in the house
and the bacon was almost gone-what
could one do with nothing coming in?
Dicks hopefulness had Jared on
her nerves. Only this morning she
had spoken sharply to him when he
had made some remark about Thanks
giving. A pang of remorse now sent
her hurrying down toward the shaft.
AT the very edge of the opening she
heSitated and peered within the tun-
mel Dick was there-sitting on a key,
his head bowed in his hands; alone
with his disappointment
Dick, Dicki" she cried, going to
him and folding his head in her arms.
Come up to the house. Leave this
dreadful placel'
His face was hot with fever and his
eyes We're bright.
81 believe L will come up for a
while, dear he laughed uncertainty.
This hole in the ground has rather
got on my nerves, and if could only
sleep for a NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., I've
forgotten to cover that dynamite
TIL come down and do that, dear"
protested his wife. You know I'll be
just as careful. Gomez
Hester supported Dick up the hill
and somehow got him into bed, and
because they were twenty miles from
the nearest town and there was no di-
rect means of communication save
through their neighbor, Lin Dowd,
five miles away, she had to admins
ter the simple remedies at her com
mand until she could devise some way
of getting word to the doctor
Presently Dick was muttering rest
lessly in the little bedroom while Hes
ter picked up his gun and went quick
ly up into the woods behind the cabin.
If she could only make Lin Dowd
hear the report of the gun he might
suspect trouble and come to her aid.
Once in the dim aisles of the pines
she started a wild turkey which flut-
tered up with a raucous squawk.
There is our Thanksgiving din
neri'' cried Hester. What an idiot
1 am to think that one can't be happy
and thankful anywhere in the world!
Why if Dick were only well again I
would be the most delighted woman
in the universe. But we will have a
dinner in spite of youi''
she turned and shook her fist at the
Horn of Plenty below. Il will make
some squirrel will help
some, although hate to kill the darl-
ings-and those wild grape preserves
made will be deliciousi Why didn't
I think of it before instead of grum-
bling? 1 am afraid Dick has noticed |
my downheartedness- Well, L won't
give away againt"
With this resolution Hester lifted /
the gun and fired several shots in the |
direction of the Dowd place She |
thought she heard a signaling shot |
in return, and, satisfied that help |
would soon be on the way, she went |
back to the cabin and discovered I
that Dick was sleeping quietly
1t was a lonely day for her, for /
Dick slept far into the afternoon She |
completed her plans for Thanksgiving