Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1924-03-05
His Second
Thoughts
By ANTHONY REIMERT
%. 1923. Western Newspaper UnionD


into sight McLaren had to use
every effort to keep the dogs from
hurting themselves to destruction in
the thin ice of the thawing river The
brake hardly seemed to restrain the
sled 1t was with the utmost difficulty
that he succeeded in negotiating the
last stretch of ground safely.
On the sled lay bags and bags of
gold-his own gold, from the mine he
had found at last. He was almost
millionaire.
A trip south, company to be
formed, then the installation of ma
chinery-and he would be rich beyond
the dreams of avarice.
A yell escaped his lips. A steamer
was ln--the first of the year News
from the outside world
He drew up in front of Macs store.
which was also the post office.
"Howdy, Benz" said Mac. Had
good trip imp
"So-so," Ben answered.
The little group of oafers looked a,
the bags and gasped. "Ben's found
his mine" The word went quickly
round. Ben had been hunting for
the mine for three years
He had left a girl in Frisco. Ellen
had promised to wait three years for
him if necessary. Then he was to re-
turn-sooner, if possible, but not later
whether rich or poor, and they
were to be married.
He would be back Just within the
limit of the time 'et--a millionaire.
What life for them both, Wealth
untold practically--a car, a fine home
on the hill
All these visions passed before his
eyes in a moment while he was in the
post office.
"There-there amt letter for me,
I SUPPOSE" lie asked
"Shore there is, Ben" answered the
postmaster slapping it down before
him. "Iust come in on this boat
Ben's heart beat faster. 1t was
from Ellen. He hesitated a moment
hef. 70 he opened the envelope. Then
he felt momentary disappointment
as he saw how short the letter was.
But no matter, He would be down
to Frisco in next to no time. He be-
gan to read, and as he read grief and
astonishncnt passed across his face.
He read that she was tired of wait
ing. that he had not written for
months-how could he, in the interior
Of laska?-that he probably had an
pi
she was sending him back his ring by
registered post. And, she had been a
fool to waste three years of her life
waiting for him
Deliberately Ben folded up the let
ter, tore it into strips, and let them
flutter away.
Reckon Ben's hard hit" said the
postmaster to one of his cronies, as
they watched him stride beside the
sled toward the bank.
Yes. he was wounded, mortally, and
as a man does when he has received
the fatal thrust, he did not utter a
complaint. He bore no bitterness
Jest to cache this lot in the bank"
he was thinking, ''and then north
again
And he thought longngy of the
waste, white places of the wilderness.
He had no longer any desire to go to
Frisco. He wanted to get back-to
be with himself--and to forget.
He cached his gold in the bank and
again
Then suddenly he became aware of
= figure in the way. a woman. hurry
ing toward him
Ben! Eenn
But he was sure ii was a dream,
and he only stared at her.
Ben! Won't you speak TO me? I
tried to stop YOU getting that letter
wrote you but the postmaster told me
that you had it already Oh, Ben, can
you ever forgive me?"
she was clinging to him. Ben, if
you knew the loneliness of those
three years, waiting for you, not hear.
10 from you, and feeling my life pass
'nr~heng afraid you'd found someone
else 1t was in such mood
that wrote that letter. And then
c%mo north by the same boat so as
10 SEQ YOU and tell you I didn't mean
ii Rich or poor, I'm ready to marry
you, Bon. And see I'm wearing your
.ing"
Hpns face softened That's all
right. girl" he answered. Il guess
we've both been lonely. But that's all
past now
And he turned the dogs back to'vnr"
SitWell