That will give me a forty-man-power, and I 'll pay up my debts and
get a good start, and then Ned and I will be married and go into
partnership, and we 'll all be the happiest, busiest people in the
West."
"It sounds delightful; but won't it take a long time, Tom?"
"Only a few years, and we need n't wait a minute after Syd is paid,
if you don't mind beginning rather low down, Polly."
"I 'd rather work up with you, than sit idle while you toil away all
alone. That 's the way father and mother did, and I think they were
very happy in spite of the poverty and hard work."
"Then we 'll do it by another year, for I must get more salary
before I take you away from a good home here. I wish, oh, Polly,
how I wish I had a half of the money I 've wasted, to make you
comfortable, now."
"Never mind, I don't want it; I 'd rather have less, and know you
earned it all yourself," cried Polly, as Tom struck his hand on his
knee with an acute pang of regret at the power he had lost.
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