The Fortune of the Landrays

"The Fortune of the Landrays" by Vaughan Kester is an early 20th-century story about dreams and homecoming. It follows Truman Rogers, who comes back to Benson after twenty years, along with his son, with hopes of striking it rich in the California gold rush. The story looks at themes of remembering the past, chasing dreams, and how hard it can be to go back home. The story begins with Truman and his son, Benny, on a stagecoach headed to Benson, and Truman thinks back on his life while trying to overcome the stagecoach driver's doubt. As they get closer to town, Truman's inner conflict becomes clear and he wants to give his son a better future through the promise of gold and the challenges and memories of the past.