Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1888-07-07
ny CHARLES ]. BELrAMY.
0epyrishted by the Author, and published
~ asyaaEemsns with him.

Tears Of shame started into his eyes. ~
aint 20 low; never thought but what you
would before"
She gave him look half curious and half
pitiful He might as well have cried for the
moon. Could it be the Lad thought that just
because she was pretty she could make bic
home happy for hin-hisi
"I'm not going to have haDd at maSfng
enother poor mans hona People Like as
had better be single; there's only half the
trouble that way, Tommie."
The broad shouldered young man, who did
not know what was good for him, fell back
from the woman his heart hungered for as If
he was shot. And she walked on, with hard
~ another thought for the foolish lover who
imagined they two could be happy together.
Why couldn't she be rich3 They had al
ways told her she was beautiful If she only
had chance They say men are fools over
pretty women, and that Is the only hope
woman has Of winning her way. If she only
had chance.
A delicate gray mist foated over the river
below the village, and the green forests and
fresh meadows on the other side smiled
through 1t, like fair woman through her
tears. A tired soul might have drunk in its
beauty and been rested, but Jane Graves cast
her eyes down on the dusty road before her
and walked along with set bitter curl on
her bright red lips, and did not once look at
the gift Of Gods mercy to the poorest of his
creatures. For her part she despised the
poor; she didn't pity them; great strong men
who submitted to be trodden on and ground
under the feet of the rich; whose blood and
muscles and quivering flesh were weighed in
the balance against few dollars Of the spec-
ulators. II was good enough for them as
long as they submitted to it. She didn't
blame the rich; they were the only wise peo-
pie; she only envied them. They did well to
take all they could get and walk over as
many thousands as would fall down before
them Oh, If she could only win her way to
their ranks. But the rich men do not come
into the weave room for their enslavers.
Suddenly she heard a step bceind her;
step she knew from all Others in the world,
and the whole air seemed to tremble with
new, strange, heavenly impulse.
"Good evening, Jane"
She turned with new sweet shyness. 1t
was Curran, the agitator, who was beside
her. soft flush was on her cheeks, warm
light in her eyes that had grown larger for
him in delicious surprise.
w NO ID L4db yOu1lS WIZ Jooo AoAS
your
"Oh, one Of my lovers" she answered
coquettishly, dropping her eyes before his
''He your loverl" repeated Curran in his
fmperious fashion. "You're not for such as
he, Jennie"
Her heart fiuttered IN sweet fear at the
meaning she thought in his words She was
irving to walk very slowly, but how fast
they seemed to pass the houses.
$50 1 told him." she said.
"You did we'll, then," and he looked down
adniringly on the girl "You are fine wo-
man Idon't suppose you know it."
Jane Graves tried to look as if it was news
to her, and Curran went on. "Few women
are prettier There are fine prizes for such as
you in this world if you will only wait" He
continued thoughtfully, "Men have to work
for distinction; a pretty face brings it to
women
''What sort of priest" And she trusted
herself to look up at him. How grand he
was, with his firm, strong face. If he only
had q touch of weakness in him that might
bend down to her.
Position, money, power"
''No woman cares for those" And she be-
leved it as she spoke, looking away over the
river
"What thenT' he asked, smiling 'Those
things are what all men are working for,
suppose" .,
Sometimes the climax of a character is
reached only in old age, when storms have
wreaked their fury for a lifetime on soul
Sometimes it comes in childhood, with three
score years Of decline to come after it. It
was at this moment that this girls life
reached its moral height If she could but
have kept 1t.
..That is love-" she added softly. ''It Is
their lives; they hope only for that; they
dream only Of II.
Currau laughed, but gently, as he took her
hands at parting, pressing them perhaps un-
consciously, yet no man can be wholly care
less to such beauty ashers.
"It Is only because women are more foolish
than mon, not because they are more de-
voted, that they are able to make such abb
Eurd mistakes"
She ssniled on hiSn as Fadiantly a. red
petaled rose unfolding&ts glowing heart to
the morning sun--the sun that gives every
thing and wants nothing, and stood half
turned watching his retiring form. The road
at this point passed near desarted ruin,
once q brick sawmill, which had shorn tho
hills and valleys around of their pride, now
fsvorite trysting place for lovers OF moon
light nights like this would be. Curran was
just entering under an arch, where once had
swung heavy oaken door which long ago
had served some shivering family for
weeks flrewood
He went in and did not once turn. How
cruel men are. Perhaps, she told herself, he
Is to meet there some messenger of the Great
league he had told her about, and they will
plan together some bold stroke 1t was
beautiful to have such power, even if it made
him forget this one poor girl, whose heart
longed so eagerly for another SMILE
The whole world seemed glorifed to the
girl as she walked on. She had loitered 50
long that the sun was now almost setting,
with his flowing robe Of carmine about him,
and the whole landscape seemed in rapture