Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1894-05-04

the same not h'lu. irurut some men.
NJ. sir. IS making straight for the
Ten Foot DIIv" and l. laundering and
grooming behind that wall like thou
sand mad bulls. Aud tell you. sir,
something Is going 10 happen there be-
for" night. >rrc.
Monk; u aru-,. t. hie feet. The men
are at w'rk ,h'rc:' h. asked sharply.
"tcrtllu Twenty three. all told. :"
And you warned them of the dap
GER
Certain And they knowed il them
solves. But miners gets careless. They
live IN danger constant. and they re
used :" il -
NJ. Turn'r," said the proprietor in
I'll" -arn" sharp tun". YOU will hurry
back e. III" works and get the men out
at once" You will say that such are my
or1'fs Lose no time. Joyce. have
them saddle my horse. | will go down
To- the mines myself.
Turner seemed inclined 10 offer some
additional opinions from the rich stores
If his wisdom and experience, hut was
ignu,niniou,ly bundled out of the room
by the inapi rcciatlvc Joyce and took
his way I" the village with the dcliber-
ate step appropriate to his years and
dignity, stopping twice or thrice on the
road To look III upon friend and dis
cuss the situation over philosophic
pipe.
Monckton had meantime mounted
his horse and started in the same direc-
ton. He had not requested the COM
pany Of the overseer on this occasion, but
that worthy, grimly providing himself
with huge revolver, mounted his own
sturdy cob and followed his employer
sufficiently close to keep an eye over his
safety. The apparently interminable
rain had now ceased. The clouds were
! lifting off the mountain peaks and the
mists driving down the valleys before
the freshening wind, while keen oliver
radiance, the forerunner of the coming
sunlight, glittered in meadow and tree
top.
Ralph Monckton, proceeding at an
easy canter, pulled up his horse sharply.
A girl. also on horseback, turned into
the road few PAGES beyond him. He
recognized her with sudden tightening
at the heart, and at the same moment
she saw him, bowed and blushed beau
tifully. Monckton had not seen her
since the day of the riot at the mines,
and it seemed to him that there was
new sweetness and seriousness in her
face. something more gentle and less
willful in her manner.
She spoke first. THE storm has kept
me in the house so long that seized the
first moment to get out" Then she
looked at him anxiously. lyon are
pale, Ralph. They told me you had en-
tirely recovered"
Thanks" he said indifferently, II
am we'll enough. But it is not for the
sake Of my health that l am out"
Then he told her of Turner's visit and
what the man had reported.
But you are not going down among
those men again after the way they
treated you when you went there last?
Oh, Ralph!" She uttered his name
with slight gasp and turned pale. She
checked her horse and compelled him to
do the same. why are you doing
this?" she asked gravely. lis it fool
ish bravado, Ralph? Are you never 60
ing to forgive me because I was cruel
and conceited?"
He answered her look with one of sur
prise. You cruel and conceited? There
was no such thought in my mind, as
sure you. was not thinking of you
when l started, except-except as al
ways do now-that is, l wish to act in
everything as believe you would have
me lct-no." he said quickly. perceiv-
ing that she averted her face, do not
fear that am going to presume upon
your kindness to me. That is all over
now" He sighed deeply. II have seen
how utterly unworthy am. am not
trying to touch your heart, 1mogene,
with the hypocritical cant of repentance,
which is worse than any other kind Of
cant. Indeed don't know whether a
man can repent of being fool or not,
and l was not much worse than that.
Anyway, during the long days while /
lay in bed had an opportunity of 60
ing back over my life and examining
myself impartially. Well, he laughed
bitterly, 1.-The results have been edify.
ing, but not agreeable. There, he ex-
claimed, impatiently shaking his head,
that sounds like wounded vanity, but
it isn't. What l mean, Imogene, is just
this-honestly and sincerely, know
that l am not fit to be the husband of
such girl as you are. shall never
conquer my love for you. and do not
wish to. 1t will remain with me always
as my better angel and keep me from
ever again falling into that old way of
life which ! now look back upon with
detestation. But shall never speak of
it after today, and il you will let me
see you sometimes as friend you need
not fear the lurking suitor in me, or
that | will pass as suffering martyr.
Will You believe me, 'Imogene? Will
You take me at my words"
Ralph" there was moisture in the
eyes she raised to his, forgive me-"
Freely and fully. But for what?".
For my hardness and self suificiency.
| wanted to wake you up. It was right
and best for you, but could have done
it more kindly. l spoke in a spirit of
pride and intolerance. Icould have led
You gradually to it."
mo, think not" he replied. II
was too sound asleep. too besotted. It
needed the shock. Don't reproach your
self. Imogene, for In my heart and soul
| owe You nothing but gratitude"
And you will come to see me as be-
fore, Ralph"
1T will not be the same man, Imo-
gene. but will gladly come"