The Press., 1896-07-30
THE LOST MINE.
By JAMES KNAPP REEVE.
Copyright, 1896, by the Author. ]

[Copyright, 1896, by the Author.l
 It was 10 o'clock. The busy life of u town was stilling into the quietude Of night. The electric lights yet burned brilliantly at the street corners, but there were not many passers. An occa- sional pair of belated lovers came un- willingly beneath the glare of the lamps, and then strolled away into shadowy by paths.
 Rockley caught glimpses of the pretty faces of the girls and scented the per fuIpe from their garments, and heard bits of musical speech, and it made him feel like an outcast. But an hour ago all these had been his, and now nothing was his, and tho whole world was drear and desolate.
 II ant awfully sorry, Dick" said Norah Dale I've have been such good friends like you ever so much, but butt
 "Yes, I see, said Dick hotly. "There is some one else. You have only been amusing yourself with me-"
 "That is not true," said Norah, who had a temper of her own, "There is not any one else. Only"
 "Go on," said Dick "Never mind me"
 "Well, suppose I had best now. When marry man, Dick, it shall be one who has done something."
 Now this shot told home. And so Dick flung himself off the vine covered porch, where the glinting moonlight and the odor of the roses had tempted him into precipitately foolish act, and out the gate and down the street with less ceremony than he had ever before displayed when leaving the presence of pretty Norah Dale.
 He walked rapidly, and the action stimulated him, so that he began to whip matters into shape mentally. His first impulse was to put distance be- tween them. There was nothing to pre- vent him from carrying this into i'm mediate effect. He was young, strong, had no one to whom his coming or go- ing mattered, and fortunately possessed money enough to do very much as he chose.
 The limited express for Chicago would pass Wayneland about midnight. Chi cago was a great, big, busy town, and there he might find some diversion that would quiet this aching down around his heart. He was taking the matter se- riously.
 Going to his rooms, he put some things together hastily and was at the station just ill time to catch the train. Of course sleep was out of the ques- tiOn with such tumult in his heart and brain, but from force of habit and nat ural inclination to travel as gentleman ] should he took berth in the Pullman.
 A few hours later he was much sur prised to find himself awaking from a sound and untroubled sleep. The sun was shining brightly in the window, and the train was running smoothly over the prairies Chicagoward. The world look ed brighter than it had the previous night, and Dick was conscious that he was hungry. In the dining car his vis- avis was a man twice his own age, with grizzled, shrewd, yet kindly face, and with strong disposition toward lo- quacity. This, in Dicks present mood, he was somewhat inclined to resent, but, in spite of himself, he was soon in- terested in his companions talk.
 "This is pretty fair, 'was the opening remark, indicating broadly the viands spread before them. 'They don't seem to have much elbow room in their kitoh- en, but I've fared worse out in Arizona, where we had all creation to cook in"
 "Ahl You are from tho west?" said Dick politely.
 "Yes, I'm from the west, Q good long way" The old man let his gaze wander toward the western horizon, and Dick fancied there was bit of homesickness in the look "But I m getting back thore pretty fast. " He watched admiringly 1 the witches dance of tho telegranh noles