The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1897-09-29


paint for me. Our hearts are strange
thugs, Allan, and serve us strange
tricks, but we cannot force them. For
give me and forget me. Good night"
and the girl turned YEARLY away, while
the strong man threw himself pros
.rate on the sand and lay there motion
less for hours. He had known his dream
was vain, but it had taken none the less
hold upon him. Since the hour he had
held the little childish hand in his boy
ish grasp, neither as child nor woman
had she made of him an UNDECIDED re-
quest. And now that he had only put in
words the story his reason had long
known, it yet came upon him like new
blow from an unseen hand. All night
he lay where he had thrown himself,
and when at last, reused by the suns
beams, he rose, his face bore sad traces
of the nights conflict.
1t was somewhat a surprise to the
stolid villagers when Ernest Hammond,
months fishing, let one month glide
into two, and third begin it's course,
and still say naught of leaving them. 1t
made the good wives question his stay
no less pleasantly, that he excited none
of his destinations among their own
fcck, that their dark-haired daughters
were not exposed to the fire of his hand
some eyes, or led them to shake their
heads less ominously when day by day
he found his way to Seth Green's cot
tage, or night after night found him sit
ting in Seth Green's doorway. He al
ways had a friendly word, friendly
pipe for the gray-haired fisherman, lis
tened to his long yarns with keen in
terest, while ever and anon a new gown
Or handsome shawl would find it's way
TO Mother Eunice's stores. So the
worthy couple came to greet the hand
some face with honest welcome, listen
to his voice with genuine liking, yet
failed to see the bushes play at hide
and-seek on the girls fair cheek, or
watch the stolen glances which passed
from the mans eyes to hers.
A new page in life's history seemed
opening before her wondering gaze.
BATTERIES delicately yelled, thoughts
subtly spoken, led her daily into re-
Sloho oil anu uhhhoWh. hot
night, upon the beach, when she had
watched with plying gaze strong man
wrestle with his agony, seemed passing
from her memory, while new, deli
cious feeling filled all her heart and life.
Yet strange pang shoots through her
as now and then she sees Allan Fame
ccme and go. She misses his kindly
smile, his welcoming words, until she
forgets both in the gladness which fills
her heart at Ernest Hammonds COM
ing.
1.-THE summer has been passing
sweet" he says to her one day, "but
must have done with idleness and go
back to my working life. Will you miss
me, Mignon?"
Twill miss you? can scarce tell till
know what absence means"
But as she spoke the tell-tale blood
ebbed and flowed and her heart seemed
to stand palsied.
"Ah, 1 need no absence to assure me of
the void my soul will know. You have
given the summer all it's brightness,
Ellie. When 1 first saw your face, fair
UCduUy, l. "OnQCIcu Wudl Win
could have blown you to this rough
shore, but learned to bless that favor
ing breeze, as having waited 10 my side
the fairest thing on which my eyes had
ever rested. Some day, Ellie, you shall
leave this place and make your home
with me. My wife will take good care
of you"
60 n ;ol
broke from the girls white lips, while
as in vision came memories of his
locks, his acts, his words-all, all
breathing love, and that love for her.
mo, not married exactly" came the
reply, as though he were speaking afar
off, although so soon to be that l can
play truant no longer. l shall often
think of you, Ellie, often picture your
fair beauty, and 1 fear, married or
otherwise, shall envy with mad envy
the man who culls you for his own"
'Then envy not the woman whom
you call wife. Go back to your gay
world and the girl who awaits your
coming; greet both with fair words;
press her young lips to yours, but re-
feel her ears poisoned by your whis-
pered caresses, her lips sullied by the
touch of yours. l thank you that you
have robbed your going of all its sting"
elsie, Elsie!" exclaimed the man,
who had listened, with great amaze
ment growing in his eyes. Listen ere
you so reproach me. l loved you ere 1
knew it. 1 meant not to drift into dis
honor nor yet to tell you of my love,
since the telling made it such. Listen,
Elsie. Return that which has burst all
bounds to-day. Let me see you smile
upon me as of old and will break every
bond that holds me, so that only can
hold you to my heart and call you
mine!"
Think you that would accept your