The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1899-08-10
Not a Hero.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

80 FANCES had been arguing and
IN had sileneed her opponent. He
- stood leaning against the stone
of the tower waiting her pleasure to re-
move from the scene of contest But
her line OF thought held her fast, or
! perhaps the beauty of Belgian land
scape would not release her. At all
events, she did move. and he waited.
Finally, he yentured to suggest:
Won't your Aunt Laura be tired of
waitingY
She turned her eyes from the brown
Scheldt flowing below as she answered
carelessly: Aunt Laura: o. she
doesn't mind, She preferred to let us
come up without her. She adores the
cathedral and 1t isn't time to be hun
cry
Ben Ripley had been in Antwerp four
hours, three of which he had spent with
/ Frances Deere. and for at least an hour
the two had been on the cathedral
tower engaged in the argument already
mentioned.
Ben had asked where Frances meant
to spend the winter. 1t WAS a natural
question, for they had been neighbors
and friends always at home In Amer
lea. Even when he was at college
there were vacations, and she con
tinued to be a warm friend. So did he,
except In the intervals when. having
become too warm, he was Obliged to
undergo cooling process.
Her winter. she said. would be one of
hard study. Aunt Laura would select
masters for her, and she would work
ut art. music, languages to
keep busy. Then he began to argue
that she was all wrong. She ought to
20 home 10 her mother and not waste
her youth ishe laughed scornfullyl aud
her beauty lshe smiled proudly. Then
she asked him why he lived ON Ban
bury road and studied mathematics at
oxford instead of going into business
with his father In New York. He an
swered that he wasn't worth consider
Ing. that she was the only person in
the world worth talking about. and the
climax OF his whole argument was that
she should go back to America engaged
10 niui huu wall iOi Tic AiAC
they would begin together next year
when he had taken his doctors degree.
But she was relentless aud wouldn't
even attempt 10 answer his questions
whether she cared for him at all She
grew little impatient and said he
ought to see that she couldn't think
about such things; she was Interested
IT. D.. \.
Ing else. Finally he said he supposed
she expected him TO start back for Ok
ford that highland wanted TO be con-
tradeted But she agreed that IT would
be the most sensible thing to do.
SO 1t had all ended. and she had be-
come absorbed In the landscape and
forgetful OF him until he mentioned
Aunt Laura and they started down the
tower Ben was three or four steps
ahead. two-thirds OF the way down,
when he heard stumble. Frances had
caught her foot In her dress and fallen.
He had just time TO brace himself with
an arm against either wall when she
slid down upon him.
Get your footing quick and don't
faint he said
: I'm not going to faint" she an
swered, and l am quite myself ex-
cept that my hat Is crooked-not that
: 1t matters In the dark"
Slowly he dropped his arms, and she
passed ON before him. As they came
out into the light he motioned to a
carriage crossing the narrow court.
There isn't a moment TO lose" he
explained. IF | am going to get my
boat. You are sure you are not hurt?"
Perfectly sound Did | fnghten
youy'
We'll, yes; it didn't seem exactly safe
for either OF us to have come tumbllng
down that way. But | must go.
, shall see you again some day, Frances y
Somehow he got the cathedral door
, open for her. handed her an umbrella.
, took Off his hat pressed her hand and
entered the carriage. She couldn't fol
low his movements; she only felt his
eyes resting ON her as II they could not
turn away till the narrow side door
closed behind her
After few minutes Frances found
Ter aunt, aud they left the cathedral.
Where is Benz Aunt Laura asked.
"Gone to England TO do his work as a
boy should, and we are going 10 Brus-
sells tonight"
Aunt Laura gave little sigh. 1t is
hard to be patient with youths per
yerslty In bringing trouble upon itself.
The next day the two sat at small
table In small patisserie near the top
OF the Montagn de Ia Tour waiting for
chocolate Frances was struggling with
the Rotterdam daily paper. II was
hard work to make any sense Of the