The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1900-05-04
SLAVE AND SAINT


his friend. Crawford Sands spent that
minute in struggling his shoulders and
looking elsewhere. He wore an eye
glass. The thing helped him in mo-
ments like this.
1.-THE word 'scoundrel may be va
riously defined, old chap!" he said,
after a further pause.
"By men who are scoundrels &C
cording to the common meaning of
Thanks. Well, I'm off to meet Vim
ny. She's coming down from town
this morning. 1 think 1 told you. 1
hope you'll help with the boat this
afternoon"
Crawford" said Tom Downing, "do
be plucky, for your sisters sake"
The two young men faced each
other, and it seemed for a moment
as if the reckless expression was
about to fit from the eyes of Craw-
ford Sands. But he conquered the bet
ter impulse.
Look here, Downing" he said, sit
needn't make the least difference to
YOU. You can make love to Finny just
the same, and she'll marry you fast
enough whenever you like to ask her,
or l don't"
But with rush of crimson to his
tanned cheeks, Tom Downing inter
vened.
'sThat'll do, Sands" he said, quiet
ly, Its my turn to say Thanks.
Then he left the room and the
house and it wasn't until he ran
against Carruthers, of Balliol, that he
realized he was hatless.
He bought a cap in one of the shops,
and got into boat and had paddle
all to himself. And while he padded
he thought:
.sWas it true that Vinny Sands
would marry him fast enough when
ever etc.,"
Yet. what was the use of toying
with the sweet hope in the present
circumstances?
Here am 1, at Oxford fighting for
a degree, with the world to fight aft
erward, and only a hundred year
to my name! Also, to some extent,
/ have poor Crawford's wild ways ON
nv soul. If 1 had looked after him
better he would never have got mixed
up with that fast Dunlace lot. And,
to mend it all, 1 want Vinny Sands"
After this reflection he rowed more
furiously still, and so it wasn't per-
haps wonderful that by and by he
was to be seen trotting back to the
rooms he shared with Crawford
Sands, dribbling Thames water
onto the pavement from several
parts of him. Anyhow, he had
managed to save from a watery
grave that young counter jumper
whom in his mad career he had so un-
fortunately spilled. 1t was thus that
he shook hands with Vinny Sands on
the landing of the lodging house.
There was trouble in her pretty eyes,
but it vanished quickly at the sight OF
him.
Crawford Sands laughed at the wet
clothes.
'I'n tell you what it means, VIM" he
said. sTom tried to drown himself be-
cause limited that you were engaged
to that Capt. What's-his-name, but he
thought better of it in the nick of
time"
Crawford" cried Vinny.
She's the same old feather-brain,
Miss Vinny," murmured Tom, warmed
by the reproach in the girls voice and
the glorious color in her face. And
then he went off to get presentable for
luncheon.
After dinner, by special request, the
brother and sister were left alone. 1t
made Toms heart ache to think of this
orphaned girl of one-and-twenty years
thus tackling the position of debt and
disgrace which confronted her broth
er of %.
ing.
There was no Crawford at the break
fast table. Tom and Vinny sat to the
meal together, and when it was over
the girl explained things.
''He has committed forgery, Mr..
Downing, and 1 have persuaded him to
leave Oxford at once. He will live it
down, believe. 1 told him was sure
you would do what was necessary-to
Ito sell his books and things, and
and"
Then she broke down, and before
Tom quite knew what he was doing he
had taken the girl in his arms and
was comforting her as if she had been
his own brave little sister.
This, however, could not last. With
a miserable little smile, Vinny at
length freed herself.
''Yes," she confessed, being urged.
81 love you very much, Tom. So much
that-but it's no use talking. Please
to go off to your lecture now. BY and
by, perhaps"
However, there was no such by and
by for Tom Downing. The brave little
Vinny just left him note to greet
him at luncheon. There was no room
in her life for love at present. Craw
fords responsibilities were all-absorb-
ing.
1t was in vain that Tom Downing took
train to London the next day and
stormed the Bayswater boarding
house. Vinny had left, bag and bag
gage, the previous evening.