The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1903-12-11
"Heigho!" remarked Joe, to himself

one day after he had been at the Spell
| mans couple of weeks. THAT is
quite girl. see chance to pass my
spare time very pleasantly. Nothing
like little Irritation to add spice to
life. She's a simple little thing. She's
been away to school and seems to have
an idea that she knows it all. I'll have
to put on little city finesse and take
fall out of her nerve. Hope she won't
take it too hard, as I'd hate to pass
cold deck to these good people, who
are certainly using me white"
So Joe began his summer Irritation,
but before he had gone very far he
ceased to waste any sympathy on the
girl and began to wonder if he really
amounted to as much as he had sup
posed, after all. All the arts of small
talk and airy persif1age which he had
found to be the expected and effective
thing with the city girls of his expert
ences he found to be of no avail with
this western maid, except to leave
himself with the uncomfortable convic-
ton that he was an object of amuse-
ment, If not of contempt. AS to the
more ardent love-making he made
one attempt one moonlight night
on the broad veranda-but no
more. The response was so I'M
expected and decisive that he re-
ceived what he termed "the jolt of his
life" They became very good friends,
however, and enjoyed many a ride on
the hardy little ponies over the rolling
prairies and many an animated talk
on the veranda. He began to see a
new life of which he never had
dreamed and to catch a glimpse of
things which had hitherto had no place
in his scheme of life.
Finally he discovered that the girl
had made place in his life never oc-
cupied by any human being before and
that his life before he met her had
been hollow and gray, and the thought
of future without her became intol-
cradle. Being given by nature and
training to prompt action he proposed
to her and was not much surprised
when she refused him with a good deal
of emphasis.
81 do not know how serious you are,
Mr.. Mason" she said. "In fact, your
sincerity always is matter of some
doubt to me-because you are so DIFF
ferent, you know. If you are thor
oughly in earnest 1 am very sorry; if
not you are trifiing with very sacred
subject and should be ashamed"
He protested his entire sincerity and
spoke with so much less fiippancy than
usual that she begged his pardon for
the suggestion and said:
at is impossible. Our lives and
ideals are so far apart that I wonder
that you do not see the impossibility.
I could not live in your world and you
could not live in mine. am very sor-
ry, because l like you so much as
friend and hate to lose you"
ooh, you can't lose me-" replied Joe
cheerfully, but his face was rueful and
he did not regain his cheerfulness for
many days. In fact he took to COW
punching with vigor that did won
ders for his health.
Spellman, at his request, put him on
regularly with the rest of the punch
ers and insisted on paying him full
wages. He worked like a demon anil
soon mastered the art He still occu-
pied his old apartments, when not too
far to return at night and saw con-
siderable of Dora. He plunged into
reading with zest he never had felt
before and he followed her suggestions
closely in the matter of choice of
books. A new world began to unfold
to him and the narrowness of his OLD
feverishness of the city grew upon
him. His health and strength i'm
proved apace. He was better than he
ever had been, but still he fingered on
One day he received letter from his
old firm urging him to return and Of
fering him a largely increased salary
with a promise of a partnership in
the future. He took it to Dora and she
was delighted with his good fortune.
But l don't want to go without
you," he said.
Don't, please" she replied. at can
not be-"
So he went back to the city, bet he
carried with him new impulses and
bigger ideas of life and ideals very diff
ferent than he had brought with him.
His friends marveled greatly at the
change.
After he had gone Dora was sur
prised to find how lonely the ranch
was. She missed his CHEEKY, bright
breeziness. She had been greatly in
terested in watching his nature unfold
and had felt flattered, quite naturally,
at his submission to her as precep-
tor. Then, too, the honest love of
good man is not displeasing to any
woman. In fact, she thought of him
great deal-rather too much for her
peace of mind.
One day about six months after he
left she was surprised and not wholly
displeased to see him dismount at the
door.
What, broken down again already!"
she said, greeting him.
NO" he replied, "Am better than
ever But there's no use trying,
1 simply can't stand it. I would
rather be a cowpuncher where l
can see you now and then, than to
be a merchant prince where you are
M port of NV life I'm ooipu RI