The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1903-12-25
He struggled to a sitting posture

uiiuS With lear, was WelrQ enough W
| appal the stoutest heart.
mo, no, Jack, they shall not take
you away from memo one shall do
that. 1t was only the church clock
striking the hour. They are ringing
no bells for you. No one shall harm
you; 1 would not let them. Trust
me, Jack; 1 have been here with you
so long; do you know how long l
have been with you? Can't you
think? Can't you remember?"
The tones of her voice soothed. him
to quietness and he lay still. Jack" "
she began again, slowly: Jack, am
going to ask you a question, and l
want you to answer me. 1t is very
important, Jack. Do you know what
night this is? Try and remember.
1t is night you used to love. 1t is
Christmas eve, Jack; Christmas eve"
"Christ's evening"" he murmured,
draamily; "the night for telling sto-
ries-stories of home and love. Did
we not once tell stories on this
night?"
Eyes, Jack, yes, and we two will
tell story together. Once upon a
time, Jack-that's the way we always
began our stories-you haven't for
gotten, Jack?"
She was having hard struggle,
this brave-souled woman. A mans
reason was insfhe balance and a sim
gle word might win or lose it. The
demons of the storm shrieked and
tore at the shutters as though they
would get in and fight against her
for the mans soul. 1t was a slender
woman pitted against the fates. She
realized this, but went on bravely.
'Once on q time, Jack, there was a
grand old forest, and through it
wound shining river, ana in it's re-
cesses was a beautiful lake." The in
tense earnestness of her voice, and
the frequent repetition of his name,
arrested his attention, and he seemed
to follow her. Something like the
CLEAN of consciousness came into his
eyes. She looked at him steadily and
continued: "And there were green
hills and wide meadows and an old
rambling house"
"And the grass was thick and soft
and green on either side"
True, Jack; see how you are help
ing me with the story? And on one
side of the gate grew lilac that
bloomed early and gave to spring it's
sweetest fragrance; on the other
side a lofty pine"
"The blackbirds sang in it's
branches all day long"
He said this so quietly and with
such seeming faith in his recollection
that even she, who was striving with
all her strength for this result, was
startled. Then hope leaped in her
heart; her eyes shone with renewed
light and the warm blood stirred and
kindled in her bosom.
''There was spring at the foot of
the slope" he continued.
eyes, yes"
"And just above it grew a pollard
willow"
"Oh, God, thank Thee!"
The nervous, strident quaver had
gone from his voice and he spoke
with the calm assurance of one who
is moving over familiar ground. 81
remember a narrow path that led
down from the house to the spring
and in the early summer mornings
the grass that bordered it was lit
like a million diamonds where the
dewdrops were kissed by the sum-
x,-,c N IL xrar,y oh o,l l>,,;-.Ll
and-and-" She could say no more.
The tears would flow with another
utterance. She must not weep now,
and yet her joy was SO intense that
she felt if she did not that she should
die.
at was a pretty place, jack" she
forced herself to say, land there
were some who used to run up and
down the path trying to count the
jewels"
Three" he said, confidently; "two
boys and girl. One of the boys was
slight, with hair like gold and great
blue eyes that seemed always to look
beyond the hills into another world.
The other was sturdy lad with
thick, dark hair that fell in wavy
masses round his sun-burned face.
They called him Jack"
"True, true; go on. The third, the
girl-can you remember what she was
like, Jack?"
They seemed to . have changed
places, the brain-sick man and
the brave, patient woman, for she
was now all agitation while he
was cool and self-possessed. She used
all her strength to appear calm, lest
he should notice her excitement and
lose himself again. She must lead
him on.
"The other, Jack, the girl-have
you forgotten her?"
81 have never forgotten her." he
said, the light in his eyes softening.
"She has been with me always. She
was the constant playmate of the
boys and gave her favors to both
alike. The three were cousins, but
she was loved by both with more
than cousins love-"
'No, no." she cried, with sudden
vehemence, mot BOTH"
She was woman now with all
woman's love, with all a woman's weak