The Grit-advocate., 1903-01-16

more deeply than before. She was 81.
lent, and he was tramping nervously
backward and forward. Then he went
on rapidly in tone of irritation.
Laura, | understand you. 1t is not
for rude man like this Alaskan miner
to do So" Then in an eager voice he
said: Dearest, l bring you love
undreamed Of among such low crea-
lures"
Low creatures" she hissed, almost
breathlessly.
His cheeks quivered; his lips trem-
bled; his voice swelled, while his
nervous fingers were riveted to his
palm. He approached her and took
her hand. She seemed benumbed by
the feeling. She stood as one trans
fixed, slow paralysis of surprise TAX
ing hold OF her faculties. But at his
touch her senses regained their mas
terry. She flung away his hand. Her
breast heaved. In voice charged with
indignation she said:
so this is what you mean! l IN
derstand you at last"
Theodore Lakeland fell back pace.
Laura, hear me-hear me again"
But she had found her voice at last
"Sir, you have outraged my feelings
as much as if | was at this moment
Paul Miller's wife"
Theodore Lakeland felt his self-con-
troll rapidly slipping away, and in the
height of his passion said:
you shall never marry Paul Miller,
Laura kean! l swear it! l hold your
fate and his in my hand, and have
more ways of crushing you than you
imagine. Be sensible; recall your in
sulting words, and do not throw your
self away on that impecunious ne'er-
do-well-a huliing brute, made for a
pick-ax and Shovel
Enough" she cried. "I would
rather marry a plow-boy than such a
gentleman as you!"
Face to face, eye to eye, with pant
ing breath and scornful looks, there
they stood for one moment; then Lau
ra. without a word, swung about and
walked away to where her friends
were preparing to return to town.
The features of Theodore Lakeland
underwent a frightful change. The
gathering thunder cloud was not more
black than his face. He raised his
clenched fist to heaven and cursed his
rival, needless of the rolling thunder
and on-coming storm.
ut is long way to the Klondike,"
he finally muttered, while the smile
of a devil fitted over his face; but,
great as the distance is, he will feel
my power, and so shall she."
A heavy peal of thunder and the fall
ing Of rain reused him to the fact that
the little excursion had all gone, leav-
ing him alone in the wood and storm
He hurried to where his horse and
buggy were, and, leaping in, drove
furiously to town. He took the train
that night to San Francisco and spent
whole day in consultation with two
ill-favored looking men.
In a few weeks Laura had forgotten
the unpleasant scene with the wealthy
Mr.. Lakeland. She was busy prepar-
ing for the journey in the spring.
1t was the last of February, and on
the next day Laura was to draw her
money from the savings bank and put
1t in the hands of a friend to secure
her passage and outfit for the Klon-
dixie. Late in the afternoon she saw
a great crowd of men on the street
talking in an excited manner, and a
moment later Mr.. O'Bourne, the butch
er, came running toward her, wringing
his hands.
What is the matter, Mr.. O'Bourne?"
she asked.
1--WE are ruined, Miss Kean; we are
ruined. The savings bank has failed;
can't pay cent?"
She grew dizzy and cIutched at the
door for support Quickly all her
bright dreams of surprising her lover
vanished.
Mrs. Miller consoled her with the
assurance that the loss would be made
up by the great fortune Paul was TAX
ing from the Klondike. A few days
later she learned that the bank had
been wrecked by Mr.. Tom Harris, the
cashier, specializing on San Francisco
Board of Trade. Later came the whis-
per that Harris had fled to avoid ar
rest, but before going had confessed
his crime, and said that he was in
duced by Mr.. Lakeland to speculate.
He went on the wrong side Of the
market and was ruined.
The evening post brought Laura a
letter. 1t was addressed in the we'll
beloved hand of Paul Miller. But
there was something in the chirog-
raphy to alarm her. 1t was in a scrawl-
ing. feeble hand, and with many mis-
givings she broke the seal and glanced
at the contents. Then, with face ashen
white, she shrieked:
Wounded, robbed, ruined!" and fell
senseless to the floor.
Ethel Bush. learning of her friends
trouble, hastened to see Laura, who