The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1904-12-23
CHAPTER VIlL

tHNNI p Af'.NAN NNlNH
While the many stirring events wore
tranHpIrIng in Alaska. poor Laura
lush was living a life Of doubt. min.
rlcd with nope and despair. at Fresno.
California. Not line had she TO
cciycd from Paul since the lcttcr came
that he was robbed and wounded.
Was he dead or was he still alive.
struggling To regain what he had lost1
II began 10 Dee whispered over the
town that Laura Bush was losing her
reason. Theodore Lakeland was
shocked and grioycd at the thought.
for In his selfish way he loved her
madly. Hc would have given worlds
TO possess this matchless beauty. who
had wholly captiyatcd his soul.
Al this tlmo a most remarkable
event transpired-an event that was
moro surprise to Laura than any one
else. 4 bachelor uncle living In wyo-
ming died and left hor twelve thou.
sand dollars-all he possessed.
This will enable me to procure an
outfit and 20 In search OF Paul" said
Laura 10 Mrs. Miller. The widow en-.
folded her In her arms and begged her
10 abandon such a mad design.
In vain she vept. prayed and plead
with her Laura was so impressed with
the conviction that she must go. She
had hcr way. Buying her outat and
securing the service Of faithful.
trusty man who had worked for her
father. she prepared for the journey.
She had made her last trip 10 San
Francisco and returned late one day.
a short time before her departure on
reaching Fresno she started from the
depot 10 walk home. II was 40 late
the sun had fot and the shadows OF
evening began 10 creep over the land.
scapc. She heard footsteps at hor
side and lackland's voice said.
Miss Bush, I have heard a rumor
that you are going TO start for Alas.
ka."
II shall"
He walked on in silence for mo.
ment. while his pale face wore a pen.
siye, sad expression. and his eyes were
upon the ground. His determination
to conquer made him selfish and
schcming. At last he said:
Laura, you do not understand mo.
| am a true friend 10 you. you may
not believe II. but | am. That other
timc my passion was hot. was wrong,
perhaps, In denouncing the man you
loved, but surely you viii forgive me-"
She answered that she was taught
she must forgive In order 10 be for.
given. As a drowning man clutches
AZ a straw, he grasped at something
In her words, and was encouraged TO
add:
Laura II you would let me sympa.
thize with you In this loss. would
freely mingle my tears with yours.
Oh, II you would only let me be- a
Furthermore than a brother"
silence, Mr.. Lakeland" she quickly
interrupted. Il will hear no more from
you. Here | am at home; good.
night"
She darted into tho house quickly
closing the door after her and leaving
him standing out In the cold, dark
street For moment he stood gazing
upon the door which had closed upon
the being he loved and then turned
slowly about. his thin, white lips com.
pressed, and his fingers closed firmly
as II he had the lockjaw.
As he boarded the midnight train
for San Francisco he murmured, half
audibly;
Something desperate must be done.
| shall now play my last trump card"
Meanwhile Laura was completing
arrangements for an early departure.
Ben Holton, her fathers faithful do
nestle, was the only person she en-.
gagged TO 90 with her, A party was
forming at Seattle, and thither she
went with all her supplies. Mrs NIL,
Ter accompanied her that far.
Here they found another brave won.
an-Kate Willis-ready 10 brave the
dangers OF the Klondyke. She was