The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1904-02-19

ouAthiCi NoSotioh.
Eleanor had been brought up with
puritanical rightly, and had she lived
in the time of martyrs would have
gone to the stake rather than tell a
falsehood. But her desire to win the
wager had somewhat clouded her moral
vision, and white lie and black lie
seemed hardly akin. In her twentieth
year she certainly had not reached the
age of spinsterhood, and she had never
taught school; so she could see no
wrong in denying this charge.
For the next week she buried herself
in the library, where she delved into
dusty, dog-eared books and brought
forth nuggets of wisdom which she
slowed away in her memory for flu
ture use.
One morning she startled her father
by presenting him with five dollars and
demanding share in his Dawson mine.
He mildly protested, but her persuasion
won, and she received the deed.
Eleanor's appearance that evening
gave one the impression that she was
writing learned thesis. With flushed
cheeks and hair charmingly disheveled,
she eagerly studied the pieces of paper
with which the table was strewn. Some
contained mining terms and statistics,
while others were finely written with
phrases and even sentences cribbed
from various mems letters.
The girl felt repaid, however, when
the next note arrived from the post
mistress. The writer wondered how
she had ever doubted that her CORES
pondent was man. you must have
laughed heartily over my mistake" she
continued, "but your knowledge of min
ing and your ownership in Dawson
claim have convinced me that you are
broad-shouldered, bronze-faced
miner"
Eleanor showed this letter with great
pride to her brother, and informed him
that she preferred chocolate creams,
was not yet frozen.
Frequent letters passed between the
San Francisco girl and the postmis-
tress of Circle City during the succeed
ing months. At times Eleanor's con-
science gave uncomfortable twinges,
for her enjoyment in this practical joke
had gradually been merged in a keen
interest in this fearless frontier woman.
"If it weren't for losing the wager"
she confessed to her brother on their
way to a dinner three months after the
sending of the first letter, Il would
write to her that l am only a mere
slip of girl and not the six-footer
she imagines me. The postmistress is
coming out this winter, and"
MY gloves are rather shabby" re-
marked the man, '.but guess they'll
last until"
''Oh, don't count on my giving up at
this eleventh hour" interrupted his sis
ter, ''and there is no chance of the post
mistress discovering my identity, for
she is convinced that l am a young
Hercules, calls me her big Califor-
man. and l fear she is becoming very
fond of me, Harold"
Take care" warned her brother, cor
you will have breech of promise suit
against YOU"
At the dinner table Eleanor found
herself seated beside her hostess
nephew, sturdy Alaskan miner, who
had recently returned from the Klon-
dixie. In the hurried introduction she
had not understood his name. OF
course he should have devoted him
self to the young woman on his right,
but the light in Eleanors eyes as she
spoke of the beauty of his fosterland
together with her sweetness, held him,
and the girl herself found it difficult
to turn her attention from this face,
in which were welded physical courage
and Intellectual ability. Besides she
had discovered that the young man
had spent much time at Circle City,
and thought he might know the post
mistress. Here was her opportunity
to discover more about her delightful
correspondent. Salad had been served
before the girl managed to turn the
conversation to the subject The man
glanced up quickly. What do you
know about the postmistress of Circle
City," he asked, watching her mar
rowly.
ooh, | know a great deal about her
At least-I mean-I-I have never met
her, but" Eleanor was becoming
hopelessly entangled in the meshes of
her own deception. 81 have seen some
letters that she has written to an &C
quaintance of mine," she declared, des-
perately, land think she is the most
remarkable woman l have ever heard
Of She has endured the perils and
| hardships of that northern life with the
courage of a man, and her description
of the trip over the Chilcoot pass and
through the White Horse rapids fills
one with admiration for her bravery"
You are bold champion to espouse
the cause of one whom you have never
met" declared the man.
! But l know her very we'll, through
the letters she has written toto my
friend. Her moral courage is equal to
her physical. Not an atom of bitter
ness or discomfort has entered into her
description of the months she has spent
on her mining claim, and yet 1 can
read between the lines that it was a
desolate life. 1 hope some day 1 shall
meet this woman, and yet am almost
afraid to, because can't explain
| but
you may well pity any one obliged