Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1904-03-26

81 was three days before Christmas.
So much in love was Van Story
that, as he walked up the avenue,
this fact did not have the same empha-
sis that it might have had under differ
ent circumstances.
The cool .buoyant air-with a certain
crispness about it that the ocean al
lows even to the metropolis on occa-
sional winter afternoons-might have
been hot and sultry and the fact would
not have mattered to Van Story.
To man in love, summer and win
ter, spring and autumn, lose their va
riety. Her last look-the radiant. re-
sponsive smile-the slight pressure of
the hand-a hidden language of the
voice-what are seasons, wars, politics,
earthquakes, or any other paltry hu-
man interests, compared with these?
And yet there was a certain season
ableness in Van Story's thoughts as he
walked deliberately along-deliberate-
ly, and not with the impatience that
love manifests usually, because he
knew that on this particular afternoon
Miss Pinkton was not alone.
"Is she ever alone?" he had thought
to himself gloomily when he had start
ed out. II can't talk to her on walk
with people all around, staring at us
and this is about the only chance
have. Oh. for half day of last sum
mer! Thirty minutes in that pavilion
would be all | ask for. But what shall
l give her for Christmas? Flowers and
books are tame, and yet anything more
''
While he was engaged in his ref1ec
lions, he suddenly came across his ole
chum CastletOn, who was, by the way
Miss Pinkton's cousin.
"Ah. old man, whittier away? Blu
I think / can guess" said that dap
per individual, looking him over hal
critically "Well, Dorothy is at home
and surrounded by all sorts and condi
lions of men. I've just come from
there. And, by the way, you're want
ed"
'Wanted where?-at. Miss Pink
ton's?" said Van Story-as if he didn'
know.
"Sure." said Castleton. "rhere's &C
ing to be church trimming tomorrow
night. and Dorothy has agreed to TAX
charge of it. She wants you to hel
she told me to tell you if saw you.
"Who else is going to be there?'
Castleton took his friend by the arm
and for moment they both turned an
looked over the solid iron palings dow
tA1f
I'm front of the brown stone dwellin
house as if, for one instant, they ha
mutually agreed to turn their backs o
the world.
"Old man." he said affectiOnatel.
"I've been thinking about you all IL
way from Dorothy's, and hoping
should meet you. 1 suppose if yo
really could see Dorothy alone for a
hour OF so, you'd like it, wouldn
you"
Van Story looked at his friend SC
EMMY.
you know how I feel about TIL
girl, of course" he said, "but tn
beastly town always stands in II
way"
81 know it. I've been in the san
boat myself-simply can't see h
alone. People all around-at the the
ter, in restaurants, and at home brot
ers and parents and others are alwa
dropping in. oh, I've been there. b
Dorothy's worth having. Dorothy
all right. 1 take q personal intere
you know, because I've known y
both so long, and it just occurred
me that this church-trimming aft;
might give you an opening"
81 don't see how" replied Van Stol
"There'll be a lot of church fello'
there. will there not? The superintC
dent of the Sunday school, and t
teacher Of the young mems Bible ella
and so on"
"Well, you can get her off in C
ner, can't you-or get rid Of the rest
them in some way? Tell them
ostponed-there's your chance,