Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1904-10-08

she put her hand to her side and lean
ed back In the cushions.
But she laughed again.
"Ah. 1t does not matter. You will
forget it as readily as I will. And per-
haps. after all. 1t was my own fault
But you must always allow for a wom-
an changing her affections. 1t Is
woman's way, you know"
mo, 1 did not know" coldly.
why not! She may vary her frocks
why not her affectonsT
For heavens sake, don't talk like
| that You might be a heartless rirt
by your tone"
II hardly think I am that. for your
sex does not interest me sufficiently.
But l am woman OF the world, and
not silly, love-sick girl"
81 never imagined you TO be silly,
love-sick girl, any more than thought
OF you as a woman OF the world as
you put II. Perhaps It will amuse you
to hear that I was foolish enough to
think you were-well. altogether diff
ferent."
Yes, 1t Is rather absurd" she an
| Swered- driving her nails into her left
hand as she stood up and held out her
right one to him. "Goodby. There is
no need to extend this interview. Be-
sides, I am busy tonight. You will
excuse me-"
He took her hand and held II tight
ly, as he looked into the tired gray
eyes.
Elizabeth, Elizabeth" he whisper
ed, what does II all mean, Have you
nothing kind to say to mer'
Yes; forget me as soon as you can.
And-you will lose your beauty sleep
II you don't 60 quickly"
He dropped her hand and went out
of the house.
Her acting had been a success, too
much of a success, for not only had
he gone away with the idea that she
was Indifferent to him, but she had
forced him to despise her for her lev
ity. Yet, after all. 1t was better thus;
it would be less difficult for him to
cast her out of his heart
She certainly did look plain. Yet her
appearance had not made any differ
ence to him. All! that look Of concern
in his eyes when he asked her II she
was Ill. Why couldn't she have told
him7 II would have been 30 sweet to
have had his loving sympathy!
And II her operation was to be ss Sc
rtous, and the result as fatal, as she
feared, was there not some way In
which she might, before 1t was too
late, wipe out the false impression she
had made tonight She could not
bear the thought that he would think
bitterly OF her-afterward. Surely It
would be some comfort to him to know
the truth then Yes, he must be told.
She would write a letter and confess
all. II she lived 1t must be destroyed;
IL she died, it must be delivered
IT have sent you away from me-"
she wrote, and am now breaking my
heart because l will never look into
your face again David. tonight l
acted a part to you. 1 forced myself
to be cold and false. made myself
a fright to prevent you telling me of
your love. knew that II you did 30
1 would not have the strength to re-
sist you. l did not want you to guess
that l cared l wanted you to think
me heartless nirt-to despise me
anything. rather than you should re-
greet or have a heart-ache.
To-day my doctor told me that
must go under the knife within the
next few days. He said that there
was a slight chance, but in my heart
l know that, If do live, 1 will be a
weak. sickly woman. But I don't be-
lieve there Is a chance. 80 1 want to
tell you how dear you are to me be-
fore II is too late. love you as only a
woman can love a man who represents
everything that is good and strong and
true to her. For nearly two years l
have waited to hear you say what you
said tonight. Six months ago l pre-
vented you because l was not quite
sure; thought 1t would be wiser for
you to wait until you returned.
could not realize that the glory OF your
love should be showered on me.
thought 1t fair for you to see other
women before you offered your life to
me.
David. I want you to understand
how desperately hard 1t was to refuse
to listen to you tonight. 1t was the
greatest sacrifice have ever made In
my life, and 1 prayed for strength to
do 1t. My whole being revolted at the
part 1 set myself to play, although
felt 1t was best for you-now and af-
forx ~
vidr'
She then rang for her maid, and, az
ter explaining about what was to hap