The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1904-07-22

a blur which he brushed away savage
ly when he realized that it was there,
swearing softly under his breath.
Thank heaven, l don't have to stay
here another day, at any rate. I'll
wire Meredith tonight that I've re-
considered his offer and will be with
him-let me see, think I can make
it Thursday if get off tomorrow ear
ly. I'll do it, it's a good opening. l
would have accepted it in the first
place if it had not been for-you," de-
family to the photograph.
1t was in the bottom of his trunk,
along with the tiny ring, when he
started on his long journey west the
next day, to accept partnership in
a law Office in young town in that
section.
"Only known you one summer? Yes,
that is true, but I've known Meredith
years, and he has always been telling
me about Helen Honestly, feel as if
l had known you ages and ages, any
way" He looked into the soft brown
eyes of Merediths sister for an an
quaintance.
They had been engaged five min
utes.
"It has been lovely summer" she
murmured and he saw the connection.
1.-The happiest of my life," he agreed,
even while he remembered how
wretchedly it had begun for him in the
east.
A messenger boy came up the steps
with a telegram. 1t was for Alan.
"Alice perhaps fatally injured in
runaway. Calls for you when con-
scious. Will you come? Doctor says
only possible hope"
He was standing at a window where
the light streamed out brightly, to
read it. Helen heard him smother an
exclamation of dismay, and went to
him at once.
rs it bad news?" she asked softly,
and he was face to face with the crisis
of his life. But it was Helen-there
was only one way. He put the message
in her hand.
"The worst possible news that could
come to me now" he said.
Come" she said, when she had read
it through, and led him back to the
shadow. She had seen the white
misery in his face. She did not want
him to see her own.
Now, tell me- she said very softly
and gently. But he felt the demand,
the command, under the gentleness.
She had the right to know, he was
on trial in her heart. Yet something
in her soft voice had told him that she
was ready to hold him innocent until
he was proved otherwise.
He told her the truth, not sparing
himself or this other girl-this un-
known, Alice-in the recital.
"She deliberately threw me off, when
loved her, or thought did, then. She
has no possible claim upon me now,
when am quite sure don't love her,
he said, savagely, stung with the pain
of the old scene and humiliation, and
this new strain.
"You loved her once, and taught her
to love you" The voice was still very
gentle, but there was a new firmness
in it.
Il thought loved her. I don't know
she is one of those little clingins
creatures that makes fellow feel very
big and strong and-and like posing
as shield and protector, and all that
sort of thing, you know" She smiled
a little at the analysis, but he did
| not see.
$50 1 posed, like fool, for two
| weeks. Then she got tired of me, and
| turned me down. I'm glad she did
| Helen, you UNDERSTANDING, of course
| you can't ever understandable you'll
believe me, won't you, that you are the
only girl I've ever really loved in this
way?"
"Perlfaps-some time-you might
| ''Helen!"
| 'But you must think what you are
going to do" She knew perfectly wei
what he would do, but she waited tt
see if he knew.
81 can't think-I can't do anything,
he said. Then she told him.
"You will go on the next train. The
| life of the girl is at stake" Her hand:
were behind her, and he could no
see that they were tightly clenched
"How can L? Oh, scant-it would
be acting a lie, to go to her-fron
you," he insisted.
81 release you. I refuse you. YOU
must go and do your part in saving
her life. And you must do it we'll.
She tried to make the tone cool ant
even, and failed.
Before she could protest she was il
his arms. Then she began to cry soft
ly, and he kissed her hair again ant
again. Her face was hidden on hi
shoulder.
eff you didn't go and she died,
would be her murderer, don't you see?'
she sobbed. eff you love me, you will
forget all about me, and go and saw
her" 1t was a new sort of logic to tn
young lawyer, and he almost gaspet
over it.
81 do love you, Helen. don't low
her. l don't think ever did. 1 Ger
tainly never felt toward her as I d.
toward you 1t was all wretched mis-
take on both sides, as she said whel
she broke the engagement She doe
not know what she is saying now Sh