The Mercur miner. [volume] (Mercur, Utah) 1895-1913, 1904-10-05
CHAPTER xI.--(continued.)

He thought little and began once
more with one of Moore's short love
songs, and second, and still a third
time he made a new choice before the
humor seized him to desist or her to
speak. Then they CHANGED to look up
at the same moment and to perceive
that the professors head had fallen
forward on his breast and that he was
no longer smoking.
HE is asleep" said Eleanor, In
whisper Then, as she watched the
electrician lay the banjo softly beside
him, she added with enthusiasm: 1T
must be an endless delight to be able
to sing like that"
ut is a relaxation to me from my
work, at any rate. Your uncle seems
TO like to hear me, and none OF the
neighbors have complained as yet"
Eleanor, shrouded in the hammock,
was able to peep at him through the
network without being observed. The
moonlight fell upon him In such a way
| that his features were thrown into re-
lief. They were refined aRd suggested
a sensitive temperament. Eleanor said
to herself that he was fifty-fold more
interesting to her than owen Page and
the other young men with whom she
had associated during the past year.
There was, moreover, something shy
and unsophistlcated about this one,
which gave her a sense OF composure
which II was rather pleasant to feel.
Have you lived here long, Mr..
Struthers?" she asked.
"Only about six months In this
house. But was born and brought up
in the city. Last summer | was gradu'
ated from the school of mines"
80 you have begun your llfe-work, "
she replied, wistfully.
Il am immensely interested In cleo
tricity. Sooner or later hope to OBJ
tain a position either with some large
concern that puts in electrical plants
or regular employment as a consulting
engineer in such matters"
He spoke with a direct simplicity
that attracted Eleanor. He seemed 80
modest and yet so self-reliant withal.
Then we are somewhat similarly
situated" she was tempted to reply;
"only you have your work already in
q measure provided and mapped out,
and am still an idler perforce."
"You?" he calculated, wonderingly.
She enjoyed his establishment for a
moment without responding, then she
said:
you did not know, then, that I waa
looking for a position"
He became confused, and II was
plain that he was nonplussed, doubt
full whether she was bantering him or
no. Again she waited, finding his EN-
barrassed silence and almost dis
tressed mien delicious, by way OF CON
trast to the veneered audacity of the
young men who visited her Aunt EN-
ma.
Eyes, I am going to be a teacher;
that is, II any one will engage me.
have come here to ask my uncle about
Il. He does not know as yet. | should
like a position in a college II possible
SO that might become professor In
time, II I were at for II. But | an
ready TO begin at the bottom OF the
ladder, and accept anything that of
fers. Does the idea shock you, Mr.
Struthersf"
SHOCK me3 why should it?" hi
said, simply. "Only-" he added
and then precipltately halted, while
renewed discontinue betrayed itsel
on his cheeks.
"Only what, Mr.. Struthers?" Eleanor
asked, with a delighted laugh.
For a moment he hesitated, theI
suddenly raising his eyes, he an
swered:
"Only I had not supposed you to b.
that kind OF a young lady"
"And what kind OF young lad!
had you supposed me to be. Mr.
Struthers1"
He evidently realized that his bold
less had merely drawn him on thu
thinner ice, for he seemed to underg'
contortions before her interrogation.
and laughing glance. She had raise'
herself In the hammock as she spoke
and was looking full at him. But
plainly was not his wont TO rescu
himself from peril by subterfuge. 70
after q moment of agonized confusion
he said, with the same dlrectness a
before:
II assumed you were rich, and thu
Il would not have occurred TO you :
do anything OF that sort"
"In other words. you took me 70
q frivolous butterfly Of fashion"
Eleanor was sorry the moment m
had spoken, and realized the fiippanc
OF her remark the more keenly as
answered in tone that was free froI
any suggestion that he was punishin
his tormentor:
ut does not follow, does II, becaus
one is rich, that one has to be frivo
Gus butterfly"
There was n naive searching Il
truth In the interrogative form Of hi
reply. and the sole evidence OF intei
tionsl satire lay in the fact that b
returned her gaze without flinchinl
Even the wounded worm will turn.
II deserve the rebpke, Mr., Strut
: era. But am neither rich nor q bu
terfiy, l hope. Since ! have said 1
much. should enlighten you exact
.. as to the truth. suppose you meal
that because have a more or lei