The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-01-13
Tim cleared his throat and tried to

him hOtSy. Didn't mamma hdho IL
perfectly clear to you that we don't
intend to sell the place, Miss war
rington?" she asked insultlngly. Inc
place is as good as a homestead to u.s.
and we wouldn't think of parting WIN
it Ill der any circumstances. suppose
YOU understand the case now doh
you?"
81 understand your version OF IT,
YES" Neva answered sweetly, but as
Jim is the only person concerned III 'he
matter. | don't understand why you
should interfere. Come, jim, name
your price, please, for | want IL very
badly. You would rather old frlenos
should have it than strangers, wouldn u
you?"
Yes" said Jim in very clear,
steady voice, which nevertheless nurt
Neva poignantly, for as he spoke ne
looked at his graceful, handsome rival,
and there was that in his good, honest
eyes which betrayed his deep secret
unerringly. 81 had much rather you
would have the house than anyone else
in the world, because
because I will take the very best
care of it in the world" Neva finished
kindly.
But. Jim, you don't mean to part
with it," his stepmOther cried. Are
you crazy. to think of such thing?
What would your father think II he
knew"
Shall I tell you he or any hon.
est man would think?' said NeVa, sud-
denly turning to Mrs. Trescott with a
flash of rosy scorn. THAT Jim has been
shamefully imposed upon by you and
vour children since the hour that his
good father died. Perhaps you don't
believe that any one knows the full
extent of your rapacity-that you
naeged and wheedled Jim into mort
gazing the pasture field in order to
raise a required amount of money to
cover your sons discrepancies, and so
worked On Jim's sympathies that you
induced him to finally sacrifice his
property. | know all about that cute
deal-nOt through Jim, but through
nv brother, who filed the mortgage.
[ mean to take pains to let other peO-
pie know as we'll as myself. You can
hereafter support your children on the
money that Jim's father left you, for
Jim is going to sell this place to me
and keep every dollar of the purchase
money. Come, Jim, show us through
the house. please"
At last Jim had revolted. In spite Of
the bitter pain of disappointed love, he
felt himself suddenly transformed to a
new, dominant manhood which gave
him a fine, simple dignity that in-
pressed and awed his old oppressors.
and her denunciation of the usurpers
filed him with somber, quiet citation
which never could quite fade from his
memory of that triumphant hour At
ter all it would seem, good to know of
Neva's joyous presence ftRfi''thh house
that had sheltered his own happiest |
hours
''You can have the place, Neva," he |
said with the utmost composure. Il
will show you both through at once"
Neva followed him, chatting gaily,
with Elverson beside her, smiling and
radiant. Now and then he whistled
snatch from Lohengrin, seemingly
quite unconscious of Jim's suffering
presence, because of the latter's heroic
calmness, which never wavered
throughout the long, trying ordeal,
while the lovers applauded this and
that quaint turn or nook of their flu
ture home. By and by that was over.
and Neva asked Jim to accompany her
to her lawyers Office
Il want the deed signed and every
thing legally transferred at once, to
make sure that it is really mine," she
explained briskly, as she ran down the
veranda steps between her two COM
paniOns.
Jim had nothing at all to say during
the short drive to the village court
room. He signed the deed of transfer
without a word and handed it to Neva,
who drew up check to the amount
$4,000. She was long while doing it,
and in the meanwhile Will EMERSON
had occasion to call the lawyer out
on urgent business, which left Neva
and Jim alone AS Neva handed him
the check, finally, her hand touched
his. He started violently and thrust
back the crisp bit of paper.
''Neva," he began in a husky voice,
eff you didn't know just how it is with
me I wouldn't have the courage to ask
what I am going to. I want you to
keep the money-to take the place as a
gift from me. I hope with all
my heart that you will be very happy"
EJim!"
Her voice made him catch his breath
in a gasp of surprise. ''Ill take your
gift on one condition." she stipulated,
"and that is that you will accept
wedding present from me-"
ga wedding present." Jim faltered.
"You don't understand"
She interrupted his embarrassment
with a sweet imperiousness which he
had grown to associate with his con-
slant dreams of her. "This is my we'd
ding present to you" laying her hand
in his and smiling radiantly into his
eyes. 'You dear old goose. don't YOU
know that I have always loved you in
spite Of your soft-heartedness? I tried
my best to make you revolt against
those vampires, and failed, so had to
OF h. al, 80