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


perfectly clear to you that we don't
intend to sell the place, Miss war
rington?" she asked insultingly. Ihe
place is as good as homestead 10 us
and we wouldn't think OF parting WIN
it I'LL der any circumstances. l suppose
you understand the case now doh
your"
ST understand your version OF IT,
yes" Neva answered sweetly, 'Dut as
Jim is the only person concerned III inc
matter, don't understand why you
should interfere Come, Jim, name
your price, please, for l want IL very
badly. You would rather old frlenos
sh ould have it than strangers, wouldn
your"
"Yes," said Jim in very clear,
steady voice, which nevertheless hurt
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 hnlshed
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 tell you he or any hon
est man would think?" said NeVa, sud-
denly turning to Mrs. Trescott with
flash of rosy scorn. "That Jim has been
shamefully imposed upon by you and
your children since the hour that his
good father died. Perhaps you don't
believe that anyone knows the full
extent of your rapacity-that you
ragged and wheedled Jim into mort
eaging 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 I know all about that cuto
deal-not through Jim, but through
nv brother, who filed the mortgage.
I mean to take pains to let other peo-
ple 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
new, dominant manhood which gave
him a fine, simple dignity that im-
pressed and awed his old oppressors.
Neva's loyal defense of his motives
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 il would seem, good to know of
Neva's joyous presence In IN he house I
that had sheltered his own happiest |
hours.
ttYou 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
yeranda 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 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 Elverson
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 wouldn't have the courage to ask
what / am going to. I want you to
keep the money-to take the place as a
wedding gift from me. hope with all
my heart that you will be very happy"
"Jim!'
Her voice made him catch his breath
in a gasp of surprise. "I'll 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 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 have always loved you in
spite Of your soft-heartedness? tried
my best to make you revolt against
those vampires, and failed, so l had to
do 1t myself even at the risk of"