The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-06-30

At the Hilton gate he refined in the
horses and called out to Tom on the
front lawn: Anybody here who wants
to go to the picnic?"
why, yes; you are a godsend, true
as live" cried Tom, springing to his
feet. "The girls want to go awfully
bad, and wouldn't mind an invitation,
too, if there's ROOM"
"All right" smiled Ben. Il am at
your service"
Right in the middle of a dissertation
on the old-fashioned Fourth" Jack
Kennedy passed them. He lifted his
cap to the Misses Hilton and bowed to
Ben as he went by. But Grace Phillips
was with him!
"Why!-I-thought- and Rose Hill
tons partner on the front seat was so
astonished that he did not finish the
sentence.
you did not expect to see them to-
gether," said she, nodding toward the
Kennedy turnout. 20, yes; they made
up weeks ago and are to be married in
September" and she smiled, amused at
Ben Easton's perplexed face.
"I-didn't-know," stammered he,
finally, looking straight over the horses
heads and feeling that the earth must
be spinning good bit faster than usual.
"Well, l know" rejoined Rose, 'for
l have part in the festivities. But, my!
don't look as if you had seen ghost,
Mr. Easton; it is no uncommon thing
for lovers to make up, is it? notice
they generally get married then silly
things! l should never be caught that
way If man will quarrel before mar
riage, rest assured he will after; and
I'd as lief live with Hottentot as a
jealous husband."'
Miss Hilton made telling shot, but
Ben covered up his wounds and made no
sign. He was wondering if his indie
pendence was not on the wane some
what He wished he knew what Mile
was doing; and he tried to imagine, If
Miss Hilton preferred Hottentot to
one like himself, what Miles opinion
could be by this time. He was afraid
mean, sneaky one, after ALL
Along in the afternoon the Hiltons
had excused him again and gone fox a
row on the water; and while he sat dis
consulate and lone he saw Millie drive
on to the grounds in the Hilton phaeton
The horses looked jaded and she seemed
weary and troubled If he had not been
such brute, how he would now fly to
her comfort. But boy took the horses
and she sought a seat under the trees.
81 ought to go to her," he said, look
ing longingly her way, ''but I'm to see
this cursed blunder to the end Heav-
ems! might as well end it now, while
those COMPOUNDED Hiltons are not by"
He came and stood before her peni-
tently She looked up. 81 have been
BRUTE" he said; have suffered all
day, too. for it. Will you forgive me,
Miller"
81 have been sorry all day, too" she
said
"But you haven't done anything" he
replied.
She looked reproachfully and said:
'Shall tell now why could not come
with you this morning; would you be-
lieve me?"
''You need not explain; it is all right
and you would not do wrong, Mile. +"
He spoke with eager assurance, and
she smiled little.
''Your faith in me is like mush-
room, grew in night" she said, land
may perish in day."
''Millie," said he, desperately, 'Tll go
and hang myself if you make fun of
mel"
"Not on the Fourth" she objected.
Independence day, you know"
st is travesty on Independence"
he almost groaned
mo, you are the travesty," she cor
rected, musingly.
''I've been called hard names to-day"
he returned bitterly; "a Hottentot, a
tory and a-travesty."
81 have heard of triple characters. I"
she answered, smiling Jelly; "but where
are the Hiltons?" looking out over the
water. "They came with you