Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1906-08-08


life in the east and in the old world,
everything in the past, seems gray, as
if covered by a mist The realities
seem to be here. | feel grateful to
you and | want to ask favor of
YOU"
Anything you ask, except renewal
of my promise of silence"
She hesitated before the rising storm
of his love. Il want you to let me
Louis and me-help rebuild your mine"
What do you mean?"
Its so simple You and Matt need
money. | want you to take Louis into
your mine as Il partner. Hush"' she
warningy whispered as the sleeper's
head moved on his pillow. IF he lives
he will want to work with you. If he
dies | must help you for his sake
HE will not die. He will live. But
you-Ann, there is something back of
this" He laid his strong hands upon
her shoulders. looking into her face
with such piercing passion that she
shrank and grew timid. You need
me? Is that it? Am / one of your
compensations?
She tried to smile. THAT would not
be fiattering. according to my theory
lie refused to be diverted. Il don't
care what your eastern world thinks
of me if only you are content with me.
| accept your theory. | deserve COM
pensation-some sweet return for my
lonely, loyeless life on the plain. VIII
you come? Is that what you meanf'
He was master now, stopping at no
polite bar Il will not let you go till
you speak your mind" His physical
hold ON her arms softened. but his
spiritual self closed round her. six
months ago l was rancher in the
foothills, and you were In a great east
ern city. We were as wide apart as the
poles. Now, here we are! l don't un-
derstand it. This know-you are
here. and | can't let you go. l accept
your offer to go into the mine, but not
for Louis sake. l do it for my own
sake because l want you to be my
partner-my wife. What do you say,
Hesper, Ely star of the westY
She put him away almost In terror.
II can't decide now. l must be sure
sure, and I'm not sure. l must have
time to consider. l must go back into
my old life-to my native city"
You say you are happier here than
In the east. Why go back at all? Why
risk the loss of this new found health?"
II will be honest 1t is because by
contrast the old life begins to glow
The change i'll me may be due to phys
ical causes. Perhaps l could carry my
recovered joy of life back with me. If
this should be so, then | might never
want to return, and that would be
cruel to you. Don't you seeY
"Then you should CO." he answered
quickly. Il want to make you happy.
If | cannot, then it is better for one to
suffer than two. Return to New York,
and from that vantage ground look
back on this new life. If do not then
seem fitted to make you happy will
not complain"
They were interrupted again, this
time by Nora, who came in pale and
troubled. Rob, where is Matt? Sure,
he has not shown his face since sup
per-"
Hes i'll command of the guard to-
night. Hes not far away. Don't wor-
ry about him."
"Ann, dear wish you'd come home.
need you. Rob will sit with the sick
one, won't you, Rob?'
To this suggestion Raymond gave as
sent, and in the end Ann went away,
her demonstration unfinished-the ques-
tion of her future still unanswered.
Nora was fairly broken. Dear God!
How long are we to be kept on the
edge of destruction like this? Sure,
my patience is Worn out"
Ann comfortcd her as best she could,
and ut 1 o'clock, all being quiet out
side, they went to bed.
Ann was awakened from an uneasy
sleep by Nora's cry to Matt: For love
of heaven where have you beeni
What is that noiseT'
Matt's voice, rumbling in reply, bare
ly reached her ears, for a deep, tram
pling, continuous tumult grew each
moment louder and at last was dis
tinguishable as the sound of horses
hoofs Springing from her bed, she
drew aside the curtain and peered out.
In the clear, yellow light of the frosty
dawn n regiment of mounted men was
streaming up the road between the
cabins. Dressing hurriedly, she went
out into the sitting room just as Ray
mond came in, his face excited and
exultant.
"Our reign of terror is over. The
desperadoes are scattering like quail.
The governor in Il spirit of reprisal has
invoked federal aid. and Colonel Wood
of the Fortieth United States cavalry
is about to take command of the
camp
"Oh. l am SC glad! Now there wi!
be no more fighting, and you can rs
store your mYl."
[To BE Continued