Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-25
CHAPTER VII.
Letters From England.

on Jacksons corner to the HenieysA IL
came just as Mary was finishing letter TO
Clement written to accompany the oudeet
from England.
1--WE half a mind to take the letters over
there myself" said Frank.
Il wish you wouldr' exclaimed Mary.
How I'd like to go with you.'
Come along
And leave the children?
"Minnies perfectly able to take care OF
them for three days. =
How I'd like tor Mary looked out OF
the window. down the canyon. There was
not much to see; the rude, Struggling
houses the smoke stacks of the silent. dust
covered mills, the canyon walls, sloping up
to the sky were all. Sometimes those sky
lines brought a sense of crowding, OF suIo-
cation. She entombed. NO lie reach-
ed her She rebelled against the stagnant'
half-alive condition longed to be free The
drive TO Eureka offered an escape, as wen
the opportunity to see Clement.
She looked back at Frank. I'm talk 1t
over with Minnie" she concluded.
Then we'll start early in the morning..
said Frank who considered the question as
good as settled
They took Sonia with them. Minnie and
the two little girls were to keep house
1t was an exhilarating ride, down the
canyon, out upon the wide floor of the val
ley, over the mountain pass on the opposite
side The Nevada sunshine filed the atmos-
phere with life, a few birds sang, the aro-
matte smell of the sage brush, crushed by
the horses hoofs, arose like incense. The
mere getting over the mountains and out
was joy. Mary expanded, body, mind and
soul. She was more like her Old SELF imam
Frank had seen her in months.
1t after five O'Clock when they struck
the Geiger grade. Soon afterward they
reached the church
We really ought to wait till he's had
his supper" said Mary.
Not bit of it, Frank returned, draw
Ing rein at the study door. well take
him out somewhere for d square meal
Hu.lor' lie called.
Vaughan responded Immediately. HIS
surprise and delight were worth the jour
ney. Mars thought. 1t was the first meet
ing since he left Galena and there was
much to tell-of the life, the new
friends.
They all went out together. In his excite-
ment Vaughan forgot to eat.
Now, don't you say another word till
you've finished your shipper" commanded
Mary. Pm not going to speak again
When they had returned to the study
Vaughan asked for his letters. IF you'll
excuse me, I'll run them through now
he said.
He opened the packet Those from his
father and mother lay on the top of the
pile. He read these first. Hes in no
hurry to get to those from his Wife" Mary
said to herself
Vaughan looked up with shining eyes
That's a beautiful letter from mother
he said with feeling. Fathers is good
too; but you women know how to say
things"
He smiled over his letter from his old
pastor. Let me read you some of this"
he said, its so characteristics 4 am so
glad. this is what he writes-'that you
have returned to your old work. l always
said you were born preacher. When you
embarked in that surgical boat, felt
there would be a whale sent out after
Jonah, and it is a relief to learn that you
have been at last belched out on dry land
Isn't that just like him?''
Vaughan turned again to his packet. He
stood Delia's letters up in row before him
on his desk and quiZzical look came into
his eyes as he noted the superscriptions
He selected the one written first and de
Hberate1y broke the seal Mary anxiously
watched his face. Frank shoudered the
baby, who was becoming restless and
walked with her out into the church.
Clement burst into a laugh. Poor
Della" lie exclaimed, "she thinks gold and
silver grow like flowers here in Nevada
All you have to do is to gather them. She
wants me to have my first nugget made
into ring like the one Lizzie Parkin's
husband sent her. She has incosed a draw
ing of it" Clement laughed and read on
She says she has a surprise for me- but
will keep it till come home at Christmas"
He slid the first letter into its envelope
and took up the second.
lit is very much like the first" he COM
mented- Just gossip about the neighbors-
Is anxious to have me get well and strong
says ! mustn't overdo, and so on and so
on" He ran rapidly over the contents re-
folded the sheet and returned it to the en-
velope.
over the third he paused Mary drew
long breath. Now It's coming" she said
to herself.
This the letter written in answer TO
Clements, telling of the night at Lou
Pugh's What did Della say in reply to
that impassioned appeal, what could she
say that caused the slender brown fingers
to tighten on the closely written sheet? He
glanced up and met her inquirng eyes
Its only what you'd expect from a girl
who has been brought up as she has" he
said alphabetically She's never realized
her duties to her fellow-men. Her duties
have been to her family and herself Most
people are like that, you know Mary They
feel that If every man does his duty by his
own. the whole scheme of the universe will
run smoothly. I've tried to show her an
9 9 side OF the picture, but in her eyes
or position He paused for a moment
before he continued
Her father thinks I'd better come home
before l make any more mistakes. " he said
with laugh. Her uncle offers me Mace
in-in the brewery"
Clement?
MARY, they're good. honest people, lIv-
Ing according to their light To them I'm
fanatic. a fool They can't Understand
How should they2"
He broke the seal OF the fourth letter and
"Hileu ms chalr away from the light of
the window so that Mary could no longer
see his face while he read. She responded
by quietly leaving the room.
she found her husband walking I'm and
down the narrow aisles between the chairs
Ihey were arranged In the segment of a
circle many In the center few at the sides
she tried to imagine them filed with people
tried to picture Clement on the platform
behind the reading desk; but the place was
TOO big and bare and empty The great
black stoves to the right and left of the
door had n brutal look. The air was close
she tried 10 open window. 1t stuck fast
No sound came from the inner room
Nothing was to be heard save the soueak
or Franks boots as he went up and down
with the child. She was half asleep. flung
Imply over his shoulder her fair head
dropping against his rough coat Mary
went up TO her. put the damp curls bac,
from her moist forehead and touched It with
her lips.
Frank" she whispered don't YOU think
one of US ought to go in there and speak
to him.
What for?''
ITO show our sympathy"
He doesn't want sympathy. not at this
stage of the game"
What does he want"
ITO be let alone"
Mary trudsed after. catching at Sonia's
hand and mounting 1t. IT'S getting late"
she whispered, after while.
l'Yfa Oif,u 81