New Ulm review., 1906-07-04
down there, And she glanced beyond

down there" And she glanced beyond
Wilton, where fitting lanterns and
confusion Of voices marked the place
Of real catastrophe Together they hur-
ried down the tracks, to find that all
that could be done was being done for
the sufferers and that now all that was
possible was to wait for the wrecking
train.
Wilton drew Betty away from the
crowd.
I'VE can't help" he said, "and you
are shivering with the cold. I'm going
back to get your coat and my traps
and yours. Then we will make a camp
here on the bank
A few minutes later found them
toasting before a brisk little fire that
Wilton had kindled, while over in the
east low streamers Of pink silhouetted
the dull outlines of a mining village.
"Shau we try to find shelter in the
town." asked Wilton.
"Oh, no." answered Betty. Lets
wait here"
Wilton spread his hands contentedly
to the flames, while he stared SO intent
~ at the girl opposite that her eyes
wavered. Yes, it was the same Betty
Of five years before yet not the same
Betty. She Of five years before had
been child of eighteen. The woman
of twenty-three before him was the
fu1illment of all the earlier promises
Of loneliness Wilton's heart beat more
quickly as he looked at the glowing
sweetness of her face
Betty" he said abruptly, Betty,
why have you never written me all
these yearsf'
Betty looked at him quickly. This
firm, clear cut face was different from
the jolly boys features she had re-
membered, and there was a new. i'm
pelling quality in his tones that she
rather liked.
Because, jack" she answered slow
~, because you never wrote me-
''Oh, but I did," he replied; sthree
different timesr'
II never received the letters" she
said. 'You might have known that
Aunt Jane would take care of that"
Wilton walked up and down rest
lessly half dozen times and threw
some sticks on the fire before stopping
in front Of the girl. ''And now" he
continued would you mind telling me
why you sent me away from you five
years ago?"
THAT was not Aunt James fault,
jack she said eagerly. Indeed, you
must not blame her for that. She
could pursue her own methods, but
she never could influence me in nv
own purposes.
'"Thank heaven for that.' interrupt
ed Jack grfmly fYoql sent me away"
he prompted.
Betty lifted her head bravely. "I
sent you away" she said, that you
might prove to me whether or not you
were man. You were only college
student then"
Jack thrust his hands more deeply
into his pockets. He was holding in
we'll, considering the food tide with
in. The sunrise and freight We'd with
each other in lighting up the sweet mo-
UllALy VI ueT ldCe. Les, IL was the same
dear Betty.
| "And now he said, little hoarsely,
'see how useless it was, for you don't
know what the years have done for
me, and you are five years grown
away"
Betty rose slowly and looked into hts
clear, dark eyes. She looked at the
fine, firm mouth, the clean cut tanned
face, the straight, strong alertness of
his figure. She spoke slowly and
softly.
"Yes," she said, 1--WE did not write
to each other, but,'' here she smiled a
little, ''your face tells me all that I
want to know"
Jack took an eager step toward her.
"And does it tell you that I have
loved you always, Loyalty. for the long
five years?''
Betty's voice trembled little. "Yes,
Jack, IT, But the rest Of her reply
| 1o,+ so Too