The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1906-06-08


striD Of ground beneath their feet.
Raymond stopped ut last and held
toward Ann small, irregular piece Of
rock. "Do you see that?" he hoarsely
inquired. A. E'E"@'" .$
She took it wonderingly. lis It ore?'
Eyes, and it's heavy with gold. Kel-a
ly's luck has won again. We've open
ed vein that will make us both rich"
There was no tremor or doubt in Ills
tone. ,sN
"Oh, I'm SO gladv' she cried out, with
unaffected pleasure. "Now Mrs. Kelly
can go to live in the valley"
"Never mind the Kellys now" he
J cried out impatiently. II have great
deal to say to you, and want to say
it here. I'm going to try and win you."
His manner was exultant, his voice
tense with passion. II am bold to reck-
lessness today" "
He had never been humble. Now he
rose above her, masterful. an avowed
lover, and his eyes burning down into
hers made her shrink and SILVER as II
from cold. 80.
he misread the movement. "Are you
warm enough?" he asked tenderly. II
hope you are, for want to tell you
explain to you-why am here. Let
us sit here" He indicated fat rock.
''This is our only opportunity. No one
will know-no one can see us. Will
you listen?'
Il will listen," she said quietly and
took a seat, drawing her cloak about
her.
He took a seat little in front, so
that he could see her face, which was
radiant as rose in the mist. 1--WE
been trying to write you letter ever
since you came. wanted to set my
self right with you on Louis account.
I love the lad, and I wanted you to
know that I was trying to do him
good"
II know that. trust you now"
"That assurance is sweet to me, but
I want to tell you now that the only
mystery in my life Is this: I am a
West Point Cadet mean, was"-
"Were you, reallyY' She looked at
him with such u6mistakable relief and
gladness that he faltered. -
"Wait. I was only there two years.
I was court martialed for breach Of
discipline and gross characterization at
the beginning of my third year"
He fastened on. "You mustn't Judge
me hastily. 1t came on my return aft
er furlough. That's the time when the
routine and discipline pinch hardest
on the men, After two years Of grind
that I hated l had visit home-a de-
Hcious free time-and to get back into
school, back into those cold, gray bar
racks, was like going into a strait
jacket. The first few weeks after the
vacation are times Of disorder, period
Of boyish deviltry, and took my share
in it. My breach of discipline was
nothing more than boys frolic. I
should have been punished for it, and
that would have ended it, but hated
one of the officers, the disciplinarian,
and when he rounded me up he rasped
me till lost my head. Being quick
tempered youth, answered him. He
abuse IN :D.cfully, and l struck
him IL h.. !l>, and that ended my
stay at West Point"
"Oh, how foolish! How wrongw
mo, it was not wrong: would do
it again. The small sneak used tone
In addressing me which no man has a
right to use to another. You wouldn't
suppose tone could hurt, but it did.
It cut like lash. Well, that ended
my career as soldier. My home was
on the Ohio river, not far from Cincin-
natl, and my family still lives there. ,
Our whole country is rich in traditions
Of General Grant, and my father had
selected me out of all his sons to be
the soldier Of his family. You know
how some men try to map their sons
careers. Don't you see, couldn't 60
homer"
Eyes, 1 can see it was hard for your
father. Was your mother living?"
Eyes, she's living yet. write her
every week, but not one word has
passed between my father and me
since my dismissal. Naturally enough
drifted west and into cattle ranching.
liked the excitement of it, and I'd
been trained to ride and to shoot.
gradually became COW boss and fore
man, and so you found me. with few
thousand dollars saved up. Your COM
ing changed every current in my life.
[ became ambitious to do something,
to be rich. came here, I bought this
mine and there shines my gold" He
held it toward her again. "Now can
90 home. My court martial becomes q
Joke. Don't you see? My father is
human. He would not receive me poor
md disgraced. With a big mine behind
ne the case will be different
Are we all purchasable with gold"
The asked.
His high mood sank little. Don't
nisjudge me. It's not so clear in my
mind as when l met you at the door.
Money does help-you know it does.
It extends a mans power; it makes
I'M enect1ve for good, If good is in
i'm. was a rancher when you met
ne: we stood in a different relation