Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-01-10

thinking only of you and your future,
and fearing weakly that you couldn't
bear the hard things. But we'll bear
them together-we three; and I'll
never say another word about Brookes
Ormsby and what might have BEEN"
20 mother! you are making it hard
er than ever now" was the fearful re-
joinder. ''I-there is no reason why
l should be so obstinate. I haven't
even the one poor excuse you are maxi
ing for me down deep in your heart. -
David Kent?" said the mother.
The bowed head nodded a wordless
assent.
There was a tap at the door and a
servant was come to say that Mr..
Brookes Ormsby was waiting in his
auto-car. Was Miss Brentwood nearly
ready?
Elinor said, I'm minute" and when
the door closed, she made confidante
OF her mother for the first time since
her childhood days.
Il know what you have suspected
ever since that summer in New
Hampshire, and it is true" she con-
tessed. II do love him-as much as
l dare to without knowing whether he
cares for me. Must I-rhay I-say yes
to Brookes Ormsby without telling
him the whole truth?''
'Oh, my dear! You couldn't do
that" was the quick reply.
'You mean that am not strong
enough? But I am; and Mr.. Ormsby
is manly enough and generous enough
to meet me halfway. Is there any
other honest thing to do, mother?'
Mrs. Hepzibah shook her head de-
liberately and determinedly, though
she knew she was shaking the Orms-
by millions into the abyss of the I'M
attainable.
mo: It is his just due. But I can't
help being sorry for him, Ellie. What
will you do if he says it doesn't make
any difference?"
The blue-gray eyes were downcast.
Il don't know. Having asked so
much, and accepted so much from him
1T shall be as he says, mother"
The afternoon had been all that a
summer afternoon on the brown high
lands can be, and the powerful tour
ing car had swept them from mile to
mile over the dun hills like an earth
skimming dragon whose wing-beat was
motor.
Through most of the miles Elinor
had given herself up to silent enjoy
ment of the rapture of swift motion,
and Ormsby had respected her mood,
as he always did. But when they
were on the high hills beyond the
mining-camp of Megilp, and he had
thrown the engines out of gear to
brake the car gently down the long in
cl1nes. there was room for speech.
'This is our last spin together on
the high plains, suppose" he said
Your mother has fixed upon to-mor-
row for our return to town, hasn't
she?"
Elinor confirmed it half-absently
She had been keyed up to face the in.
evitable in this drive with Ormsby
and she was afraid now that he was
going to break her resolution by q
dip into the commonplaces.
"Are you glad or sorry?" he asked.
Her reply was evasive.
II have enjoyed the thin, clean all
and the freedom of the wide horizons
Who could help it?''
But you have not been entirely hap
py?"
It was on ner Alps to say some con.
ventional thing abouS the constant
| Earring note+i in all human happiness
but she changed it to. a simple mo
MAY try ifI.can give the reason?'
She made a reluctant little gesture
Of assent; some such: signal Of &C.
| quiescence as Marie Antoinette may
have given the waiting headsman.
"You have been afraid every day
lest should begin a second time tc
press you for an answer, haven you? 2
She could not thrust and parry with
him. They were. past all that.
es, she admitted briefly. @
* gu break my heart, Elinor, - he
said. after Z long pause. But. ' :.