The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1906-09-14

| tdhc II. IL Is dlI ludt COuCcT0o Jul
And they parted.
DoveGale was small and primitive
village, Boosting of no vehicle except
a wheelbarrow and donkey cart. Con-
sequently Dan Courtney, on taking
leave CT his rival, set forth on foot in
the direction of Sweet Briar Farm.
Courtney encountered few folk on his
| pleasant road to the farm. A couple
of farmers-a roSy-cheeked child and
an old woman were chiefly those who
crossed his path The old men babe
him good evening; the little girl smiled
at him, and the old woman as she
| passed let fall with clatter the
bundle of sticks she had been gather
| ing in the wood. She was very bent,
very gray, and very wrinkled; her face
encircled in a big rusty black poke
bonnet. She was muttering and moan
| ing strange things to herself as Dan
Courtney passed her by.
But as her mutterings grew more We
hement, he halted, threw her coin
and s, passed ON again.
Had he glanced round at the old
withered poke-bonneted woman, he
would have seen that tear had glis-
tened in her eye.
II am very tired she mumbled,
"and the bundle is so heavy"
Permit me to carry it for you," said
a voice, some minutes later in her ear.
Walden, for it was he, stopped and,
Notwithstanding her protestations.
raised the bundle to his shoulder.
Where do you live?" asked Walden,
keeping pace with her feeble steps.
Near the wood" came the high
pitched, sing-song reply. Near the
wood"
You are too old to work"
Bread must be baked and fires must
be made
do you live alone?'
Granddaughter Mary lives with mo
now"
Granddaughter Mary ought to as
sist you to gather the fuel for your
fire."
Mays young and goes a-sweet-
heartin'."
When you were young did you go a.
sweetheartin'
She nodded assent and hobbled more
brislkly forward.
SHOW me where your home is" he
said. 81 should like to inform your
granddaughter Mary that it would be
more profitable to her if she cared less
for her sweetheart and more for her
grandmother"
""Twould be little use," quoth the
grandmother. "She's young and it's but
nat'ral."
Natural to be thoughtless?" queried
the prince. Have you ever been out
of Dovedale?"
She shook her head.
"Then Dovedale is your world" He
drew long, long breath, as though
the idea was sitting. =
-Four walls and bread to eat, hus-
band, and children to rear" cried she.
What more do a woman want?"
"And you have been happy"
Never so happy as now!" exclaimes
a clear, ringing voice, and before Wal
don could recover from his astonish-
ment the old dame, with a truly mar
Vicious agility, had vanished-whither
he could not say.
"Phrygia!" called Walden, flinging
the sticks into a hedge and following
the narrow side path Phrygia must
have taken. At the end of the path
was small wicker gate, and passing
through it Walden came unexpected.
ly upon a low, matched, rose-covered
cottage.
After waiting several minutes the
ly towards him. No other, indeed, than
Phrygia-no longer wrinkled, old and
bent; but in her most captivating of
summer attire; the simplest of hats
upon Ter bronze-gold hair, and the
daintiest of blue ribbons around her
slender waist.
Miss Dean" exclaimed Walden,
bowling low, when will you cease to
be everything that is bewiidering and
enchanting?"
MIR. Waldon," answered Phrygia,
with a responding obeisance, when
will you learn to be anything but chiv.
alrous and manly? What have you
done with my kindling wood?"
81 threw it away to follow YOU"
ITO follow me?"
ITO the end of the world" he added.
earnestly.
She coquetted moment with her
ribbons and laces.
"Mr. Courtney must have arrived at
the farm by now" she said. II hope
Lavinia will entertain him nicely.
Shall we not go to Sweet Briar, too?"
Walden hesitated.
ION one condition" he said.
Which is-?"
THAT Dan Courtney returns to town
this evening with Harry Bond"
SIS that what Harry intends to do?"
demanded she.
SIS he not wise MANI"
Very" she acquiesced. why do
you not return also?"
81 lack his wisdom truly, but can
not
bat If it is my wish?"
eff it is your WISH" he said, II
h 49, oh h 80