The Mercur miner. [volume] (Mercur, Utah) 1895-1913, 1907-09-25
xxvlll.-contInued

4
though | fear my tone was not espe-
cially joyous.
so" she went on, 81 am in posi-
tlon to pay back TO you, / think, what
my father and Sam took from you.
II won't be enough, I'm afraid, to pay
what you lost indirectly, But | have
told the lawyers to make It all over
20 you"
could have laughed aloud. Il was
too ridiculous, this situation into
which had got myself. did not
know what to say. could hardly
keep out OF my face how foolish this
collapse OF my crafty conspiracy made
me feel. And then the full. meaning
of what she was doing came over me
the revelation OF her character.
trusted myself to steal glance at
her: and for the first time ! didn't
see the thrilling azure sheen over her
smooth white skin, though all her
beauty was before me, as dazzling as
when Il compelled me to resolve to
win her. No. | saw her, herself-the
woman within. had known from the
outset that there was an altar OF love
within my temple OF passion. ! think
that was my first real visit to It.
"Anltai" said. unsteadlly "Anltal"
The color famed In her cheeks; we
we're silent for long time.
"You-your people owe me moth
Ing" at length found voice to say.
even II they did. / couldn't and
wouldn't take your money. But, be-
ileye me. they owe me nothing"
"You cannot mislead me- sho an
swered. when they asked me to be-
come engaged to you. they told me
about IT,"
had forgotten. The whole repul-
sive, rotten business came back to me.
And. changed man that had become
In the last six months, I saw myself
as | had been. felt that she was
looking at me. was reading the de-
grading confession In my telltale
features.
Il will tell you the whole truth"
said l. 81 did use your fathers and
your brothers debts to me as a means
OF getting to you. But, before God.
Anita, | swear | was honest with you
when | said to you | never hoped or
wished TO win you in that wayl"
Il believe you" she replied, and her
tone and expression made my heart
leap with indescrlbable JOY.
Love Is sometimes most unwise In
his use of the relns he puts on pas
sion. Instead OF acting as impulse
commanded said, clumslly: And
am very different today from what l
was last spring." II never occurred
60 me how she might interpret those
words.
Il know" she replied. She waited
several seconds before adding: 81. too.
have changed. ! see that was far
more guilty than you. There is no
excuse for me. | was badly brought
up. as you used to say. but"
"No-no." | began to protest.
She cut me short with a sad: You
need not be polite and spare my feel.
ings Let's not talk of II. Let us go
back TO the object | had In coming
for You to-day"
you owe me nothing" repeated.
"Your brother and your father set
tied long ago. lost nothing through
them. And I've learned that II had
never known you. Roebuck and Lang
don would still have attacked me-"
what my uncle gave me has been
transferred to you" said she woman
fashion. not hearing what she did not
care to heed. II can't make you ac-
oept Il; but there II is. and there II
stays"
Il cannot take IT," said /. III you
insist on leaving II In my name.
shall simply return II to your uncle"
Il wrote him what | had DONE" she
rejolned His answer came yester-
day He approves IT,"
Approves IT." exclaimed.
"You do not know how eccentric he
is." she explained. naturally misun-
derstanding my astonishment. sNe
took letter from her bosom a..
handed II TO me. read;
Dear Madam; II was yours 10 do
with as you pleased. II you ever find
yourself In the mood to visit. Gull
House Ia open TO you, provided you
bring no maid. win not have female
servants about Yours truly.
HOWARD FORESTER"
"You Will consent now, will you
hot?" she asked. as / lifted my eyes
from this characteristic note
saw that her peace Of mind was
al stake. "Yes-l consent"
She gave great siSh as at the lay
Ing down OF heavy burden. THANK
you" was all she said. but she put a
world Of meaning into the words
She took the first homeward turning
We were nearly at the house before
found words that would pave the
way toward expressing my thoughts
my longings and hopes,
you say you have forgiven me,
said l. Then We can be--friends2'
she was silent, and took her som
her expression 10 mean that she
feared YVES hiding some subtlety.
Il mean just what ] say. Anita."
fastened TO explain. "Frlends-si,n