Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-12-12
'T'n think it over" said the young

moon when they left the doctors office
Roy. i'm no mood for the exubcrancc of
his companions, parted from them, but
had not gone far before he met Cherry
MalottC. His head was low, and he
did not see her till she spoke.
"Wcll. boy. 50 it's over at last"
Her words chimed so perfectly with
his thoughts that he replied, eyes; it's
all over, little girl
"You don't mind my congratulations
you know me too we'll for that How
does 1t feel to be a winnerf"
81 don't know I've lost"
Lost whatf'
Every thlng-e1cept the gold mine"
Everything except see! You
mean that shc-that you have asked
her, and she won't?" lie never knew
the cost at which she held her voice so
steady.
"More than that. It's so new that it
hurts yet, and it will continue to hurt
for Il long time, l suppose. But to-
morrow | am going back to my hills
and my valleys. back to the Midas and
my work, and try to begin all over.
For time I've wandered in strange
paths, seeking new gods, as it were,
but the dazzle has died out of my eyes
and | can see true again. She isn't
for me, although I shall always love
her. I'm sorry | cant forget easily, rs
some do It's hard to look ahead and
take an interest in things. But what
about youI Where shall you go?"
81 don't know. II doesn't really
I ro11 tnv no a -
set face, and she spoke monotonously.
II am going to see the Bronco Kid. He
sent for me. Hes ILL.,"
Hes not bad sort" said Roy.
"And I suppose he'll make new
start too"
Perhaps" said She gazing far out
over the gloomy ocean. 1T all de-
| ponds" After moment she added,
"What pity that we can't all sponge
off the slate and begin afresh and
forget"
It's part Of the game" said he. 81
don't know why It's so, but it Is. I'll
see you sometimes. won't I?'
mo, boy; think not"
81 believe understand" he muir
INJURED and perhaps It's better so"
He took her two soft hands in his one
good right and kissed them. cod
bless you and keep you, dear, brave lit
tie Cherry"
She stood straight and still as he
meltcI into the shadows, and only the
moonlight heard her pitifui sob and
her hopeless whisper
"Goodby, my boy, my boy"
He wandered down beside the sea,
| for his battle was not yet won, and
! until he was surer Of himself he could
not endure the ribaldry and rejoicing
Of his fellows. 4 welcome lay waiting
for him in every public place, but no
one there could know the mockery of
it. no ono could gauge the desolation
that was his.
The sand, wet, packed and hard as q
pavement, gave no sound to his care
less steps, and thus it was that he
came silently upon the one woman as
she stood beside the silver surf Had
he seen her first he would have skunk
past In the landward shadows, but.
recognizing his tall form, she called
and he came, while it seemed that lis
lungs grew suddenly CONSTRUCTED as
though bound about with steel hoops.
| The very pleasure Of her sight panied
| bin. lie advanced eagerly, and yet
| with hesitation, standing stifily aloof
/ while lis heart fluttcred and his tongue
/ grew dumb. AT last she saw his
/ band. COS and her manner changed
/ abruptly Coming closer she touched
them with caresSlnG fingers.
It's noth'ng-nothing at ALL" he said
while his voice jumped out Of all con-
troll When are you going away"
/ II do not know not for some time"
! He had supposed she would 90 to-
| morrow with her uncle and-thc other,
/ TO be with Them through their travail.
With warm hmpetuosity she began:
1T was 2 noble thing you did to-
! day. Oh, l am glad and proud"
Il prefer You ~ think Of me in that
| way, rather Tam ~ the wild beast you
saw tns morning. for was mad, per
! fcctly mad with hatred and revenge,
! and evcrr Wild impulse that comes to
n defeated nan. You see. | had played
and lost played and lost, again and
again, TIL there was nothing left.
What mischance brought you there?
| 1t was a terribly brutal thing, but
you can't understand"
But | can understand. I DO. l
! know all about it now. I know the
wild rage Of desperation; l know the
exultation OF victory; | know what
hate and fear are now. You told me
once that the Wilderness had made you
n savage, and | laughed at it Just as
| did when you said that my contact
with big things would teach me the
truth, that were all alike, and that
| those motives are II us all. see now
that you were right and l was very
simple. l learned n great deal last
night"
II have learned much also" said he
II wish you might teach me more"
"I-I-don't think | could teach you
any more" she hcsitated.
He moved rs though to speak, but
held back and tore his eyes away from
her.
"Well?' she inquired, gazing at him
covertly.
"Once, n long time ago, read a
| lovers petition, and ever since know
Ing you l have made the constant
prayer that might be given the
purity to be worthy the good In you
l hat ierI.t 10 "a