Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1907-01-17
CHAPTER x-Continued.
Copyright, 1906, by ]. +. Lipplneott Col

S0Ou sense 10 walk ner up ana DOWN
IN the healing silence and darkness
Cor five full minutes before he ven
tured to say what was in his mind.
When he spoke 1t was earnestly and
TO the purpose, not without eloquence.
He loved her; had always loved her,
he thought. Could she not, with time
and the will to try, learn to love him?
not as a cousin?
She turned quickly and put both
hands on his shoulders.
"Oh Cousin Billy-don't!" she fall
tered brokenly; and he, seeing at once
that he had played the housebreaker
where he would fain have been the
welcome guest, took his punishment
manfully, drawing her arm in his and
walking her yet other turns up and
Gown the long platform until his pa
tence and the silence had wrought
their perfect work.
Does it hurt much?" she asked,
softly, after a long time
You would have to change places
with me to know just how much it
hurts" he answered. And yet you
haven't left me quite desolate, Vir-
ginia. l still have something left
all I've ever had, | fancy"
And that is
"My love for you, you know. 1t
isn't at all contingent upon your yes
or no; or upon possession-it never
has been, | think. 1t has never asked
much except the right to be-"
She was silent for moment. Then
sIh 10 ha1
that you are the best man that ever
lived. And I am ashamed-ashamed!
What for?"
"If | have spoiled you, ever so lit
tie, for some truer. worthier woman
'You haven't; you mustn't take that
view of it. l am decently in love
with my work-a work that not few
wise men have agreed could best be
done alone. l don't think there will
be any other woman. You see, there
is only one Virginia. Shall We go
In now?"
She nodded, but when they reached
the Rosemary the returning engine
was rafting upon the open siding.
Virginia drew back.
81 don't want to meet Uncle Somer-
willie just now" she confessed. Cant
We climb up to the observation plat
form at the other end of the carr"
He said yes, and made the affrma-
tive good by lifting her in his arms
over The high railing. Once safely on
the car. she bade him leave her.
She was shivering a little in the
chill wind sliding down from the
snow-peaks, yet she would not go in
untiI she had made sure. In little
time her patience was rewarded. The
huge engine came storming up the
grade on the new line, pushing its
three fiat-cars, which were black with
ciiHging men. On the car nearest
the locomotive, where the dazzling
beam of the headlight pricked him
out for her, stood Winton, braced
against the lurchings of the train over
the uneven track.
Cod speed you, my love!" she muir
INJURED, softly; and when the gloom of
the upper canyon cleft had engulfed
man and men and storming engine
she turned to go in.
She was cropping for the doorknob
in the darkness made thicker by the
glare Of the passing headlight when
a voice, disembodied for the moment
said, wait a minute Miss Carteret;
I'd like to have a word with you"
She drew back quickly.
CTS it you, Mr.. Jastrow? Let me
go in, please"
+In one moment I have something
TO say to you-something you ought
to hear"
Cant it be said on the other side
of The door? l am cold-very cold,
Mr. Jastrow."
1t was his saving hint, but he would
not take it.
NO, it must be said to you alone
We have at least one thing in com
mon. Miss Carteret-you and l. That
is a proper appreciation of the sue
cessfni realities. Il
She stopped him with a quick little
gesture of impatience.
will you be good enough to stand
aside and let me go in?"
The keen breath of the snow-caps
was snmmer-warm in comparison with
the chilling iciness of her manner;
but the secretary went on unmoved:
Success is the only thing worth
while in this world. Winton will fail,
bur shan't. And when do succeed,
shall marry a woman who can wear
the purple becomingly."
Il hope you may, I'm sure" she
answered, wearily. yet you will ex-
%use me if l say that I don't under
stand how it concerns me, or why you
shonii keep me out here in the cold
TO tell me about it."
Don't you" 1t concerns you very
nearly. You are the woman, Miss
Cartsret"
Indeed? And If | decline the
honor?"
The contingency was one for which
the suitor seemed not entirely pre-.