Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1908-08-19
Che Gazing
Of Lorena.
By ANNE HEILMAN.
By ANNE HEMMAN.
Copyrighted. 1908. by Associated
Literary Press.

| Although it was the second week in
| May. there were sudden and chill
| whiffs of wind from the north. accom-
panied by flying particles Of ice and
snow. grim warning that winter had
| not yet renowned its sway in the
| northland.
| Floyd Jordan, striding down the steep
! mountain trial, halted irresolutely near
| the abrupt turning at Fairell's bluff
He appeared to be meditating deeply
| S:lt.tiealv he threw up his head. squared
his shoulders and hurried on. not in
| the direction of the boarding house in
the gulch. but toward Farrell's cabin
| Farrelrs cabin consisted of two log
houses joined together and chinked
with mud There were other cabins of
the same simple architecture scattered
over the mountain side and nestled in
the gulches, but white curtains hung
ut the FARRELL windows. and the wind
ward side of the living room was hung
| with gay Navajo blankets.
The brown fur of u mountain bear
was on the floor and its mate was
spread luxuriously beneath the red pill
lows of couch. And. set like a torch
in the south window. geranium,
potted In brilliant Indian basket,
lifted its scarlet bloom.
But Jordan felt without seeing this
harmony He was looking into the
face of the girl who had opened the
door. 1t was face OF light and shade
which spoke the swift thought before
the voice found words. face to hold
a mans glance in Il crowd. Closing
the door. she resumed her seat by the
fire without replying to Jordan's genial
greeting.
He seemed to fill the room. Six feet
two and broad shouldered. he looked
even larger in the clumsy canvas coat.
corduroys and high laced boots Of the
prospector, He whipped his hat
against his knee. evidently discon-
certed by the girls hostile attitude.
THAT you. Floyd Jordau?" inquired
voice from the inner room.
Yes. Mrs Farrell. How're you feel
ing:"
Some better. I'm glad to say Set
down and warm yourself. Floyd.
'Tain't to be wondered at that people
| have rheumatism in a land where
there is ten months winter. If you'll
shut the door. Loreny. I'll get up and
| dress"
Lorena closed the door,
Floyd Jordan. what are you coming
here again for:" she burst out sud
| denly.
Wouldn't be very neighborly not to
drop in with your mother sick and
your dad away. would it?"
Didn't tell you that never would
speak to you again and that l never
wanted to see you?" she said fiercely.
taking few steps toward him. Even
In that critical moment. with her eyes
blazing unjust and unreasonable anger.
the miners heart throbbed acknowl-
edgment Of the tall. plant. reedlike
grace before him.
"Yes. Iorena. but have just a lit
tie hope that you don't always mean
what you say"
Don't you think mean 1t when !
tell you I've heard how you Dragged
to the boys at the store that you could
take me whenever you got good and
readyy"
II never said 1t in that way. Some
one has garbled my words to suit their
own purpose. Why. I've. loved you
from the first time l ever set eyes on
you I've been thinking Of building a
l hin on, .lniy
Lerena. If you wo.'t I'll sell out and
go to the States
You can't go any too quick to suit
me-" answered the girl. her voice tense
with scoin. ANA you can tell them
loafers at the store that I'm not to be
taken so easily. I'd rather die tl.an
marry yoy, Floyd Jordan"
Il reckon that settles it." said Jor-
dan. rising and buttoning his coat.
PLEASE tell your mother goodby for
me-" and he was gone
'Loreny Farrell. what have you
been and done" demanded her mother.
limping into the room In her stocking
feet. You knows well as / do that
Floyd never said nothing to nobody
| dbput sOu. ut Dldhe girls mace III
ali up. jealous cause you'd caught the
likeliest young Teller in the camp.
You've driven him away for good this
time. He'll keep his word-he always
does-and 60 to the States
| She re-entered the bedroom for her
shoes and Lorena stealthily opened the
door and Asoked after her lovers re-
treating figure. He had almost reached
the bluff. If he passed 1t she knew
she would never see him again. Some.
! thing stirred in her throat The long
stretch OF trail that ran away through
the dreary landscape, seemed like her
life. and Floyd was going out of it.
Her heart yearned for him. What
would her life be without him?
"Loreny, where are you?" called Mrs
Farrell. emerging from the bedroom
fully shod. The girl was not in the
room. Her mother opened the door and