The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-02-14

| TO her with these hands," lie ne'o
| them out before him curiously. becom-
| ing conscious for the first time thar TUG
| left one was swollen and discolorei
and fearfully painful. He noted ~
with impersonal interest, realizing III
| need of medical attention-so LETT tne
cabin and walked down into the city;
He encountered Dextry and Simms o.
the way, and they went with him, Dol!
flowing with the gossip of the camp. n
Lord, but you're the talk or ~
town." they began. 1.-The curio hunH
ers have commenced to pull Struvel
Office apart for souvenirs, ana tn
Swedes want to run you for congress
as soon as ever we get admitted as
state. They say that at collar an elDoy
hollis you could lick any of them cas-
ern senators and thereby rastle out l.
lot of good legislation for us cripple
| up here"
"Speakin' Of laws goes to show ~
| that this here country is gettin 10
| blamed civilized for white man." sal
| Simms pessimistically, land now tha
| this fight is ended up it don't look iii
there would be anything dom ut
| claim the interest of a growed up pc
| son for long while. I'm goin' west.
West! Why, you can throw a stoI
into Boring strait from here" said Rot
smiling
ION, well, the worlds round. ThereI
a schooner outfittin' for Sibeery-tvf
years cruise. Me an Dex is figgeriI
on gettln' out toward the frontier fet
| q SPELL" 81
Sure" said Dextry. "I'm beginning
to feel all cramped up hereabouts owiIr
to these fillymonarch orchestras an
French restaurants and such discreM
| ancies Of scenery. They're putin
pavement on Front street, and there'
a shoe shinin' parlor opened mp. Why
I'd like to get where could stretch am
holler without disturbin' the pensiya
| ness Of some dude in dress suit. Beg
ter comeaalong, Roy; we can sell ou{
| the Midas"
I'll think it over,' said the young
man.
The night was bright with a full
moon when they left the doctors oficet
Roy, in no mood for the eXuberance of
his companions. parted from them, but
| had not gone far before he met Cherry
Malotte. His head was low, and he
| did not see her till she spoke.
"Well, boy, so 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 well for that. How
| Soes it feel to be a winner?"
Il don't know. I've lost"
Lost what?"
"Everything-eXcept the gold NINE"
Everything except see! You
mean that she-that you have asked
her, and she wont?" He 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 long time, I suppose. But to-
morrow l am going back to my hills
and my valleys, back to the Midas and
my work, and try to begin all over,
| For a time I've wandered in strange
paths, seeking new gods, as it were,
but the dazzle has died out Of my eyes
and I can see true again. She isn't
| for me, although l shall always love
her. I'm sorry can't forget easily, as
some do. It's hard to look ahead and
take an interest in things. But what
about you? Where shall you go?'
81 don't know. 1t doesn't really
matter-now." The dusk hid her white,
set face, and she spoke monotonouslys
II am going to see the Bronco Kid He
| sent for me. He's ill.,
Hes not n bad Sort" said Roy.
"And / suppose he'll make a new
start too
Perhaps" said she gazing far OUT
| over the gloomy ocean. ut all deS
pends." After q moment she added
what a pity that we can't all spongx
off the slate and begin afresh and
forgetv'
Its part of the game" said he. n
don't know why it's so, but it is IN
see you sometimes, won't II"
"No, boy; think not"
Il believe l understand" he mur4
INJURED, "and perhaps it's better SOL
He took her two soft hands in his onS
good right and kissed them. Cod
bless you and keep you, dear, brave lit3
| tie Cherry"
She stood straight and still as hd
| melted into the shadows, and only theI
! moonlight heard her pitiful 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 rejoiciIg|
| of his fellows. A welcome lay waiting
| for him In every public place, but no|
one there could know the mockery of|
| it, no one could gauge the desolation|
that was his.
The sand, wet, packed and hard as al
pavement, gave no sound to his care-|
less steps, and thus it was that hel
came silently upon the one woman AS
she stood beside the silver surf. Had
he seen her first he would have slunk|
past in the landward shadows, butt
recognizing his tall form, she called