The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1908-11-27

1 hI. Which lSAlo 1lS IL Ddlu yUu "
wait, grubbing away on that lonesome
claim in Alaska, she said
Eyes, it pays to wait when one has
a feeling about it,
you mean doubt of the wisdom
of leaving a thing?"
That's it. There have been lots
of u.s. he continued Il tell you five
years makes an awful difference The
isolation, the rough life, the doing for
oneself, rarely seeing woman and
never a cultured. refined lady grow
coast Of fur, all right. But I've made
my pile if / have lost five years of real
/ living. I'm satisfied"
Surely" said the woman mot all
are as fortunate"
That's the worst of it. 1t is heart
breaking to think of some fe1sows,
gentlemen, you know-confident Gag
er, impatient, anxious to strike quick
luck and to go home with flying col
ors. They can't wait They get to
roaming, and heaven only knows
where some of them land One loses
all trace, but now and then"-He
paused for a moment, half smiling.
Pauline Allard had grown pale. Her
caller did not notice the droop of the
fair head. He went on speaking.
I've felt mighty sorry for one chap.
We were real friendly. He couldn't
wait. | took over his little claim for
a trifle. 1t was next to mine. Bless
you, it proved the richest dirt of all
when | got to working it deep. He
was daft on surface finds. And off
went my hopeful acquaintance in spite
of entreaties. Funny!"
Again he smiled queerly.
mr. Winch must be delighted to
have you here, remarked Pauline abb
sently. Her thoughts were wandering
in dreary vista of toiling, disappoint-
ed men, far from their homes, reck.
less, proud, the sort that never would
1 come back bearing the brand of fail
ure.
"Oh, Carson, yes" returned Wick
ham. He's a decent enough fellow
after his fashion-I+I-I beg pardon.
There, Miss Allard, you see how a
man blunders when he has led such q
life as mine-no tact meant to say
that Winch is a splendid chap person
nally, but I'm not used to these smart,
successful men. We have had con-
siderable correspondence since he
heard I was doing Well--a school
friend, you know, and, of course, in
terested. Welcomed me royalty. l
couldn't say too much for Carson. He
has been most kind and confidential.
was thinking of him in business
way. We don't exactly agree about
investments. That was what had
in mind. Ahem!"
Pauline's amused smile was seren-
ity itself.
Il don't think a gentleman should
count his chickens and tell the
neighbors, do your" she asked mis-
chieyously.
"Ah! | misunderstood; jumped at
conclusions; entirely my fault Wick
hams blood showed redly through
his tan, and he stammered
You are delightful bear" obsery-
ed Pauline placidly. Maybe will
become Mrs. Winch some day, If that
will relieve you. / shan't promise.
The wind, however, points in that dl-
rection."
They smiled at each other for few
moments, and then Pauline said ser
iously:
"Mr. Wickham, like you.~ trust
you. am going to ask you ques-
ton. What you may surmise will be
a secret between us forever"
She stopped at her desk and
brought forth the photograph. The
mans face set. He was averse to
sudden condolences. There was a
tenseness in her graceful figure that
seemed unnatural. He coughed un
easily.
I want you to look at this" said
Pauline. Il want to know If In your
travels you have ever met the origin.
lal?'