Frostburg mining journal., 1908-07-04

I'LL TAG 1T, THAT'S pose" she broke
ALL. in. with Il shrug,
"but as 1t is our only alternative |
really don't see the sense of sitting
here arguing"
ing the brake, he sprang to the ground,
and going over to the other side.
helped Dolly to alight.
For an instant they stood in the
middle of the road facing each other.
"But what IS to become of the ma
chine?" she asked
Aldrich dived into his pocket and
brought forth a notebook and pencil.
'I'll tag 1t. that's all" he laughed
trusting to the fates that it will not
fall into hands piratical." He scrib
bled n line across one of the blanks
and fastened it to the forward cushion.
Forty minutes Of steady walking
brought them a mile nearer home.
With an unconcealed sigh Of WEAKNESS
Dolly flung herself down on a PROSTATE
log, and Aldrich slipped into Il seat be
side her. His face indcxed variety
of emotion. Hope, that had hitherto
buoycd him above every difficulty,
shrlveled within him. She would new
er forgive this.
dolly" he began appealingly, "heav-
en- knows I'd rather have lost my right
hand than
She interrupted him with little i'm
patient gesture.
ha
enough in all reason, but let us not add
tragedy to a situation which is already
melodramatic in the extreme"
Aldrich subsided under the snub, con-
templating the toes of his boots in
gloomy silence. Some minutes passed
The darkness yielded gradually to Il
splendor of gold light flung down from
a cloudless sky by thousands of stars
and everywhere through the misty yel
low innumerable dogwood blossoms
shone solemnly like white crosses.
Suddenly Dolly started up and walk
ed off down the road again. the other
following gloomily.
Miss Templeton," he began after a
silence, "do you know why l asked
you to come out with me this after
noon?"
She did not reply at once. The tone
more than the words caused the blood
to scorch her cheeks for an instant
why" she returned after a little
''to celebrate our independence. of
course, just as every one else Is doing"
She gave him an inscrutable little
glance from the tail of her eye
II wanted to ask you question" he
announced gravely.
Please she began, walking faster.
couldn't we discuss"-
Don't distress yourself" he inter
posed bitterly. Three times is''-he
looked at her resentfully-"quite suffi-
cient to show a fellow how many diff
ferent sorts of fool he can make of
himself. 1t is solely in the interest Of
friendship wish to speak now"
Dolly frankly admitted to herself
that friendship was even less interest
ing than the other thing, She bit her
lips as she demanded petulantly. well.
what is your question:"
1.-The other day." he replied quickly,
81 heard that you were going to be
married. that you were going to marry
poor man, after all. Also that you
Lad made the statement with your own
lips. Is 1t trueT" The last words were
uttered hoarsely, almost as charge.
Dolly's white lids tlickered as she
looked up into his eyes.
ut is quite true" she answered un-
hesitatingly, the crimson playing all
over her face.
Aldrich stopped short and faced her,
compelling her glance to meet his in n
suddenly mastprfrl ''"Nner.
why" he C.. passionately.
Dolly shran' from him; his
vehemence half l..- tened her.
Because" she said proudly. 81 love
him"
Aldrich was silent for a moment, bait
his silence was more tense than words.