Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-22
The Furnace of Gold
tr1y
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belong to you now Amt that what S the mat
ter with you Nano"
He did not answer directly. L didn't think
it was in you, Queeny, to return my kindness
with jealousy like this and to follow me around
and play the spy. I've liked YOU pretty well:
but | DON'T couldn't like this
She stared at him helpessly. as an animal
might have looked. - couldn't help it" she
murmured, depressing some terrible emotion OF
despair Il won't never trouble you no
more'
She turned and went away. walking uncer-
tainly. if from physical weakness and the
blindness of pain.
Van felt himself Unfortunately wrung: felt it a
cruelty not to run and overtake her. give her
some measure OF comfort There was nothing
he could do that would not be misunderstood
Moreover, he had no adequate idea of what was
in her mind or IN her homeless heart. He had
known her always as butterfly; he could not
take her traglcally now.
Poor girl" he said as he watched her van
shing from sight g If only she had ever had a
show,'
HE looked back at Mrs. Dicks Bostwick
= had ousted him, after ALL before he could
extenuate his madness. before he could ascer-
tain whether Beth was angry. before he could
bid her goodby.
Now that the cool of evening was upon him.
along with the chill of sober reflection, he
feared for what he had done. He was mad,
crude, Queeny. Yet his fear of Beth S
opinion was a sign that he loved her as woman
should be loved, sacredly and with a certain
awe, though he made no such analysis and took
no credit to himself for the half regrets that
persistently haunted his reflections.
1t would be a moonlight night, he pondered
He had counted on riding by the lunar glow to
the Laughing Water claim. Would Beth by
any possibility. attempt to see him. come out
perhaps. in the moonlight for a word before he
should go,
He could not entertain a thought of depart
ing without again beholdng her. He wanted to
know what she would say and when he might
see her again After all, what was the hurry to
DEPART He might as well wait little longer
He went to the hay yard. Dave had disap
peared. Half an hour of search failed to bring
him to light. On the point of entering
taurant to alay his sense of emptiness, he was
headed and sweating who ran at him, calling
as he came.
"Hevt" he cried Van Buren,, Come on!
She's dyin. and all she wants is you -
What's wrong with you, mani" inquired
the horseman. halted by the fellows words.
What are you talking aoout''
"Queeny" gasped the fellow, painting for
his breath TOOK poison Oh. come! Come
on She don't want nothing but you"
Van turned exceedingly pale: Poison. MANI
What you want is the doctori
He's there-long ago. answered the in
formant excitedly, swabbing perspiration from
his face. "She won't touch his dope It's all
over, | guess. only she wants to see you"
Show me the way, then show me the way!
Where is she7" Van shook the mans shoulder
roughly. Don't shake SO! Take me to the
place."
The man was in a wretched plight from fear
and the physical suffering induced by what he
had seen. He reeled as he started down the
street. then off between some rows of canvas
structures. heading for district hung with red.