The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1909-11-21

you're right. There's no need to
tell you that. AS for showing her GER
tain attentions-well, I admit that I
have, as you know; but, thank God, !
can say I've been a gentleman and ad-
dressed her as l would the fairest lady
I've known"
"An' you mean for marry, eh?'
probed the other.
81 did not say so." Burrell declared
at last. 'It's q thing l can't discuss,
because / doubt if you could under
2stand what 1 would say. This life Of
yours is different from mine, and it
would be useless for me. to explain the
reason why l cannot marry her. Leav-
ing out all question of my sentiment,
there are insurmountable obstacles to
such a union. But, as to this talk, I
think that can be stopped without an
noyance to her, and, as for the rest,
we must trust to time to bring about
a proper Adjustment
A low, discordant sound of laughter
arrested his words, and, turning, he be-
held Necia standing revealed in the
dimness.
"What ar amusing person you are"
she said. 1--WE had hard work hold
ing in all this time while you were tor
turing your mind and twisting the
honest English language out of shape
and meaning. l knew I should have
to laugh sooner or later. That's your
Dixie chivalry, l suppose. Well, I've
played with you long enough, Lieu
tenant Burrell. I'm tired of the game.
aud you interest me no longer"
"You-you.say you've been playing
with mel" stammered the man. The
bottom of things seemed suddenly to
slide from under him. He was like
n sinking in some hideous quagmire.
He felt as if he were choking.
"Why, Of course" she cried scorn-
fully, lust as you took me up for
amusement. You were such a fine,
well dressed, immaculate mound Of
conceit that l couldn't resist the temp
tation, and you hid your condescension
so poorly that l thought you ought to
be taken down a peg. l knew l was a
squaw, but l wanted to see If were
v ilhC OtAC WoluCu, dltCl Oil, IN IL
you were not like other men," She
was talking rapidly now, almost
shrilly, for she had never attempted to
act before, while he stood dazed and
s~peechless, fumbling at his throat
while she rallied at him. you needn't
waste time debating whether I'm good
enough for you, because I'm not-de-
cidedly I'm not your kind, and you are
a joke to me-"
He uttered an inarticulate cry, but
she ran on %unheeding, her eyes wide
and glowing like Goals, her lips chalk
white. ''You see, it's time l stopped
such foolishness anyhow, for I'm to
be married on Sunday"
"You are going to be married?' he
.muttered laboriously.
rYes, to Poleon. Why. that's been
understood for years"
= He whirled upon the Canadian in a
fury, and his words came hot and tum-
bling.
"D-don't blame him!' cried the girl
Historically. at is all my doing. He
had no part in it."
EYES," said Doret In a restrained
voice, "dis ain no work of mine."
you're a liar" breathed the Ken
tuckian, now fairly wild with anger.
but the other looked him ~squarely be-
tween the eyes and made no move.
"M'sieu'," he cried, I'm Twin forty
year an never took nc nam lax dat
before, but dere's reason here wy I
can't max no answer"
"Why, you aren't really angry, lieu
tenant" Knocked Necia. cts only the
joke of an ignorant half breed girl
whose sense of humor is all out Of
gear. You mustn't quarrel over q
sQuaww
She tainted him like a baited badger.
for this thing was getting beyond her
control, and the savage instincts Of the
wilderness were uppermost.
"You are quite right" he replied. Il
am very foolish, and the laugh is with
you" His lips tried to frame a smile,
but failed. He bowed low and, turning,
walked out.
The moment he was gone she cried
breathlessly:
"You must marry me, Poleon. You've
got to do it now!'
do you mean dat for sure" he said.
"Can't you see there's nothing else
for it after this? I'll show him that he
can't make me a toy to suit his conven-
ience. I've told him l would marry
you on Sunday, and I'll do it or die. OF
course you don't love me, for you don't
know what love is, l suppose. How
could your She broke down and be-
gan to catch her breath amid coughing
s0bs that shook her slender body,
though they left her eyes dry and fe'
verish. "I-I'm very unhappy, b-but
I'll be a good-wife to you. oh, Poleon
If you only knew
He drew a long breath. When he
spoke his voice had the timbre Of some
softly played instrument, and a tremnl
ran through his words.
"No! 1 dom know wat kin Of love
is dis, for sure. De kim Of love J
know is de kim I sing bout in my
aonps. S'DOSe it's different breed IL