Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-02-02
CHAPTER IX.-The Awakening.

Early the next morning Corporal Thorn
as came into the store and found Necia
tending It while Gale was out. Ever since
the day she had questioned him about
Burrell, this old man had taken every oc-
casion to talk with the girl, ana when
he asked her this morning about the re-
ports concerning Lees strike. she told
him of her trip, and all that had oc-
CURED.
You see, I'm a mine-owner now" she
concluded. IF It hadn't been a secret !
would have told you before so you could
have been one OF the first"
I'm goin'. anyhow" he said. IF the
Lieutenant Will let me and II it's not too
late"
Then she told him of the trail by Black
Bear creek which would save him several
hours. .N
so that's now you and he made it?'
he observed, gazing at her shrewdly. Il
supposed you went with your fatherT'
''Oh, no. We beat him in" she said,
and fell TO musing at the memory of those
hours passed alone with Meade, while
her eyes shone and her cheeks glowed.
The corporal saw the look, and it bore out
theory he had former during the past
month. so, as he fingered, he set
about a task that had lain in his mind
a careful man in his speech, and tho
deIicacy of this maneuyer taxed his
ingenuity to the utmost, for he loved
the girl and feared to say too much.
THE lieutenant is a smart young
fellow" he began; "and IL was slick
work jumpin all those claims. It's just
like him to befriend a girl like you
I've seen him do IL before"
''whatr' exclaimed Necia, "befriend
other girls?"
"or things just like It. He's always
doing favors that get him into trou-
BILE"
This couldn't cause him trouble
could it. outside of Stark's and Run
MONS grudge?"
mo, I reckon not" assented the cor
pOral. cropping blindly for some way OF
expressing what he wished 20 say. Tex
cept, Of course. IL might cause a lot Of
talk at headquarters when It's known
what he's done for you and how he
done II. I heard something about ii
down the street this morning, so I'm
afraid IL will get to st. Michaers, and
then to his folks" He reaiized that he
was not getting on well, FOR the task
was harder than he had imagined.
Il don't understand" said Nicola. He
hasn't done anything that any mar
wouldn't do under the circumstances"
No mans got a right TO make folks
talk about a nice girl" said the corpor-
al "and the fellow that told me about
! it said he reckOned you two was ir
/ love" He hurried along now without
| giving her a chance to speak. lot
I course, that had to be caught up quick
! you're too fine girl for that"
Il mean you're too fine and good to
| let him put you in wrong, just as he's
too fine a fellow and got too much ahead
Of him 70 make what his people would
! call a messy-alliance."
Would his people object TOTO such
thingT" questioned the girl. They
were alone in the store so they could
] talk freely. I'm just supposing, you
know"
! 'Oh. Lord would they obJect?" Cor
/ pOral Thomas laughed in a highly arti
/ ficial manner that made Necia bride
and draw her self up Indignantly.
why should they. I'd like to know
I I'm just as pretty as other girls, and
/ I'm just as good. I know just as much
! as they do. too, except--about certain
/ things"
You sure all of that and more, too,
/ the corporal declared, heartily, but ii