The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1910-07-29

| nor throat. HOW she udu iOVSO ulu
Could it be really true. she asked her
self, that he had changed SO much
and cared for that other (?). cared
enough to marry her. as report said?
A sharp rap on her door interrupted
the painful train Of thought, and Sylvis
rose and turned the knob. schooling
her face into unconcern. 1t was a spe
cial, in Billy's own handwriting, and
she tore open the envelope with Grim
soning cheeks:
Dear Sylvia" it ran. MAY I call al
four on matter of Importance? Am
sailing at daybreak for Germany te
take up the study of medicine in Der
lin. Please do not refuse me.-Billy.'
For an instant Sylvia stood holding
the sheet between trembling, icy fin
gers. Should she see him? All the
fierce resentment and wounded pride
of the past year surged up in her de
tense; with swift impulse she seized
pen and dashed down a single word
and signed 1t Sylvia"
The succeeding hours were the long
est Sylvia had ever spent in her life
but Chalmers arrived promptly. She
greeted him with her most formal little
manner, effectually screening wild In
ward turbulence from his eager pene
| trating glance.
Every attempt he made to lead the
conversation into personal channels
was baked by her, and finally Chal
mers broke out abruptly:
Look here, Sylvia, the last time |
saw you it was an understood thing be.
tween us that as soon as we both grad.
uated we'd be-"
Have you orgotten-Alline?" she
interposed. coldly.
That affair was all my mothers
doing. Only recently l learned of the
report in the paper which you must
have seen. went at once to Miss Bes.
ter and told her the true situation. She
is to be married in April to another
man. We shook hands and parted
friends. On my word of honor. that is
the sum and substance of the whole
thing. BY George. Sylvia! who is that
fellow" Chalmers had caught sight
of the panel on the mantelshelf. and
the color flooded his face
Sylvia blushed, too. and said. fool.
ishly: Isn't he a wonder?"
ITO judge by the gushiness of the
press-he is" was the half-disgusted
reply.
you know him well, of course?" she
queried, fencing for time.
oh, after fashion! Do your" He
gave her a quick, keen look.
only in this legendary sort of way
and she indicated the pile of clippings
on her desk. her eyes travelling COM
prehensively from one wall to another
where were displayed the more or less
ludicrous prints. 81 suppose he's per.
feet idol of the girls. isn't he?"
Chalmers grunted 81 happen to
know that he doesn't care a fig for
but one in the woodland she won't
look at him."
"Oh." exclaimed Sylvia. what a
stupid she must bel"
Chalmers rose and paced the length
of the room, then back again He
stopped in front of Sylvia's chair; his
voice had changed when he spoke
"Is it possible, Sylvia, that this fell
low has supplanted me in your estima-
tion-has taken the old. dear-place
-"
Sylvia laughed constrainedly. e.
you see," she said, 81 had to have
something to keep up my interest
somebody. Tits a sort of fad, you
know
But If he should come here today,
and ask you to be his wife, would you
listen to him?"
'I-suppose-I-should." was the
very subdued response.
Chalmers bit his lip. Suddenly he
sat down on the arm of her chair and
deliberately drew her head against him.
Listen, DEAR" he began excitedly. 81
want to tell you few things about
Brown. He had a serious accident last
year during one of the big games, and
his people didn't want him to play
football any more. He didn't make any
rasn promises, but rather than have
them worry, he took an assumed
name"
Sylvia looked up tentatively, her eyes
now wistful, now dancing-red lips
parted
do you think he did wrong in this ?'
Sylvia shook her head, her black
lashes shadowing the pink rim Of her
cheek.
Sweetheart, IL am Brown"
"Oh!"
He caught her close to his heart.
"Will you cross the ocean with me to-
morrow, dear, or will it require a
longer time to get accustomed to
Browns identity?"
81 knew it all along" she whispered.
II haven't missed game And-and-
Billy, please let me talk, IL think
it would be something of distinction,
really, to be pointed out as Mrs.
Brown"