The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1910-08-26

it. They talk with it every evening.
You'll let that girl and all her money
slip through your fingers. as you've
let every other chance slip, you lazy
good-for-nothing."
"Hushi" commanded her son. with
a frown Let them talk over the
wireless! I'll end all that. Tonight
he'll be a mile away. and I'll be there,
beside her. Do you see?"
He spoke so confidently that Mrs.
Leclair unwillingly was Modified.
Leclair dressed himself that eve-
ming with a good deal of care. But
he hurried as much as possible. for he
self by his mothers prophecy. The
sun was just setting when he left his
own home and turned toward the
Armstrong residence.
His fears of Schmitz had been In
vain, after all. he decided. When he
passed the engineers home. the fell
low was sitting on the porch. enjoy
ing an evening smoke. From tall
fiagpole on the lawn to another pole
on the highest point of the house the
wireless antennae were strung. IF
he hopes to gain any. advantage over
me with that rigging" thought L.
clair. triumphant and contemptuous,
hes badly fooled" He dwadled
comfortably along the way. When
the wireless rigging at the Armstrong
place came in sight. he smiled almost
pityingly.
Nellie is in the wireless room"
said Mrs. Armstrong when Leclair
inquired for her.
He knew the way to it, and passed
into the house, up the broad stairs
to the second story and thence up
another stairway to the attic
The big room, cut into queer
sloping angles by the roof and lighted
by dormer windows, was an attrac-
tive apartment. Especially was 1t
attractive when graced by the pres.
ence of Nellie Armstrong. She was
standing, slender, girlish figure in
white, at the wireless instrument
which took up one end of the attic.
The receiving apparatus was strapped
over her fair hair. So intently was
she listening to a message that she
seemed not to notice Leclairs coming.
Presently she reached forward and
began opening the key. Obedient
to the trained pressure, the big spark
leaped back and forth between the
poles, swapping and cracking as 1t
did So.
The reply was brief When It was
finished, the girl, with a gesture in
describably joyous and light-hearted.
removed the receiver and turned to
Leclair. The young man had never
seen her more beautiful, and his
heart beat quickly as he started for
ward. in tune to her mood. Her
cheeks were flushed. her lips parted
with a smile, and her eyes shone like
stars.
Unconsciously she gave him both
her hands and Leclair's brain swan
with an intoxicating sense of victory.
The proposal which he had secretly
feared was going to be easy, after ALL
She was making 1t easy.
'Oh, Harry" she said, giving his
hands a little shake, I'm so happy!
And you've always been a friend, so
you shall be the first to know!"
Leclair's brain steadied suddenly
as though he had been drenched with
bucket of water; his bounding
heart sank forebodingly. He looked
at her searchingly. What is it?"
he managed to ask at last. with dry
lips.
The girl had noticed that a change
had come into his manner, but she
was too engrossed in what the wire
less had told to see its true signif1-
canoe. Her head dropped shyly. and
the color in her cheeks deepened.
paul has asked me to marry him.
she said softly. "And l told him yes
Wasn't it clever of him TOTO ask by
wireless? Why, you aren't going?"
as Leclair turned away. Wait; Paul
is coming right over"
81 can't" said Leclair, lifelessly.
q just dropped in for minute to
say good-by. I'm leaving town tomor-
row."