The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1910-10-15
The
SILVER
HORDE;
By REX BEACH,
Author Of The Spoilers" and
The Barrier"
Copyright 1909. by Harper a Brothers !
Copyright 1909. by Harper a Brothers
CONTINUED

hardships went for nothing"
I7 said Mildred Wayland when
Boyd had recounted the his
tory Of his pilgrimage into the north.
eyes," he replied; las miner l am
4 very wretched failure"
She shrugged her shoulders in dis
approval.
Don't use that termv' she cried.
There is no word so hateful to me
as *failure'-I suppose because father
has never failed in anything. Let us
say that your success has been de-
layed."
every well. That suits me better
also, but you see I've forgotten how
to choose nice words"
They were seated in the library,
where for two hours they had remain
ed undisturbed, Emerson talking rap
idly, almost incoherently.
And you did all that for me-" she
unused. II wonder If any other man
I know would take those risks just for
me-"
LOT course. Why, the risk, I mean
the physical peril and hardship and
discomfort, don't amount to-that." He
snapped his fingers. lit was only the
amending desolation that hurt; it was
the separation from you that punished
me-the thought that some luckier fel-
low might
'Nonsense!" Mildred was really in
dignant. II told you to fix your own
time, and I promised to wait. Even if
had not-cared for you would have
kept my word. That is a Wayland
principle. AS it is, it was-compara-
lively easy"
'Then you. do love me, my lady?"
He leaned eagerly toward her.
"Do you need to askw she whisper
ed from the shelter of his arms. 1T
Is the same old fascination of our girl
and boy days. Do you remember how
completely lost my head about your"
She laughed softly. II used to think
you wore football suit better than
anybody in the world! Sometimes I
suspect that it is merely that same
girlish hero worship and can't last.
But it has lasted-so far. Three years
is long time for girl like me to
wait, isn't 1tT'
II know, 1 know!' he returned jeal-
ously.
"But legions Of men are counting you
Oh, I know. Haven't I devoured 50.
ciety columns by the yard? The pa.
pers were six months old, to be sure
when I got them, but every mention
of you was just like a knife stab tc
me. I used to torture my lonely SOU
with pictures Of you. You were never
out Of mind for an hour. Ny days
were given to you, and used to pray
that my dreams might hold nothing
but you. You have been my fetish
from the first day met you, and my
worship has grown binder every hour
Mildred. Oh, my lady, how beautiful
you arew
And indeed she was, for her face, or
dlnarily so imperious, was now softly
alight; her eyes, which other mer
found cold, were kindled with a rare
warmth Of understanding; her smile
was almost wistfully sweet.
He recalled how excited he had beer
III that faraway time when he had
first learned her identity, for the name
Of Wayland was spoken soundingly i1
the middle west. In the early stages
upon her aloofness as an affectation
but close intimacy had compelled 6
recognition Of it as something wholly
natural. He found her as truly pa
trician as Wayne Wayland, her father
could wish. The old mans domain was
greater than that Of many princes, ani
his power more absolute. His only
daughter he spoiled as thoroughly a.
he ruled his part Of the financial world
and willful Mildred, once she had take1
an interest in the young college man 81
evidently ready to be numbered among
her lovers, did not pause half way
but made her preference patent to al
and opened to him realm Of dazzling
possibilities.
And when he had graduated how
proud Of her he had been! How little
he had realized the gulf that separated
them, and how quick had been hi.
awakening!
1t was Wayne Wayland who hat
shown him his folly. He had talket
to the young engineer kindly, if firmly
being too shrewd an old diplomat t.
fan the flame Of a headstrong Low,
with vigorous opposition.
mildred is a rich GIRL" the oil
fnanc1er had told Boyd, "a very ricl
girl, one of the richest girls in thi
part Of the world, while you, my boy
what have you to offer?"
Nothing! But you were not Away
what you are now" Emerson had re
piled. Every man has to make
start. When you married you wer,
as poor as am"
'Granted! But l married a poo
girl from my own station in life. For
tunately she had the latent power Il
develop with me as I grew, so that w
kept even and never outdistance(
her. But Mildred is spoiled to begi,
with. I spoiled her purposely to pre-
vent just this sort Of thing. She i