The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1910-07-22
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laughing. You see thought you were
-er, some one else. And was SO sur
prised l could not help laughing. Tell
me whether you are hurt. Let me
help you" His face looked so hand
some and so appealing that the stony
expression of the woman softened
trif1e.
We'll, the least You can do Is to
help me home" she said, gruffly. "Tm
all shook up" She evidently blamed
him for her fall. He raised her, and
she leaned on him. grunting and
grooming.
They walked on. She said nothing
Finally he began to be unpleasantly
aware of her weight. His arm
seemed almost paralyzed and
drops of perspiration came out
on his forehead. He stood
still q moment in the road Would
you mind changing to the other side?
could support you with my right
arm. This one is getting a little
tired" The long lips set into grim
line. Cant" responded the woman.
4uy olhCl al LII hu1I toO Ooo. LIZ
wondered vaguely how her arm could
possibly be hurt, but said nothing. The
woman urged him on, 1t seemed to
Ralph interminably.
She did not speak except to urge
him to walk faster. Finally, they
made one last turn and came within
sight of small gray house set well
back from the road in a garden of
roses. Red ramblers climbed over
fence and porch.
AS the two drew near, a young girl
arose from the steps and hurried to-
ward the gate Oh! are you hurt?
Are you hurt?" she exclaimed, breath
lessly to the woman. The latter put
out her injured" arm and opened the
gate with a bang. mo! l fell down
but I want hurt a mite. Would ha'
been home an hour ago only 1 wanted
to teach some smart fools a lesson.
She strobe up the walk and into the
house, letting the screen door slam
after her
Again the helpless fit of laughter
came upon Ralph. He leaned against
the gate, rubbing his numb arm and
shouting with mirth This time he
had sweet echo, and looked into a
rosy fase dimpled with fun, for after
one blank moment, and glance at the
state OF his attire, the girl had
seemed to divine all, in fash
The yosng man looked down some
nyho y.,,nfr,l1u OF hfC CHI
seem to have received the worst of it."
he said.
The girl looked up with trace of
shyness. You could come In and
clean up. Do not mind her. she's Pc
culiar, but"
He broke in with a question. ANY
relation?" he asked. What If she
should be the mother!
mo! Oh, no. We are boarding here
my mother and 1. Mrs. Thurston
takes boarders every summer"
She started toward the house, and
Ralph followed Mrs. Thurston met
them at the door. She led the young
man to room, supplied him with
water and clean towels in grim silence.
But as she was leaving she paused
Gimme that coat" Ralph handed it
to her, and she disappeared.
Presently she brought back the
coat. The long rip was neatly mended.
Guess this'n do till you can see a
tailor. Dinner ready in half an hour"
That dinner was memorable event
1t was well-cooked meal, served in
the long bay windows where the
ramblers climbed in over the sill. Mrs.
Thurston lost some of her grinlness.
and even smiled once or twice. Mrs
Farrand, the girls mother. was very
gracious.
And the girl herself? She sat by the
open window, not in the blue dress he
had pictured, but in snowy white. In
her eyes were the lights and shadows
the expressions he had seen In the
eyes of the Dream Girl around the
bend in the stream. His wonderful
vacation had, indeed begun.
Afterward, he saw her alone for a
moment on the porch. The glove lay
in his pocket. He was afraid to ask
her about it. Suppose 1t should not
be hers. He drew it out slowly. The
light from the window shone upon 1t.
The girl reached up and took it from
his hand.
'Why, you found my glove!" she ex-
claimed in surprise.
"It is yours, then?"
Eyes. I'm so glad! It Is not very
pleasant for one not to have a mate"
He looked down at her.
'Im finding that out, too" he mur.
INJURED.
He moved step nearer
Good night" He pressed the little
soft hand in both his own for a mo-
ment. "Pll see you tomorrow morn
ing" he said. I've arranged with Mrs.
Thurston to come here to board"
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