The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1910-12-08
CHAPTER VIII.

]
" curiosity and disqulet. Mrs
Stannard was none the less
radiant A romance was unfolding
right under her roof. Her patient was
sitting up In sunshiny parlor. Al
| just about D. m. when most people
were gone, Mrs. Sumter came quietly
cheerily. conveying her two girls. and
presently Bob Lanier was smiling into
the eyes OF Miriam Arnold
Not since the night of the fire had
be set eyes. on her. Miriam looked
MS though she had been seriously Ill.
Kate Sumter had given him only hur-
ried and almost embarrassed words of
greeting Mrs. Sumter. however had
extended both her hands In an i'm
pulse of loyal liking and friendship.
and II is doubtful II Bob even saw the
daughters face His eyes had fitted
almost instantly to Miriam Arnold's.
A few minutes of swift. purposeless
chat ensued. Mrs Stannard and Mrs
Sumter doing most of 1t. Then some
how three women seemed to drift
away and become engrossed In mat
tiers OF their own over by the Navajo
covered lounge. and then Miriam lift
ed up her eyes and looked one moment
into the young soldiers face.
TITS the first chance I've had to
thank you for the dance we didn't fin
ish," said he. noting with a thrill the
tremor of the little hand that Huttered
for that moment in his grasp
'Do you think IL thing TO be thank
full for? | don't"
IL wouldn't have lost II for a months
pay"
How very much more than that you
may loser said she. DO you think
could have danced with you II had
dreamed what what you were doingy"
you were dancing like dream"
said he. do you mean | was dancing
like nightmare"
"You were doing what was sure to
involve you in grave trouble, and 1t
wasn't kind TO me. Mr. Lanier."
I'm all contrltlon for the anxiety Il
caused you. Miss Miriam. and for alb
solutely nothing else. | wish you to
know that did nothing unusual. Colo
mel Button was angry with me for a
very different matter"
One moment she was silent. Then
with lips that quivered IN spite of her
efrort-a culver that he saw and that
set his heart 10 bounding madly-with
lowered voice she hurried on: And
that. too, involves me or mine. And
you"-then uplifting her swimming
eyes-'you would not tell"
And then the barrier OF his pride was
swept away.
Miriam he cried. his hands eager
ly seeking and selling hers, only faint
ly resisting. There was no need to
tell" He was lifting her hands TO his
heart. and as he drew them he was
drawing her she had 70 come, her
long, curling lashes sweeping the soft
cheeks, now once more blushing like
the dawn. ''Oh. Mr. Lanier" he heard
her murmur as though pleading and
warning. Then his dark eyes. glowing
and rejoiceful, fastened on hers, and
quick and fervent came the next
words: There Is only one thing that
need be told-that must be told. be
cause I've just been trimming over
with 1t all these weeks" tab, how the |
bonny head was dropping now, but
dropping toward HIM, and now l can [
keep IL back no longer. Miriam. Mir |
lam. l love you'll love you, Have you |
nothing TO tell meT'
One instant of thrilling suspense. /
then with sob yelling up from her
burdened heart the barrier of her pride
and reserve went as his had gone a I
moment ago. "Oh, you know-you
know it! Who hasn't known it since |