Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-11-11
CHAPTER vi.

A Il O0CU601pS went ZOE uOL0luS,
n said Mildred Wayland when
~ Boyd had recounted the his
tory Of his pilgrimage into the north.
EYES," he replied; AS q miner am
q very wretched failure"
She shrugged her shoulders in dis
approval.
Don't use that term she cried.
There Il 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"
whore for TIVE hours they had remain
ed undisturbed, Emerson talking rap
idly, almost incoherently.
''And you did all that for me-" she
unused. Il wonder If any other man
know would take those risks just for
me-"
"Of course. Why, the risk, I mean
the physical peril and hardship and
discomfort, don't amount to-that." He
snapped his fingers. 1T was only the
unending desoIation that hurt: it was
the separation from you that punished
me-the thought that some luckier fell
low might
'Nonsense" Mildred was really in
dignant Il told you to fix your own
time. and promised to wait. Even II
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 ask?" 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 l lost my head about you?"
She laughed softly. Il 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
wait, isn't it,"
II know, I know" he returned jeal-
ously.
"But legions of men are counting you.
oh, know. Haven't devoured So
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 knife stab to
me. used to torture my lonely soul
with pictures ofsyon. You were never
out Of mind for an hour. My days
7
that my dreams might hold nothing
but you. You have been my fetish
from the first day I met you. and my
worship has grown binder every hour,
Mildred. oh. my lady, how beautiful
you arer'
And indeed she was, for her face, Or
dinarily SO imperious, was now softly
alight: her eyes, which other men
found cold. were kindled with a rare
warmth Of understanding; her smile
was almost wistfully sweet.
He recalled how excited he had been
in that faraway time when he had
first learned her identity, for the name
Of Wayland was spoken soundingly in
the middle west In the early stages
Of their acquaintance he had looked
upon her aloofness as an affectation.
but q close intimacy had compelled q
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, and
his power more absolute. His only
daughter he spoiled as thoroughly as
~, 1oxO 1T 20 tho en- oio1
and willful Mildred, once she had taken
IN interest in the young college man SO
evidently ready to be numbered among
her lovers. did not pause half way,
but made her preference patent to all
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 his
awakening!
It was Wayne Wayland who had
shown him his folly. He had talked
to the young engineer kindly. II firmly.
being too shrewd an old diplomat to
fan the flame Of headstrong love
with vigorous opposition.
Mildred is a rich GIRL" the old
dnancier had told Boyd, "a very rich
girl, one of the richest girls in this
part Of the world, while you. my boy
what have you to offerY"
Nothing! But you were not always
what you ase now" Emerson had re-
piled. Every man has to make a
start. When you married you were
m NOR M 7 am -
Granted! But married poor
girl from my own station in life. For
tunately she had the latent power to
develop with me as grew. SO that we
kept even and I never outdistanced
her. But Mildred is spoiled to begin
with. l spoiled her purposely to pre-
vent just this sort Of thing. She Is
bred to luxury, her friends are rich.
and she doesn't know any other kind
Of life"
And 20 It was that Boyd Emerson
had gone to Alaska. to the Klondike,
to win q fortune and thus to win the
girl he loved. He fixed his own time
for returning, and 90 It was that NIL
dred Wayland had awaited him.
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