El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-10-31
CHAPTER VIII

~TANNARD had been summoned
a. 20 Omaha, much TO Buttons
~ curiosity and disquiet. Mrs.
Stannard was none the less
radiant A romance was unfolding
right under her roof Her patient was
sitting up in a 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
he set eyes on her. Miriam looked
as though she had been seriously Ill
ried and almost embarrassed words Of
greeting. Mrs. Sumter, however, had
extended both her hands in am i'm
pulse Of loyal liking and friendship.
and it is doubtful if 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 IT. 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.
Its 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 fluttered
for that moment In his grasp.
do you think it thing to be thank
full for? / don't"
al wouldn't have lost it for a months
pay"
may loser said she. ftDo you think !
could have danced with you If I had
dreamed what-what you were doing?"
*You were dancing like a dream"
said he. do you mean was dancing
like a nightmareT
you were doing what was sure to
involve you in grave trouble, and it
wasn't kind to me, Mr.. Lanier.''
I'm all contrition for the anxiety it
caused you, Miss Miriam, and for alb
solute1y nothing else. / wish you TO
know that I 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
effort-a CULVER that he saw and that
set his heart TO 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
" seeking and seizing hers, only faint
~ 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 to come. her
long, curling lashes sweeping the soft
cheeks, now once more blushing like
the dawn. '-Oh, Mr.. Lanierr' he heard
her murmur as though pleading and
warning. Then his dark eyes, glowing
and rejoiceful, fastened on hers. and
quick and ferTent 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 it all these weeks (ah, how the
bohny head was dropping now, but
dropping toward HIM. land now can
keep it back no longer. Miriam, Mir
lam, love you'll love you. Have you
nothing TO tell meT'
One instant Of thrilling suspense
then with a sob yelling up from her
burdened heart the barrier Of her pride
and reserve went as his had gone a
moment ago. ooh, you know-you
know it. Who hasn't known it since
that awful night?" she cried and then
found herself folded. weeping uncon-
trOllably. almost deliriously. in his