Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1910-11-25

~ bOyu uuu teIouHteu thc NO
tory Of his pilgrimage into the north.
"Yes.' he replied; "as a miner am
a very wretched failure"
She shrugged her shoulders in dis
approval.
Don't use that term!" she cried.
'"rhere is no word so hateful to me
as 'failurc'-I suppose because father
has never failed In anything. Let us
say that your success has been de-
layed.''
VERY 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. Il wonder IL any other man
know would take those risks just for
me-"
"Of course. Why, the risk. mean
the physical peril and hardship and
discomfort, don't amount tO-that." He
snapped his fingers. ut was only the
unending desolation that hurt: 1t 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 l promised to wait. Even If
l had not-cared for you would have
kept my word. That is 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 lost my head about you?"
She laughed softly. II used to think
you wore football suit better than
anybody in the world! Sometimes
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 it?"
II know. 1 known be returned jea!-
ously.
"Rut legions Of men are counting you.
Oh. know. Haven't I devoured So
ciety columns by the yard? The pa
pers were six months old. to be sure.
when | got them. but every mention
of you was just like a knife stab to
me. used to torture my lonely soul
with pictures Of you. You were never
out Of mind for an hour. My days
were given to you. and l 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 are!''
And indeed she was. for her face. or
so imperious. was now softly
alight: her eyes. which other men
found cold. were kindled with n rare
warmth Of understanding: her smile
was almost wistfulIy 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 a close intimacy had compelled a
of 1t rs something wholly
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
he ruled his part of the financial world.
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
And when he had graduated how
proud Of her he had been! How little
be had realized the gulf that separated
them. and how quick had been his
1t was Wayne Wayland who had
shown him his fOlly He had talked