The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1911-08-12

bitterly. why seek to reopen the old
wound? You were quite decided, when
you left, that our dream of love was
but a dream, and that there could be
no realization. Now you have come
back to make me fight the fight all
over again. Was it fair. dear. just be-
cause you wanted to see me again be-
fore you went back east?"
TT was fair" she answered steadily,
because [ did not come through idle
curiosity, Cliff / came to tell you that
it was all a mistake. l did not think
that 1 could be happy with you in your
cabin, sharing the luck Of a prospect
or, and | knew that you would not
share a home you had not earned
Now l know, Cliff, that l would
rather live her~-w:th you-than to go
back home and live in luxury. / came
to tell you that, Cliff"
But you were right BEFORE" urged
the man. You may think that it
would be fun to camp out and search
for gold, but you have been born and
bred in the purple, Addie- You don't
know what it is to live on bread and
bacon and to make the bread and cook
the bacon yourself
I do, because you let me do it last
summer" she reminded 1T is be-
cause miss those dear old days that
have come back. Cliff. Don't you want
me?"
Want your he repeated tensely. IT
thought that l had fought my fight
and had won, but l haven't There
has not been a minute in the day, Ad-
die, that 1 have not wanted you"
Then we'll be married and live
happy ever after" she cried content
eddy. kiss me. Cliff. then bandage my
ankle and get down to the hotel or
auntie will be crazy about me-"
Their lips met in a long caress-
Since the early summer, when Addie
Spence had stumbled across the pros
pector's cabin, he had loved the
dainty little woman, but with the
worldly wisdom of her class she had
begged her release from the engage
ment, pleading that she never could
be happy in the woods. Wilbur had
ignored her plea that she had enough
for two in her own right, and that her
fathers death would leave her a mil
lionaire. He wanted to be the head
Of the house. and he could not take
that position unless he was the bread
| winner. Now she had come back to
him in sweet surrender and he was
supremely happy.
1t took but a moment to bandage
the sprained ankle, then he caught
her up in his arms and strobe down
the well-marked trail that led to the
village. The town had grown up
about the hotel built for the benefit
Of those who sought the luxury of an
expensive hotel even when they talked
of cOmmuning with nature. Wilbur
had little in common with the guests
of the hotel. for he despised their
love of luxury.
He kept away from the village as
much as possible, but he had worn
the trail when he and Addie used to
stroll in the twilight, and plan the
roseate future that should be theirs
When the practical side had thrust
itself on the girl she had coaxed her
aunt to take her further west that
she might forget Wilbur. Now she
had come back to make confession
of surrender, and Wilbur whistled hap
PLY as he made his way along. Addie
was scarcely a burden to his arms,
anu ne mdQS SOOQ time UnI1 HIS IOOL
struck a rounded stone and he went
heavily to the earth.
He saved her from hurt by twisting
as he fell but when he did not rise
she called to him in alarm He was
digging the earth away with his
hands and he did not seem to hear.
Presently he arose and built a little
fire of fat pine, and. with an exclama-
ton of satisfaction, he turned toward
the girl
I've found it." he cried. exuItantIy.
Il thought that the vein would be
found further up, but this is it The
rains have washed away the dirt and
have left the outcrop showing. Wen
be rich, Addie girl; as rich as your
father. We can be married and live
in the lap of luxury or in the heart OF
the woods, just as you prefer. Your
two guns were not to call me to aid
your distress; they were the signals
of Dame Fortune, who had a wife
and a gold mine to offer me. 1t was
the signal of success. dear. We have
won-together."