Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1911-03-16
CHAPTER XVII.

CHAPTER XVII.
How Tom Gordon had informed him
self of the precise day and train OF
their home coming, Ardea did not think
to inquire. But he was on the plat
form when the train drew in, and was
the first to welcome them.
She was quick to see and appreciate
the changes wrought in him, by time,
by the Boston sojourn, by the sum-
mer's struggle with adverse men and
things-though of this last she knew
nothing as yet 1t seemed scarcely
credible that the big, handsome young
fellow who was shaking hands with
her grandfather, helping Miss Euphra-
STA with her multifarious belongings,
and making himself generally useful
and hospitable, could be a later REIN
carnation of the abashed school-boy.
mot word for me, TOMB" she said.
when the last of Cousin Euphrasa's
treasures had been rescued from the
impatient train porter and added to the
head on the platform.
"All the words are for you-or they
shall be presently" he laughed. Just
let me get your luggage out of pawn
and started -Traceward, and I'll
talk you to a finish"
She stood by and looked on while he
did it. Surely. he had grown and ma
tured in the three broadening years!
There was conscious manhood, effec-
tiveness, in every movement; In the
very bigness of him. She had a little
attack of patriotisnt saying to herself
that they did not fhshion such young
men in the Old World.
Nanny Juliet's grandson, Pete, was
down with the family carriage, and he
took his orders from Tom touching the
bestowal of the luggage as he would
have taken them from Major Dabney.
Ardea marked this, too. and being
Southern bred, wrote the Gordon name
still little higher on the scroll of es-
TEEN. When Pete had done his Office
with the European gatherings of the
party the ancient carriage looked like
van, and there was scant room in
side for three passengers.
THAT means us for old Longfellow
and the buggy" said Tom to Ardea.
do you mind? Longfellow is fearful
ly and wonderfully slow, same as ever,
but he's reasonably sure"
ANY way" said Ardea; so he put
her into the buggy and they drew in
behind the carriage. Before they were
halfway to the iron-works they had
the pike to themselves, and Tom was
not urging the leisurely horse.
MY landi but it's good for tired
eyes to have another sight of you'll" he
declared. Then: 1T has been a full
month of Sundays. Do you realize
that?"
"Since we saw each other? 1t has
been much longer than that hasn't it?"
Not so very much. I saw you in
New York the day you sailed"
You did Where was II"
You had just come down in the ele'
vator at the hotel with your grandfath-
: er and Miss Euphrasla"
And you wouldn't stop to speak to
us? I think that was simply barbar-
ousl"
But the time was horribly unpro-
pitious.''
"Why?"
I'm wondering whether I'd better lie
out of it; say I knew you were on your
way to breakfast, and that I hoped to
have later opportunity, and all that.
Shall 1 do it?"
She did not reply at once. The I'M
deceived inner self was telling her that
here lay the parting of the ways; that
on her answer would be built the struc-
ture, formal or confidential, of their
future intercourse. Loyalty to the halo
demanded self-restraint; but every
other fiber of her was reaching out for
a establishment of the old boy-and-
girl openness of heart and mind. Her
hesitation was only momentary.
you are just as rude and Gothic as
you used to be, aren't you. Tom? Don't
you know, I'm childishly glad of it;
was afraid you might be changed in
that way, too-and 1 don't want to find
anything changed. You needn't be po-
lite at the expense of truth-not with
me-"
II had my war paint on that morn
ing, and 1 wasn't At to talk to you.
Didn't the Major tell you about it?"
Not a word. hope you didn't quar-
rel with him, too?"
He marked the adverb of addition
and wondered If Vincent Farley had
been less reticent than Major Dabney
mo; 1 didn't quarrel with your
grandfather"
But you did quarrel with Mr.. Far
ley?-or was it with Vincent? I am
going to make you like the Farleys."
He shook his head again. You'll
have to make Christian of me first
and teach me how to love my enc
miles,"
Don't you do that now7"
mo; not unless you are my cnemyi
love you"
hn ant