Evening star., 1911-08-13

burned
"Who said thato7
"Why-why, Mr.. Dunford came to tell me that after
the disaster
"Dunford, the superintendent But why should he
have told you that' He was the very one who knew
was alive. He said he was friend; he had taken
to hospital in Philadelphia For seven months
| lay there, less than baby, with broken arms and
crushed chest. And no word came from you no answer
to the letters Dunford wrote for | could not know
why. never learned the except that when |
returned to Kennesbarre you were gone no one knew
whittier. 1t said you left suddenly to be married.
"Yes ves!" she said family, her voice struggling
through her lips. Il thought you were dead, Harry
How could | know it not 50? | was all alone IN
Kennesbarre, alone like yourself. So | went to New
York. He said you were buried alive; he said you
were burnt.' she repeated helplessly:
at might have been well for me it had been So,
returned the man in sepuchra tone "But was not
dead. as you When found you gone, lost all in
in myself in life in my ambitions in culture and
science in the mastery OF things once longed to accom-
pish-for you-for myself And SO | remained miner,
instead of becoming master-a mere miner, Paula,
though | have risen to be fire boss. Yes they were
quite right, since that day have really been
He smiled grimly; yet in his speech there pahos
and pain that from some deep and long sealed
grief at the foundations of his being.
"You than mere miner Henry. You are
yourself-you will always be that. You are still what
| always called you,-do you remember !-crystal
among the coa-yes, clear and pure as this fragment
you Just gave me.
HE lowered his fine cad and leaned against the heavy
= framework at the mouth OF the slope HIS Inquire
seemed to Paula Dunford like that of some shadowy
world weary Atlas, standing the eclipse of his life and
fetered by the nsupportable burden of the dark toll
some existence she had once inspired him to cast off,
this worthy of the Tears sprang to her
she wept silently for hirl-as for herself. Their two
defrauded hearts beat in futile protest empty as this
robbed and abandoned mine. She reached for his
hands, then gave gasp she raised the lett one to the
light. The ring finger was missing
Il lost the finger in that accident, he said calmly
"The finger would not have mattered much but the
ring you gave it. But perhaps the ring
did not matter much, either-slnce lost more than
that"
She pressed an impusve kiss upon the black, mutt
lated hand, and hot fell on it. "But | loved
you, Harry she murmured. Il always loved you.
This very day | thought Of nothing but you-every-
thing about this strange colery spoke of you-o the
sank down the block of slate. "To think that we
should meet again-after sixteen years-here in the
depths of this mne-and SO far from Kennesbarre"
"There greater distances than time space, SAID
the miner.
Then both were silent until Mavs his large eyes full
of doubt and brooding, began repeating:
@Why should Dunford have lied about me! He took
care Of me; he my friend-why should he have
lied?'
The woman shook her head slowly and clasped and
unclasped her hands in agitation. How simple was this
strong and noble soul-how grandly simple how beautl
fully trustful!
4That man. said Mavs suddenly, pointing down
the profunditv of the slope 1wto is hep
"My husband
"Your name What is it now2r
"Oh do not ask me that" she cried out in sudden
terror. Then the next she added, "But you
will learn it. after all He to buy the mine 1t IS
Dunford.7
He looked at her xedly; but in his eyes there lay
startled and pathetic look tremor into his voice
"Dunford He your husband? No, it cannot be! Dun
ford different man.
"He has changed-just as you, |, have changed
1t is sixteen years, Henry"
Then light broke upon his mind illuminating all the
enignatic ateu past devastating his long faith IN this
man, striking like forked, flaming bolt into the tender
tissues of his heart and mind flash rending yet clarity
ing ALL beraying the hideous traitoros plot whereby
he had been cheated of this woman, and she of him.