Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1911-03-30

with my own eyes," she rejoined Per
haps you can make 1t appear that see
ing Is not believing"
"Of course I can't If you take that
attitude" he complained. And then he
said irritably: You talk about friend
ship You don't know the meaning of
the world"
IF didn't, I should hardly be here
at this moment" she suggested. you
don't seem to apprehend to what de-
grading depths you have sunk"
His sins in the business field rose
before him accusingly and prompted
his reply.
Yes, I do; but that is another mat
ter. We were speaking of what you
saw this evening. VIII you let me try
to EXPLAIN"
Yes, If you will tell the plain truth"
Lacking imagination, can't do any
thing else. Nan has had a falling out
with the old scamp of moonshiner
who calls himself her father. She came
TO me for help, and broke down In the
midst of telling me about 1T. l can't
stand womans crying any better than
other men,"
And that was all-absolutely all.
Tom?"
II don't lie-to you" he said. briefly.
She gave him her hand with an i'm
pulsive return to the old comradeship.
Il believe you, Tom, in The face OF all
the-the unlikeliness. But please don't
try me again. After what has happen
ed" she stopped in Difference to some
thing In his eyes, half anger, half be-
wilderment, or a most skillful simula-
| ton of both.
GO on" he said; tell me what has
happened. 1 seem to have missed
something"
NO" she said, with sudden gravity.
II don't want to be your accuser or
your confessor; and If you should try
to prevaricate. 1 should hate you'll"
There Is nothing for me to confess
to you, Ardea," he said, soberly, still
holding the hand she had given him.
you have known the worst of me, al
ways and all along, think"
Yes, I have known" she replied,
freeing the imprisoned hand and turn
ing from him. And have been sorry.
sorry; not less for you than for poor
Nan Bryerson. You know now what !
thought-what 1 had to think-when !
saw you with her this evening"
1t was slowly beating its way into
his brain. Little things, atoms of sug
gestion, were separating themselves
from the mass OF things disregarded to
cluster thickly on this nucleus of re-
vealment: the old story of his com
1 panying with Nan on the mountain:
his uncle's and Japheth's accusation al
the time; and now the old moonshin
ers enmity, Japheth's meaning look
and distrustful silence, Mans appear
ance with child bearing his owf
name, the glances askance In Hargis
store when he was buying the little
stock Of necessaries for the poor out.
cast. 1t was all plain enough.
Tell me-" he said. thickly: "yo,
heard this: you believed it. Have
been misjudging your"
Not more than 1 misjudged Won
perhaps. But that is all over. now:
am trusting you again, Tom Only. a,
l said before. you mustn't try me to.
hard"
Let me understand" he went on
still In the same strained tone. know
ing this, or believing it, you could still
find place in your heart for me-yo,
could still forgive me, Ardea?"
Il could still be your friend: yes
she replied. Il believed-others beliey
l ed-that your punishment would b
great enough; there are all the comm
years for you to be sorry in, Tom. Bu
in the fullness OF time 1 meant To re-
!, mind you OF your duty The time ha
come; you must play the mans par
now. What have you done with her?
Walt a moment. l must know on
t other thing" he insisted. you hear
0 this before you went to Europe?"
Long before"
d And 1t didn't make any difference {,
o the way you felt toward me7"
$ 1T did; 1t made the vastest diner
ence." They were pacing slowly IL
Q and down the portico, and she waite
until they had made the turn at tn
n Woodlawn end before she went on.
r thought knew you when we were DO
: and girl together, and. girl-like, sun
p pose had localized you in some way
n I thought l knew your wickedness. an
d that they we're not weaknesses; sos
: 1t was a miserable shock. But 1t Wi
e not for me to judge you-only as yo
y might rise or sink from that despera,
: starting point. When came homo
was sure that you had risen; hay
Q been sure of 1t ever since until-unt
y these few wretched hours to-nish
y They are past, and now I'm going
be sure OF it some more, Tom"
II What II should tell you that va
I are mistaken7"
/ Don't" she said. softly. That woul
u only be smashing what Is left of II
ideal. / think couldn't bear that"
: And you've been calling this frient
% | shfnf Ardea girl ita Lowell"
Ardea shook her head slowly.
J. NO" she re1oined, gravely. AT or
,; time I thought was afraid-that