The Ely miner., 1911-06-02


happy.
Robert Sterling kept near Miss Har-
land all the afternoon. Not once did
the young teacher look in David's
direction, but that young man had de-
cided upon his next step and waited
patiently until the festivities were
ended. When the guests were taking
leave of their small hostess he
stepped to Miss Harland's side and
| said quietly:
81 shall walk home with you, Flor
ence; there is something I must say
to you."
Florence Harland's dark eyes
flashed resentful look at him. VERY
well,' she said and turned again to
her entertainers.
AS Robert Sterling had been wit
ness of the greeting bestowed by
Miss Harland upon his friend, he felt
no surprise when David said to him:
81 wish to speak to Miss Harland
| about something important, SO excuse
me for the present"
"All right, you'll find me waiting
here for YOU"
AS soon as the pair was outside the
gate David began. 81 do not know
why you should say I was aware OF
your whereabouts. / have been trying
my best for nearly three months to
| find you When / got back to the
city went at once to your fathers
/ hu
strangers. Then / went to tho firm
from whom they had purchased the
house; but they could tell mo only
that after Mr.. Harland's sudden de-
cease his affairs were found to be in
hopeless confusion and all property
was sold. Of you they could tell me
nothing. Then / called on Miss Bran
don, who was the only friend of yours
had met She told me that yen had
left the city Immediately after your
fathers death, but she had no Idea
where you were. Then I spent three
weeks in unsuccessful attempts to
trace you and finally began to believe
you had purposely concealed yourself
from me, and when Robert"
Miss Harland's scornful voice inter
rupted him. why should you tell this
elaborate falsehood?" she asked, Mar
tina Brandon told me of your call in
the first letter she wrote me, and said
she gave you an account of my obtain
ing this position in the Royceton
school through the efforts of the cous-
in with whom l stayed until coming
here"
"And why should I lie to your
cried David wrathfully. 'T have told
you only the truth; it is Miss Bran
don's word against mine"
"Then / choose Martha's" said Miss
Harland firmly.
David was in white heat of anger
and pain. "You are free to choose" "
he said.
Not another word was spoken be-
tween them until David left her at the
door of her lodging house.
Florence Harland ran upstairs to
her own room, prepared to indulge in
a good cry, but letter on her dresser
caught her eye, and recognizing her
friend Martha Brandon's writing, she
at once opened it.
Dearest Florence: Can you ever
forgive me for deceiving you so ter.
| ribly? After Jack and I quarreled
felt as if l wanted everybody to be
as miserable as was; and when Mr..
Belding called I told him l had nc
idea Of where you were. do not
know how I could have been so wick.
ed, after all your trouble, too; and he
was so anxious to find you. l told
you lie, but please forgive me, Flor.
ence, or l can never be happy again.
even though Jack and have made up.
Please, please forgive your miserable
| friend, Martha Brandon"
After she read this letter poor Flor
ence Harland did indeed have her
good cry" and 1t was hours before
she could bring herself to forgive the
repentant Martha; but when at last
she sobbed herself to sleep all anger
had been cast out of her heart.
In the early morning small boy
brought tiny note to David Bedding,
which caught him just starting for the
first train leaving Royceton. He had
informed Robert Sterling the night
before that his visit must end at
| once.
But this little note made a new mau
of David Belding.
"Will you forgive me? Martha has
written that she told a lie both to you
and to me. Florence Harland," was
all the note said.
1t was more than forgiveness that
Florence received, for very eager
young man sought her the instant her
school duties for the day were over,
anxious to pour forth the old story of
love. And with David's arm around
her and his cheek pressed close to
her own, the lonely young school
teacher felt that she could freely for
| give all wrongs, and bravely face LIES
coming years with him.