Cut Bank pioneer press. [volume] (Cut Bank, Mont.) 1909-current, 1911-06-30
At the End Of the Story
BY NELLIE CRAVEY GILMORE


ed the propriety of admitting it to
him.
A couple sauntered past and the girl
regarded her and the good looking,
cynical stranger with suspicious eyes,.
Phoebe bit her lip and said, almost
dehantly and loud enough for the 9TH
ers to hear:
III you wish. you may tell me, now"
And you're quite sure the story
won't bore your"
"Of course not. I love-a love-
story"
But this one has a very bad end
ing"
Perhaps we. can change that" she
suggested with a touch of levity.
Her name was Dolly" he began,
and loved her from the time she
wore pig-tails and pinafores. When
she was IL, we became engaged to be
married. She went abroad and l
started west for "a little 'roughing' to
offset her abundant polish as we
laughingly phrased it. After a few
months 1t became noised about that l
had lost heavily through unfortunate
Investments, and that instead Of being
a man with an Independent income,
| was next to penniless. The rumor
was absolutely untrue, but it reached
her ears-and a week later l had her
letter telling me that she had found
that she did not love me after all.
OF course she did not dream that l
knew the reason, but l did-and that
was what stung. | was like a crazy
man for a week. Afterward / settled
down to stony despair. But the eat
ing misery Of my heart would not let
me rest and soon l took a different
tack. l plunged into everything, 60
ing from bad to worse, till l had just
about reached the point of sheer des-
peration. l not only didn't care wheth-
er | lived or died. wanted to die.
That is why /"
Tried to rush into that blazing
housed"
Yes"
Phoebe turned her head slowly and
permitted her gaze to meet his frank
ly. "Maybe-maybe you're not exact
ly fair toto Dolly" she said. she
probably didn't know"
She had the papers regularly. I
didn't permit the report to be cor
rected in the press"
The girl made no reply for several
minutes. At last she said: I'm sorry,
1t must be very terrible for you.
But l wouldn't give up. There are
lots OF ways to be happy in the world
even with a broken heart"
That sounds contradictory, doesn't
it?"
"Happy-in other ways she said
thoughtfully, less selfish"
Vandiver grunted. He turned and
looked quickly into her pink, averted
face. There were other ways.
A month passed, two-three. And
despite the fact that Robert Vandiver
had come to the little village of Green
cove for a fortnight's prospecting, he
still fingered. His face had lost its
old dependency. There was a less
hardened expression in the keen grey
eyes and the lines about his mouth
had disappeared.
One day Phoebe met him on the
postoffice steps.
i've just had a letter." he said.
From" she paused.
Yes" he said, grimly, from Dolly"
Some of the pretty color vanished
from Phoebe's cheeks.
She reaches New York on Wednes-
day at three. She wants lie to meet
her.
Phoebe forced a smile. They had
been excellent friends indeed. They
had spent numberless pleasant hours
together in the c%ongenial interchange
of admirably blended opinions. But
now he was going! After what must
have been, in spite of all, empty
months, he was going to-his happi-
ness! And somehow, she must seem
glad-for him.
Il was sure it would all come out
right in the end" she told him, gen.
tly. Clouds will break up sometime.
But-but today is Wednesday-and
it's past ten. There's a train that
leaves Greencove in exactly nine
minutes, for New York. You a just
catch that"
Vandiver was looking at her
very hard and with ~half-tender, half
quizzical expression trembling about
his lips.
But l don't want that" he interrupt
ed her. I'D prefer-something else"
THE roads aren't very good be-.
tween here and New York. l believe
the train will make better time than a
motor"
Il don't want a motor he again in
terposed. She had started down the
steps. He matched his step with hers
and the hand that supported her elbow
was a trifie unsteady. "I-look here.
Phoebe he broke ont ahruntly "vov