The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1913-05-02
CHAPTER vII.-(Contjnued.)

CHAPTER vIl.-(continued.)
Didn't the people at the Rocky Bal
Hotel try to dissuade you from start
ing?" said Buford. They. must have
known it was dangerous. They must
have been worried about you or they
wouldn't have telegraphed up"
"Oh, l believe they did" The young
man tried to hide the annoyance the
questions gave him under a dry brew
ity of speech. They did all that they
ought to have done. I'll see them
again on my way down."
And yet you persisted" The &C
tor turned to Rose with whom, as he
sat beside her at table, he had be,
come quite friendly. THE blind con-
fdence Of youth, Miss Cannon, isn't
1t grand, inspiring thing?"
Dominick shifted his aching feet
under the rug. He was becoming ex.
ceedingly irritated and impatient, and
wondered how much longer he would
be able to respond politely to the con,
versational assiduities Of the stranger.
Now" continued Buford, kindly
ooNASAJ hAy III ohO PSAAS-
Why, when you were told Of the dan.
ger of the enterprise, did you start?''
Perhaps l liked the danger, wanted
it to tone me up. I'm bank clerk,
Mr.. Buford. and my life's monotonous.
Dangers change"
He raised his voice and spoke with
sudden, rude defiance. Buford looked
nrYinb1u whit &c
went up nearly to his hair.
"A bank clerk. OH" he said with
a falling infection of disappointment,
much chagrined to discover that the
child of millions occupied such hum
BILE niche. 'I-I-was not aware of
that"
"An assistant cashier" continued
Dominick in the same key of exas-
peration, "and managed to get hol-
iday at this season because my father
was one Of the founders of the bank
and they allow me certain privileges.
If you would like to know anything
else ask me and I'll answer as well
as l know how"
His manner and tone so plainly in
lCOCuluSHI VI Tic Juliet .
curiosity that the actor flushed and
shrank. He was evidently well-mean-
ing and sensitive, and the young mans
rudeness hurt rather than angered
him. For a moment nothing was said,
Buford making no response other
than to clear his throat, while he
stretched out one arm and pulled
down his cuff with a jerking move
ment. There was constraint in the
air, and Rose, feeling that he had
been treated with unnecessary harsh
ness, sought to palliate it by lifting
the book on her lap and saying to
him:
This is the book we were talking
about when you came in, Mr.. Buford
Wife in Name Only Have you read
it?"
She handed him the ragged volume
and holding it off he eyed it with q
scrutiny all the more marked by the
way he drew his brows down till they
hung like bushy caves over his eyes
mo, my dear young lady. 1 have
not. Nor do feel disposed to do so
Wife in Name Only That tells a
whole story without reading a word
Were you going to read it?"
mo; Mr.. Ryan and l were lust
looking over them. We were think
ing about reading one of them aloud
This one happened to be on the pile >
ITO me-" continued Buford, "the
name IL repelling because it suggests
sorrows of my own"
There was a pause. He evidently
expected a question which undoubt
eddy was not going to come from Dom
mick, who sat fallen together in the
armchair looking at him with moody
ill-humor. There was more hope from
Rose, who gazed at the floor but said
nothing. Buford was forced to repeat
with an unctuous depth of tone, "Sug
gests sorrows of my own" and faster
his glance on her, so that, as she
raised her eyes, they encountered the
commanding encouragement of his.
Sorrows of your OWN" she repeat
ed timidly, but with the expected
questioning infection.
Yes, my dear Miss Cannon" re
turned the actor with a melancholy
which was full of rich, dark enjoy
ment. my wife is one in name only
There was another pause, and mel
Their showing any intention of break
ing it, Buford remarked:
That sorrow is mine"
What sorrow?" said Dominica
bruskly.
The sorrow Of deserted man." re
turned the actor with now, for the
nrst time, something Of the dignity
OF real feeling in his manner.
Oh" the monosyllable was extreme
~ noncommittal, but 1t had the air OF
nnaiity as though Dominick intended
to say no more.
has she-er-left your" said the
girl In low and rather awe-stricker
voice.
The actor inclined his head in an
iacquiescent bow:
"She has"
Again there was pause. Unless
Buford chose to be more biograph
ical, the conversation appeared to
have come to a deadlock. Neithe,
of the listeners could at this stage
break into his reserve with questions