The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1913-06-13

and then-only for a moment like
this"
He felt her hand, small and cold
crush softly inside his, and almost i'm
mediately was conscious of her effor|
to withdraw it. He instantly loosened
his fingers, let hers slide from hi,
grasp, and drew back.
Good night" she said hurriedly
and without looking at him turned am
went up the steps.
1t was great morning for Cornelia
She was engaged. Two evenings be
fore, Jack Duffy, who had been hover
ing round the subject for a month
poised above it, as a hawk above de
lighted prey, had at last descende,
and Cornelia's anXieties were at a
end.
The wind was not yet out in force,
its full, steady sweep would not b
inaugurated till early in the afternoon
1t came now in gusts which fell upo
Cornelia from the back and accelerat
ed her forward progress, throwing on
on either side of her a tapping sal
of skirt
1t was after midday when she fount
herself approaching that particular
block, along the edge of which Tho
| flower-venders place their baskets ant
display their wares. The boys ano
men, seeing that the brilliant lady
was in a generous mood, collected
cI, he
Of their particular blossoms.
Cornelia, amused and somewhat be
wildered, looked at the faces anS
| bought recklessly.
We'll, Cornelia, are you trying tc
| corner the curb-stone market?"
She wheeled swiftly and saw hel
brother.
'Domimck!" she exclaimed, you're
just the person I want to see. l was
going to write to you. I've got lots
to tell you"
Come along then and take lunch
with me. l was on my way up to
Bertrands when 1 saw you. They'll
give us good lunch there and you
can tell me all your secrets"
They walked up the street toward
Bertrand's, French restaurant which
for years had enjoyed the esteem Of
the city's gourmets.
In the restaurant they found va
cant table in a corner, and Cornelia
had to bottle up her good news while
Dominick pondered over the bill OF
fare. She was impatient and drummed
on the table with her fingers, while
her eyes roamed about the room.
The order given and the first
stages of lunch appearing, Cornelia
could at last claim her brothers full
attention.
II told you how awfully anxious
was to see you, and how l was going
to write to you, didn't II"
Her brother looked up and his eye
was caught by her rosily-blushing
cheeks
Dear me, Cornie," he said with a
look of slowly-dawning comprehen-
sion, ut really isn't-it really can't
| be-"
And why can't it be?" looking very
much hurt. whats there so queer
about that?"
Nothing, only meant that hadn't
heard any rumors about it. Is 1t
that?"
yes, it is, Dominick Ryan, and I
don't see why you should be so sur
prised."
Surprised! I'm more than sur
prised. I'm delighted-haven't been
so pleased for years. Who is it?"
Jack Duffy"
ooh, Cornie, that's the best yet!
That's great! It's splendid. wish
could kiss you, but l can't here in
| the open restaurant Why didn't you
tell me somewhere where We would be
alone? I'd just like to give you a
good hug"
Cornelia leaned across the table and
spoke with low-toned, almost tremu-
lous earnestness:
"You know that IL it were I, I'd ask
your wife You know that all the hard
feelings l may once have had against
her have gone. If it were for me to
say, I'd have received her from the
start. What I've always said is.
| What's the good Of keeping up these
| fights? No one gets anything by them.
They don't do any one any good But
you know mommer. The first thing
she said when we talked about the
house wedding, and l said you'd give
me away, was, If he'll come without
his Wife"
| There were tears in her eyes and
| Dominick saw them and looked down
at his plate.
"All right" he said quietly. "I'll
come. When is 1t to be?'
June" said the prospective bride.
| once more beginning to blush and
beam, early in June. The roses are
| so fine then, and we can have the
house so beautifully decorated"
With a scraping Of chair legs, they
rose and, threading their way among
the now crowded tables, passed out
into the wind-swept streets. Here they
separated, Cornelia, with her armful
of willing flowers, going home, and
| Dominick back to the bank.
Two hours later, while he was still
bending over his books, in the hushed
seclusion Of the closed building, Bill
! Cannon was talking to Berry in the
parlor of the Sacramento Street fat
| This interview was neither so long.
and (on Berny's part) did not show
| the self-restraint which haG marked
the first one. The offer of one hun
| dred thousand dollars which the old
man made her was refused with more
scorn and less courtesy then had been
displayed in her manner on the former
occa sion