The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1914-06-12

was plainly out of sorts. 'Tll stand, II
you don't mind. Beastly tiresome, sit
! ting in a hot, stuffy train"
| He took couple of turns across the
porch. his eyes shifting in the eager,
annoyed manner of one who seeks for
something that, in the correct order OF
things, ought to be plainly visible.
Please sit down, Leslie. You make
| me nervous, tramping about like that.
| We can't go In for half an hour or
| more"
Cant go in?" he demanded, stop
/ ping before her. He began to pull at
his little moustache
mo. Hetty's posing. They won't
permit even me to disturb them"
He glared. With a final, almost dra-
matte twist he gave over jerking at
his moustache, and grabbed up chair,
which he put down beside her with a
vehemance that spoke palmer thar
words
Il say" he began. scowling in the
direction of the doorway, how long is
he going to be at this silly job?"
SILLY job? Why, it is to be a mas
terpiece," she cried.
Il asked you how long,"
"Oh, how can l tell? Weeks, per-
haps. One can't prod a genius"
TITS all tommy-rot," he growled
II suppose I'd better take the next
train back to town"
Don't you like talking with me?"
she inquired, with a pout.
"Of course do" he made haste to
say. But do you mean to say they
won't let anybody in where Oh,
say! This is rich!"
Spectators upset the muse, OF
words to that effect"
He stared gloomily at his cigarette
case for moment. Then he carefully
selected cigarette and tapped it on
the back Of his hand.
See here, Sara, I'm going to get
| this off my chest" he said bluntly
1--WE been thinking it over all week
I don't like this portrait painting non
| sense"
Dear me! Didn't you suggest it?'
she inquired innocently, but all the
time her heart was beating violent
time to the song of triumph.
He was jealous. 1t was what she
wanted, what she had hoped for all
along. Her purpose now was to en-
courage the ugly flame that tortured
him, to fan it into fury, tn make it I'M
| endurable. She knew him we'll: His
supreme egoism could not withstand
| an attack upon it's complacency. Like
all the Wrandalls, he had the habit
Of thinking too well of himself. He
possessed a clearly-defined sense OF
humor, but it did not begin to include
self-sacrifice among its endowments
He had never been able to laugh at
himself for the excellent reason that
some things were truly sacred to him
She realized this, and promptly
laughed at him. He stiffened.
Don't smoker, Sara" he growled
He took time to light his cigarette, and
at the same time to consider his an
swer to her question. 'Tn a way, yes
| suggested a tort Of portrait, OF
course. A sketchy thing. something
like that, you know. But not an all
summer operation"
But she doesn't mind" explained
Sara. "In fact, she is enjoying it. She
and Mr.. Booth get on famously to-
gether."
"She likes him, eh?"
Certainly. Why shouldn't she like
him? He is adorable"
He threw his cigarette over the rail
ing. Comes here every day, l sup
pose?"
MY dear Leslie, he is to do me as
soon as he has finished with her.
| don't like your manner"
oh" he said in dull sort Of won.
der. No one had ever cut him short
in just that way before. What's up
Sara? Have l done anything out OF
the way?"
you are very touchy. it seems to
me-"
I'm sore about this confounded por
trait monopoly"
I'm sorry, Leslie. I suppose you
will have to give in, however. We are
three to one against you-Hetty. Mr.
Booth and l."
Il see," he said, rather blankly
Then he drew his chair closer. "See
here, Sara, you know I'm terribly keen
about her. think about her, dream
about her, I oh, well, here 1t Is in a
| nutshell: I'm in love with her Now
| do YOU understand"
II don't see how you could help be-
ing in love with her." she said calmly
| Il believe 1t is habit men have where
she is concerned"
You're not surprised" he cried
himself surprised.
| mot in the least"
| II mean to ask her to marry me,
he announced with finality. This was
| intended to bowl her over completely
She looked at him for an instant
and then shook her head. I'D like to
be able to wish you good luck"
He stared You don't mean to say
she'd be fool enough" he began in.
credulously, but caught himself up in
time. "Of course, I'd have to take my
chances" he concluded, with more hu.
mility than she had ever seen him dis
play. do you know of any one else?'
NO." she said seriously. "She doesn't
confide in me to that extent. / fear
I've never asked"
do you think there was any one
back there in England" He put 1t
in the past tense, so to speak, as II
there could be no question about the
present