The Ely miner., 1914-09-18

Piotr snarled: You've got nerve
to come back here at ALL"
"Piotr." Roman reprovsd him
quietly, "it iss not for YOU"
"Of courEo," Mark addressed Roman.
you want me to go. l suppose you
blame me. l blame myself somehow
don't know why. lit isn't fair! 1t
isn't my fault you've been fired. You
ought to see that. And I'd be a fool
not to take your job. now that you
can't have it any more"
HUH" sneered Piotr. You're glad
enough Of the chance, too."
'Piotr!" The boy subsided. Roman
went on: "It iss not your fault am
oldt, no. Butt iss better you 90.
You haf mine chop. 1t iss not goot
for me to see unit hear of the work
OF strong men ven am not strong.
Il will go tonight"
II hat not zaidt tonight. Ven you
hat another goot place to CO."
Il will go tonight"
"Well-good-by, them" said Pion
promptly.
Mark waited a moment longer. But
there was really nothing more to be
said. He went upstairs.
His carpetbag packed-a brief task
he waited. And this was hard
hard! Now there was at least the sem
blance Of struggle.
It almost shook him because with
that went-Kazia. Instinct, brushing
aside the mist Of false teachings, In
terpreted anew and Alright the passion
he had thought ignoble, warned him to
take this whole love while yet there
was time.
Almost thou persuadest me.
But not altogether. His desire-to
survive, to win his place among the
masters-still held the whip, kept him
facing doggedly his straight road
ahead. And. as if jealous Of any rival
for supremacy over him, it claimed
the pale lesser love. He could not see
the unlettered Hunky girl sharing that
conquest.
When she came, she stood for mo-
ment at the door, question and
great fear in her eyes.
IL was waiting for you," he said.
Il knew. But couldn't come any
sooner"
Her glance fell to the bag, rose
again. She walked slowly toward him.
He rose. Scarcely an arms length
away, she halted. Suddenly tears stood
In her eyes. She put out both hands
in quick pleading gesture.
Don't go!"
"They don't want me to stay, Kazia- I"
That's because you've taken his
Job. Don't take it,"
He shook his head. you don't un-
derstand. There's no reason why
shouldn't take it."
Hes your friend"
"You don't understand" he repeated
wearily. IF 1 could give him back
his job by not taking it, I'd not take
it." He believed that then! He be-
gan again the old reasoning. "But
l couldn't. Some one else would get
it-that's all. Isn't it better for me
to have it than a stranger? Roman"
he concluded bitterly, Ought to see 1t
that way"
II know there isn't any good reason
Butt couldn't go with you, If you
took it."
She couldn't go with him! His eyes
fell miserably.
"Oh. mol" With one swift step she
bridged the space between them.
throwing her arms around his neck.
"Oh, no! / didn't mean that. I'd 60
with you, whatever you did. I'd have
to. I couldn't stay here, when you're
gone-go back to the way 1t was be-
fore you came I couldn't stand that"
A little shudder passed over her.
"You can't understand" he cried
again. I've tried"
Il know. I've seen it troubling you.
though l didn't know what it was. But
cant you see? I'm the reason
You'll never find any one that can love
you like l can. It's all l know-to
love-to love you. l don't ask much.
But can give-everything."
With a force that must have hurt
her he freed himself from her clasp
and sank shaking into the chair, COW
ering his face with his hands. For q
breath the scales quivered. Then:
'Kazia," he whispered, II haven't
been square with you. There's-there's
another girl"
There is-And you"
After what seemed like q long
silence he dared to glance up to see
how she had taken it. By then she
had crept to the threshold and was
looking back at him. About her lips
a dazed, foolish little smile was play
ing. And her eyes were the eyes Of
one who had just seen a great horror
When he looked up again, she was
gone.
An hour later-how he could not
have told-he found himself wander
ing in the streets, carrying his ancient
carpetbag.