The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1914-10-02


widows penniless. However" he rose
with an evident effort we've gone
over all this hundred times. I'll see."
Yielding was in his voice.
She fell back into her languid grace
| full pose. She gave him her very
sweetest smile, which she meant to
seem lovingly grateful. He saw in it
only triumph.
You can be such a dear!" she
purred. I'm so proud of you! And
now you'd better hurry and dress. You
! know the Higsbees are coming for
! dinner"
He repressed an oath. I'D forgot
ten" And he limped heavily from the
| room. -
In his own room he dropped on the
bed, yielding for brief interval to
the pain and weakness of which It
was his pride never to give sign
before others.
He descended barely In time to join
Unity in greeting their guests.
He did not see deeper vanity in
his feeling of superiority over his
guests. Higsbee was big beefy man.
red Of countenance and with raucous
voice that grated on Marks nerves.
He was rough, not to say boisterous,
In manner, and his notion of wit was
yelled smuttiness-essays to which
| Unity, incompatible hostess! paid the
| perfect compliment of shocked laugh
and blush.
The dinner was well cooked and
served, which was not always true
when the Truths dined alone. Mark
ate sparingly, the while eying covet-
ously the viands with which he dared
not indulge himself. He talked little,
neither Higsbee's coarse daring nor
the ladies' light gossip of plays, latest
books and mutual acQuaintances-
especially Of mutual acQuaintances-
being fields in which he felt at home
But he was secretly much amused
when to Unity's casual mention Of
Mrs. Henley's call, Mrs. Higsbee re-
piled with the invidious suggestion
that Mrs. Henley was a good deal Of
a snob. And when Unity countered
sweetly, "Do you think SO? haven't
found her So" he chuckled aloud.
He explained the chuckle. 'One
mustn't look gift horse in the
mouth" At which crude remark Higs-
bee guffawed, Mrs. Higsbee Uttered
maliciously and Unity looked panied.
All three had suspicion Of what he
knew-that Mrs. Henley's call had
been under orders, a gift from Henley.
Later he smoked, slowly and very
appreciatively, mild cigar, which
lasted until Higsbee had consumed the
| second.
How" Higsbee asked once, INTACT
fully, Ibid you get Henley to send hts
wife around?"
Mark resented the question. Il
didn't get him to-"
MOP" Higsbee looked bit incred-
ulous. We'll, you certainly do stand
well with him. Say. if you get a
chance, wish you'd drop him a hint
that we'd be glad to have her CALL"
I'm afraid" Mark said coldly, Hen
| ley isn't q man to take that sort of
| hint kindly"
Il wish you would" Higsbee urged.
/ Mrs. H. is crazy for 1t. And reckon"
he laughed lumberingly, 1.-The best way
| Is to get woman what she wants
It's comfortablest, anyhow"
Il haven't found it so," Mark lied.
| adopting Unity's tactics, and promptly
changed the subject.
But at last the Higsbees left.
Thank heaven!" exclaimed Mark
| "And to think that that man is one
| of the best labor handlers in the coun-
| try!"
"Bourgeois!" Unity gave a shrug
and a nod to include the departed
| guests.
Spell it."
Unity complied.
Hmm! l happen to know what 1t
means" He gave her look of mock
admiration. Unity, you're wonder
You've got the nerve of a winner
You travel too fast gait for me. Who
could believe that less than six years
ago you were back in Bethel, keeping
company with tight-fsted Bill Slocum."
But Unity was too well pleased with
herself just then to resent this cruel
reminder. Don't you see why l am
| so anxious to get up above such peo-
ple?"
II can see," he said, 81 shall have
to give in"
She went to him with little cud-
ding movement, locking both hands
over one of his shoulders and looking
up at him. She made a pretty picture
A mirror over the mantle reflected it
for him.
| "Oh, Mark, you make me SO happy!
Tell me the truth. Aren't you glad
made you come back to the city, and
that we've got so far-and that we're
| going so much farther?"
You insist upon the truth?" He
looked thoughtfully at the reflection.
We'll, l suppose l must be. Other
wise you couldn't force me to buy the
new house, even though you are a very
capable bully"
"Bully!"
Exactly. Only" he continued. ''I
still have sense Of proportion. We
are rather absurd, you and l. Unity"
She laughed contentedly. II know
| you. It's like you to growl when you're
doing specially nice thing" She
| held up her lips to him.
And is this my reward? Magnifi-
cent?" But he did not kiss her. He
| looked curiously at her. Long ago he
had been undeceived. He knew that
the shallow tenderness and admiration
summoned by her sweetness of flesh
and perfect grooming were not love.