The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1914-11-13

NV TOuUOy nOnouI &c
1t Simple, There"
shoulders. At Kazias age Hanka had
| already begun to wither into an un-
comeliness that men passed by unde-
string. She went over to the dressing
woman and touched timidly the firm.
still youthful flesh.
You are like your mother"
What was she ike?"
"She was like you" Kazia did not
smile. Men saw her and wanted her."
The comb became still. did she
did she love my father?"
Such a love / have never SEEN"
1t had been dark almost an hour
when the bell rang. Hanka heard
Kazia going to the door and a startled
exclamation answered by a mellifluous
voice Hanka did not know. The Wis.
itor was admitted and taken into the
sitting room. To the kitchen came
the murmur of Kazia's voice and his,
chiefly his.
He had been there but a few min
utes when his voice changed. 1t be-
| came eager, with an undertone that
perturbed Hanka strangely. Once
kazia uttered low hurt cry. Hank
rose and crept along the little hall
She crouched in the darkness near
the sitting room door, listening in
tenuy and wishing she had not been
so stupid about English.
Am l an ogre?" the mellifuous
voice was saying.
II do not love YOU"
ut is not question of love. l am
not old, but have lived long enough
to prick that illusion. We scientists
know what love isl
II don't care for you in any way"
Kazia answered coldly. Mr.. Quinby,
you oughtn't to be here. A man in
your position"
my dear lady, let me remind you
that the interest of man in my posi-
ton is not to be rejected lightly. With
word / gave yor the best position
your profession offers woman. With
word / can take it away. l can re.
lieve you of the necessity of working
at all. / can make it impossible for
you to find work in this city,"
Threats"
my dear LADY," the strangers voice
protested. Il would not do that. l
would harm no one. l am a tender
hearted man. /, too, suffer, if by chance
others suffer through me-" The voice,
vibrant with emotion, would have
wrung tears Of sympathy from a stone.
But Hanka, as we have seen, could
not weep. II am only trying to show
that those who enlist my interest do
not lose by it"
$50 you think am for sale?"
Forgive me, my DEAR" said Quinby,
but that is gross. Say rather that.
since you have struck a responsive
chord in my breast, it will be my pleas.
ure to be guardian of your welfare,
to lift you out of the sordid struggle
for existence. And have not proved
that? You lay in the hollow of my
hand. With a breath / could have de-
stroyed your reputation. But l kept
silence, / advanced your interests, l
held you tenderly in my heart. Wom-
an. you have bewitched me. want
you"
Hanka understood at least his last
words and she understood his tone
She crept closer and through the crack
of the sitting room door saw Kazia
elude Quinby's outstretched arms.
At the same moment she heard
hating step on the stairway. She
opened the outer door and went out
to meet Mark Truitt, whispering ex-
citedly to him in Polish. When he,
astonished by her appearance and
emotion, would have spoken, she
clapped a hand over his mouth, an|
clutching him by sleeve, drew him
into the hall. She pointed through the
crack.
Again Quinby reached toward Kazia
and again she recoiled.
"Don't-don't touch me-"
why do you rebuff me? You're not
an ignorant child. You must have
known what my interest in the hos
pital and In you ills year has meant.
You wouldn't have taken my help un-
less you were willing to give me what
I want"
What Is it-what Is It you want!"