The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-11-11


tempered by pursr and deeper
feeling, TIA true, didn't love
you. It'B true. ! despised ron for
marrying mB for an unworthy reA-
son-as I sapposed. What q prig
what q prig l vast AS II my
reasons fuy taking what You had
to give were worthisr."
"Oh, they were." I broke In
eagerly. at sas for your broth
er's sake"
Don't defend me. I deserve
nothing good. But I soon began
to see that good had come to me.
That good--was you. I couldn't
help beginning family to realize
what you were. And I couldn't
reconcile the glimpses I got of
your real nature with the esti-
mate I'd formed of tin my
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS of your will
ingness to marry me-.
"If I'd dreamed ever so dimly
then, of what you've told me now,
what light would have been
thrown upon darkness! But I
didn't guess. I tried tot fix my
thought upon the image of Helene,
to love her dead as had thought
I loved her living. tried to
justify myself in my own eyes.
And when felt myself wavering,
wanting your companionship,
finding 1t sweet, l forced myself
TO see you as I'd once seen you
an ambitious. heartless girl, want
ing to buy some sort of position
with your money. | used to say,
There's no explanation of her
marrying me, man she hardly
knew
"But when at last I began to
understand your forbearance,
your sweetness and devotion, to
the brute who had done nothing
but heap injuries upon you, I
couldn't shut the door of my
heart in your face. 1t was then
first loved you."
"Oh, Miles!" I cried, Now 1t
must be I who dream"
mo, this is no dream" he an
swered. TITS reality. and we're
going to die SOON"
you've made me the happiest
creature OF earth, soon to be the
happiest In heaven!" I answered.
'1f you would kiss me, l should
die happier than l ever lived"
kiss you" he echoed; CPL
kiss you till l kiss your soul away,
and mine with it."
We leaned totward each other
In the dim light of the miners
lamp. He caught me in his arms,
and kissed me with a kiss which
it seemed had no beginning and
need have no end.
After that, for long time, we
did not speai-, but later we talked
fitfully.
"How many hours shall we
last?" / askd steadily, because in
his arms | had no fear.
THAT depends on the air we
have left to breathe. Do you feel
the gas? Are you growing
drowsy?"
Eyes, a little. Are your"
mot yet. NJ yheart beats too
fast with its new happiness. Go
to sleep IN my arms, darling. I'll
hold you. And at last, when /"
"ListeD!" exclaimed. "Do
you hear something-very far
away? A voice calling"
Miles did lot answer me, but
shouted reply to that distant call
which, perhaps, we only fancied.
After that l remember no more,
until the knocking began
knocking that mems axes and
shovels breaking down our prison
walls.
They tell me that 1t was twelve
hours before they broke through
the mass of coal and timber, a
hole big enough to crawl through,
and find US.
By that time Miles and l had
fallen into that strange, drugged
sleep which oloa gas brings.
He and ! lay little apart from
Tom Harboio and Jim Dennis,
they say; but knew nothing till
| walked on nv own bed, and saw
Miles and Miss Timpson, and DR..
Henderson, ell bending over me.
Then, the first question I asked
was, us it dream?" And Miles,
knowing what I meant, answered
without a pause, mo, my dearest,
it's not a dres M"
The second question was about
Tom Hartford. l was very happy
when Miles said that he was alive,
and would get well. John Dennis,
too. would recover.
For two days they kept me in
bed-that stern old nurse of mine,
and the doctor, and Miles. But 1t
was interesting and amusing to