Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-08-17

sorry that he needed her no longer.
She did not watch the last bridge
member swung, but went to her room
and tried to face the future. Spring
was here; her book was finished; there
was the need to take up her life again.
She was surprised when Murray
came TO find her.
II missed you. Eliza" he said. The
others are all down at the river bank,
want you to congratulate me"
She saw. with a jealous twinge. that
exultation over his victory had over
come his WEAKNESS. that his face was
allsht with a fire she had never before
seen. He seemed young, vigorous and
masterful once more.
U course he went on. the credit
belongs to Parker. who worked the
bridge out in each detail-he's marvel
ous-and to Mellen. who actually built
it, but helped a little. Praise TO me
means praise to them"
ut is all over now.i isn't it,"
practically. Blaine has cabled New
York that we've Won. Strictly speak
ing, we haven't as vet. for there's still
the breakup to face. But the bridge
will come through it without a scratch.
The ice may go out any minute now.
and after that I can rest" lie smiled
at her gladly. sit will feel good to get
rid of all this responsibility. won't it?
1 think you've suffered under it as
much as / have"
a little wistfully she answered.:
you're going to realize that dream
you told ME about the day Of the
storm at Kyak. You have conquered
this great country-as you dreamed"
He acquiesced eagerly, boyishly.
"Ies. Whirring wheels. a current OF
traffic, u broad highway of steel-that's
the sort of monument l want to leave"
Some time Ill come back and see it
all completed and tell myself that I
had IA little part in making it."
Come back?" he queried. why,
you're going to stay till we're through.
aren't you?"
ooh, no. I'm going south with the
spring flight-on the next boat per-
haps."
His face fell: the exultant light grad
ually faded from his eyes.
"Why, l had no idea. Aren't you
happy hcre?"
She nodded. But 1 must try to
make good in my work as you have in
yours
He was looking at her sorrowfully,
almost as if she had deserted him.
That's too bad, butt suppose you
must go. Yes, this is n place for you.
[ dare say other people need you to
bring sunshine and JOY to them just
as we old fellows do, but-I've never
thought about your leaving. 1t would
not be right to ask you to stay here
among such people as we are when
you have so much ahead Of you. Still,
it will leave 4 gap. Yes. it certainly
will-leave a gap"
She Ionged desperately to tell him
how willingly she would stay if he
only asked her, but the very thought
shocked her into il deeper reserve.
I'm going east to sell my book" she
said stit1ly. You've given me the eli
max Of the story in this race with the
seasons"
SIS it a-love story?" he asked.
Eliza flushed. Yes. It's mostly
love"
You're not ut all the girl 1 thought
you were when we first met. You're
very-diifcrent. I'm sure l won't rec
ogniZe myself us the hero. Who-or
what is the girl in the story?'
We'll, she's just the kind of girl that
would appeal to 4 person like you.
She's tall and lark and dashing, and,
of course, she's remarkably beautiful.
She's very feminine too"
whats her name?"
Miss Appleton stammered, "Why-I
called her N~iolet-until I could think
of a better
whats wrong with Violet? You
couldn't think of a better name than
that. I'm fond of it."
"Oh. it's Il good book name, but for
real life it's too-delicate." Eliza felt
with yeXation that her face was burn
ing. She was sure he was laughing at
her.
Cant l read the manuscript" he
pleaded.
Heavens. No. p She changed
the subject abruptly. I've left word
to be called the minute the ice starts to
go out. l want to see the last act Of
the drama"
When O'Neil left her he was vaguely
perplexed, for something in her bear
ing did not seem quite natural. He
was forlorn, too, at the prospect of los
ing her. He wondered if fathers suf-
fered thus, Of if a lover could be more
deeply panied at a parting than he.
Somehow he seemed to share the feel
ings of both.
Early on the following morning Eliza
was awakened by Il sound of shouting
outside her window. She lay half
dazed for a moment or two until the
significance of the uproar made itself
apparent; then she leaped from her
! bed.