The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1917-08-24
himself to pursue his course and to

himself to pursue his course and to
keep silent.
Yet such is the character Of tenn
permanent like that Of Shurtliff, mar
rowed and contracted by single pas
sion of life and lacking the breadth
which comes from intercourse with
men and women, that his computations
Of conscience only made him the more
resolved. The lonely, heart-broken old
man swore that he would never tell.
The young man could 60 his own gait
and work out his own salvation, or be
damned, If he must. The woman's
heart might break, pitiful as that
would be, but he would never tell. He
was as unhappy in that determination
as any other man fighting against his
conscience must inevitably be.
Sometimes looking at the misery In
the old mans face (for on his counte-
nance his heart wrote his secret),
Helen nlingworth experienced COM
Functions Of conscience of her own,
which she told to Rodney in default
Of other confessor. That fine young
man appreciated fully the woman's
feelings and understood her keen SEN
sibilities, and his comprehension was a
great comfort to her. He encouraged
her to persevere. Since 1t was only
through Shurtliff that the truth could
be established, she must not falter
nor reject any fair and reasonable
means to gain his whole confidence
and make him speak. 1t was, after
oil, simply q question Of whether the
game was worth the candle. How best
could they expose or fight deceit?
And that tne deception was for noble
purpose and to serve laudable end in
the minds of the deceivers did not
alter that fact.
''You are doing nothing in the least
degree dishonorable, Miss nlingworth,"
said Rodney, reassuringly. "Woman's
wiles have been her weapons since
the Stone Age"
'But I do feel computations of con-
science occasionally"
Personally think you are abunt-
antly justified" urged Rodney.
eyes, to establish the truth, to give
the man I love his good name would
justify more than this" she replied,
"and yet"-she smiled faintly-"my
conscience does hurt me a little. The
old man is beginning to love me-"
THAT'S the reason 1t hurts you," said
Rodney. when he loves you enough
ne will do anything you want, as I
would"
The young man stopped, looked long
at her, and then turned away with lit
tie gesture of-was 1t appeal or re-
nunciation? He was too loyal to his
friend to speak, but he could not con-
troll everything. The tone Of his voice,
the look in his eyes, his quick avoid
ance of her, told the woman a little
story. They had been very closely as
ISOLATED, these two. Rodney also had
not had much advantage Of woman's
society, certainly not Of woman like
Helen Illingworth. She had given him
her full confidence in the intimacy.
He was a man. He loved like others.
She was too fond Of him, too great,
too true a woman to pretend.
'Mr. Rodney" said the girl, laying
her hand on his arm as though to re-
strain him, shat way madness lies"
''AIiss nlingworth," said Rodney,
turning and facing her, his lips firm
ly compressed, his eyes shining. "Tm
devoted to Bert Meade and to YOU
he lifted her hand from his arm and
kissed it-"and I'm going to do every
thing for your happiness"
Brave words and he said them more
bravely.
81 understand" said the woman,
"and I honor you for your loyalty to
your friend and your devotion to me.
Loyalty is not always the easiest
thing on earth, I know"
"You make it easy for me because
you understand"
So the fall and winter were filled
with interest to Helen Illingworth and
there was in her days no lack Of hope.
Every Saturday the flowers that Meade
had arranged for spoke words Of love
to her and babe her not forget, al
though that was admonition she did
not need.
That was the only message that she
received from her lover. He had
dropped out of sight completely. They
caused search to be made for him,
sought tidings of him in every possible
way, but in vain. Her heart almost
broke sometimes at the separation. She
had confidence enough in her power
over him, and in her woman's wit, to
feel that if she had only another op-
portunity she might learn the truth,
force it from him, constrain him to tell
it, because she loved himi