The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1917-06-29

1T would only worry him, and it
was my fault"
mo, mine."
II will not hear you say it."
But I must speak to your father
about"
"And the sooner the better; he Is in
good humor with you and the bridge
now. I have heard him speak well Of
you. believe he will be glad to give
me to you"
"And if not?"
II should hate to grieve my father,
but"
She turned and looked at him in the
moonlight. her glorious golden head,
her neck, her shoulders, her arms bare
and beautiful in the celestial illumi-
nation. He seized her hand and lifted
it to his lips as devotee, and she I'M
derstood the reason for the little touch
Of old-world formality and reserve,
when naught but his will prevented
him from taking her to his heart and
making her lips, her eyes, her face, his
own.
snow may God deal with me as I
deal with you," he said fervently, IF l
ever fail at least to try with all my
heart and soul and strength to measure
up to your sweetness and light"
"My prayer for myself. too" she
whispered.
"YOu need 1t not"
"You must wait here" she said,
deeply touched, as they had now
reached the steps Of the car, until I
have changed my dress; father would
notice anybody would - that tear.
When I have finished I will come back
to you and then we will seek him and
tell him."
Accordingly Meade stood obediently
waiting outside the car in the shadow
it cast. There was no one about. The
servants had gone to bed. The porter
of the car was nodding in his quarters,
waiting for the time to turn out the
lights. The engineer had the long
platform all to himself. After a time
he chose to walk quietly up and down,
thinking. The future looked very fair
to him.
"Bert," sweet voice came to him
out of the darkness. He turned to dis
cover her standing in the door Of the
car dressed as she should have been
for such an excursion had she at first
followed her fathers wise suggestion.
His heart thrilled to the use Of the IA
miliar name. "Bert, I'm coming down
to you"
Hand in hand they walked to the
rear Of the car, where the observation
platform was still brightly lighted. Abb
bott had gone and the other three men
were on their feet. They were about
to separate for the night. although it
was still rather early.
Father" said his daughter out Of
the darkness.
"Oh, you're there" answered the
colonel. 81 wondered when you were
coming back. I was just thinking Of
going to fetch you. Is Mr.. Meade"
"I'm here, sir"
"Good night, gentlemen" said the
colonel as the others turned away,
leaving him alone on the platform.
He came to the edge and leaned over
the brass railing.
"Are you two going to make night
of itr' he asked loosely.
Colonel nlingworth," began Meade.
Father" said his daughter at the
same time, 1--WE have something to say
to you"
Colonel nlingworth opened the gate,
lifted the platform, and descended the
steps.
"Here I am" he said as he stopped
by the two.
His daughter took him by the arm
and they walked down the platform so
as to be out Of any possible hearing
from the car.
"Now," she said to Meade, who fol-
lowed her.
His heart was beating almost as rap
idly as it had on the bridge, and for
exactly the same reason-fear Of los
ing her. He tried to speak.
swell, young man" said Hing
worth, Ticking the ashes from his cigar
and wishing to get it over, you said
you had something to say to me-"
"It's very hard thing to say, SIR"
He looked helplessly at the girl, but
she was speeches.. It was his task
If she were not worth asking for, she
was not worth having, she might have
said. "Well, sir" he began desperate
ly, II love your daughter, Helen. I
want to marry her."
"Umph," said the colonel, 81 sup
posed as much. How long have you
and Helen known each other?"
"Over a year, sir, but I loved her
from the very moment saw her. l
did not dare hope, didn't dream, I
never imagined, and strange as it may
seem, sir, she-seems to love me-"
"Of course I do" said Helen, realiz-
ing that it was now high time for her
to come to the rescue Of her lover,
"and SO would any other woman"
'You know, Of course, that while
am not rich, am not poor, and I can
support my wife in every comfort, SIR"
urged the man, greatly relieved by the
woman's prompt avowal.
She'll need a few luxuries besides,
I'm thinking"
eyes, Of course, sir, I'll see that she
gets them. This bridge is going to
make us all famous, and I shall have
my fathers influence and"
when the bridge is finished" said
the colonel decisively, "come to me and
you shall have my daughter"
"Oh, father, the bridge won't be fin
iShed for" began the girl.