Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1917-03-24
CHAPTER xvI.-continued.


Il am all right. I'm resting, dear.
end thinking. Don't fret about me.
when feel able, viii cone down
to you"
LAS you will" he assented. unspeak-
ably relieved; and returned to the
kitchen. D..
Sunset interrupted his thoughts
sunset and his wife. Sounds Of
someone moving quietly round the
kitchen, a soft clash of dishes. the
rafting of the crate, drew him back
to the door.
She showed him a face of calm re-
straint and implacable resolve.
'Hugh"-her voice had found q new.
sweet level of genueness and strength
u Just wanted to tell you how sorry
/ am. I've let you go without your
lunch"
We'll" he admitted with a short
laugh, I'm famished"
She paused, regarding him with her
whimsical, indulgent smile. You
strange creature p she said softly.
care you angry with me-impatient--
AOL liliS tOO AHIIiC QtNNSnL AlO4u 1t-- QAA5
10 the commonplace? Be patient with
me. dear"
But, alarmed by his expression, her
words stumbled and ran out. She
stepped back a pace, a little flushed
and tremulous.@
"Hughl No. Hugh, mop
Don't be afraid of me-" he said
turning away. Il don't mean to bother.
Ouly--at times"
4 know, dear; but It must not be-"
Shall you make a fire again to-
nightY she asked, when they had con-
c.uded the meal
IN three places" he said. "Wel
noe stay another day for want OF let
ting people know we're here. III 60
now. When YOU are ready?
I shant be long" she said.
When it was quite dark. Whitaker
brought Il lantern to the door ana
called her, and they went forth to-
getheI.
AS he had promised, he had built
up three towering pyres, widely apart.
When all three We're in fun roaring
flame thei4 illumination was hot and
glowing over all the upland. It
seemed impossible that the world
should not now become cognizant Of
their distress.
Al some distance to the north Of
the greatest fire-that nearest the
farm-house-they sat as on the prevt-
Gus night, looking out over the black
end uaresponsive waters, communing
together in undertones
Ia that hour they learned much Of
one another; much that had seemed
strange and questionable assumed. in
the understanding Of each, the COM
Fiction OF the normal and right. Whit
eker spoke at length and in much de-
tail of his Willful Missing years with
out seeking to excuse the wrong-mind-
60 reasoning which had won him his
own consent to live under the mask
OF death. He told of the motives that
mad prompted his return, of all that
had happened since in which she had
mad no part-with q single reserva-
ton. One thing he kept back; the
time for that was not yet.
A listener in his turn, he heard the
history Of the little girl of the Com
mercial House breaking her heart
against the hardness of life in what
at first seemed utterly futile endeavOr
TO live by her own efforts. asking
nothing more of the man who had
gwen her his name.
He learned of the coming Of Max,
his interest In her, the indefatigable
pains he had expended coaching her
10 bring out the latent ability his own
.enius OWNED of the initial perform
ance Of Joan Thursday" before a
meager and Indifferent audience, her
Instant triumph and subsequent con-
quest Of the country in half a dozen
widely dissimilar roles: finally Of her
decision to leave the stage when she
married, for reasons comprehensive,
demanding neither exposition nor de-
fence.
1t doesn't matter any longer" she
commented. concluding: 81 loved and
hated 1t. 1t was deadly and 1t was
glorious. But it no longer matters.
1t Is finished; Sara Law is no more"
"You mean never TO go back to the
stageY'
Never"
And yet" he unused craftily.
'Neverl" She fell blindly into his
trap. Il promised myself long ago
that IL ever became a wife"
But You are no wife" he countered.
Dear, you are cruel TO me r
i think it's you who would be
cruel 10 yourself, dear heert."
think she announced, wed bet
ter 60 in"
She rose without assistance. moved
away toward the house, paused and
returned.
Hugh" she said gently. with
QQaver in her voice that wounded his
tonceit in himself; for he was sure
'I spelled laughter at his expense and
Eel-merited-"Hugh, you big suiky
10y get ~ this instant aud come