The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1917-12-14

ly. ut Is all finished and done with.
1 would rather not talk any more about
it. I didn't come here to talk about
1t. I came to see you. So this is
where you liver
He looked around him, and for mo-
ment he almost forgot the pain which
was gnawing at his heart. 1t was such
a simple, plainly furnished little room,
so clean, so neat, so pathetically. elo-
quent of poverty. She drew closer to-
gether the curtains which concealed
the little undiscovered bed, and came
and sat down by his side.
She clasped her hands tighter
around his arm. Her eyes sought his
anxiouSly.
But you mustn't climb down, John"
she insisted. "You are so much nicer
where you are, so much too good for the
silly, ugly things. You must fight this
in your own way, fight it according to
your own standards. You are too good
to come down"
"Am I too good for you. Sophy?"
She looked at him, and her whole
face seemed to soften. The light in
her blue eyes was sweet and wistful.
A bewildering little smile curled her
lips.
"Don't be stupid!'' she begged. "a
few minutes ago 1 was looking out of
my window and thinking what poor
little morsel Of humanity 1 am, and
what a useless, drifting life have led.
But that's foolish. Come now! What
1 want to persuade you to do is to
go back to Cumberland for time,
and try hard-very hard indeed-tO
realize what it means to be a woman
like Louise, with her temperament,
her intense intellectual curiosity, her
charm. Nothing could make Louise
different from what she is-a dear,
sweet woman and great artist. And,
John, believe she loves you"
His face remained undisturbed even
by the flicker of an eyelid.
"Sophy," he said, 81 have decided
to go abroad. Will you come with
me"
She sat quite still. Again her face
was mOmentarily transformed. All it's
pallOr and fatigue seemed to have van
ished. Her head had fallen little back.
She was looking through the ceiling
into heaven. Then the light died away
almost as quickly as it had come. Her
lips shook TREMENDOUSLY.
'YOu know you don't mean it, John
You wouldn't take me. And if you did,
you'd hate me afterward-youd want
to send me back!"
He suddenly drew her to him, his
arm went around her waist. She had
lost all power Of resistance. For the
first time in his life of his own DELHI
crate accord, he kissed her-feverish-
ly, almost roughly.
"Sophy," he declared, 81 have been a
fool! I have come an awful cropper,
but you might help me with what's
left. I am going to start afresh. I
am going to get rid of some of these
ideas of mine which have brought me
but misery and disappoint-
ment. I don't want TO live up to them
any longer. I want to just forget
them. I want to live as other men
live-just the simple, ordinary life.
Come with me! I'll take you to the
places we've talked about together. l
am always happy and contented with
you. Let's try it!"
Her arms stole around his neck.
"John," she whispered, hiding her
face for moment what can say?
What could any poor, weak little crea-
ture like me say? You know 1 am
fond Of you'll haven't had the pride,
even, to conceal it,"
He stood up, held her face for q
between his hands, and kissed
her forehead.
"Then that's all settled" he de-
clared. 81 am going back to my rooms
now. 1 want you to, come and dine
with me there tonight, at eight
o'clock"
Her eyes sought his, pleaded with
them, searched them.
''You are sure, John" she asked, her
really? 1 am to GOMEZ"
Il am sure" he answered steadfast-
ly. 81 shall expect you at eight
John went back to his rooms fighting
all the time against sense of unreal
ity, sense almost Of lost identity.
He bought an evening newspaper and
read it on the way. He talked to
the hall porter, he talked to a neigh
Dor with whom he assembled in the
did everything except think.
In his rooms he telephoned to the
restaurant for waiter, and with the
menu in his hand, a few minutes later,
he ordered dinner. Then he glanced
at his watch-it was barely seven
o'clock. He went down to the barber
shop, was shaved and had his hair cut,
encouraging the barber all the while
to talk to him. He gave his hands
over to a manicure, and did his best
to talk nonsense to her. Then he came
upstairs again, changed his clothes
with great care, and went into his
little sitting room.
1t was five minutes to eight, and
dinner had been laid at little round
table In the center Of the room. There
was bowl of pink roses-Sophy's IA
vorite flower-sent in from the flor
lists; the table was lighted by a pink
shaded lamp. John went around the
til the apartment was hung with shad-
ows save for the little spot Of color
in the middle. An unopened bottle of
champagne stood in an ice-paiI and
two specially prepared cocktails had
been placed upon the little side table.
There were no more preparations to be
made.
He turned impatiently away from
the window and glanced at the clock.