The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1917-01-05
4 don't. That's just it-damn

LOU We Deeu TluilS Wltu MIN every
day."
"All except one. I've been sorry
ever since that I missed that one. He
was invariably courteous. He is a
gentleman"
"You infer that 1 am mott" ex-
claimed Vandervyn. $50 he's courteous
and smooth and slick, Is he? One
might know that you've been raised
in the backwoods."
"You forget I spent four years at
the capital of Canada"
"In convent! No wonder you've
let him play YOU" ge..E
The girl met the jeer with tantaliz-
ing smile.
"It has been most amusing game.
He treats me with as much respect as
if were young lady of his own set"
There's no one else here for him to
flirt with"
''That is an advantage, is it notY'
The girl dropped into her English man
ner. II daresay he will forget me as
soon as he gets back to civilization
unless decide to accept his proposal"
Vandervyn stared at her cynically.
"You needn't try to rag me, Marie"
She smiled. $50 you do doubt what
1 say. Yet it is true. Captain Hardy
did me the honor of declaring that he
wished to marry me-"
"Hardy asked you?-he, captain
in the regular army!"
"And quarterbreed, the daughter
of my father. Amazing, is it not?"
Vandervyn caught himself up as he
saw the proud humility of her express
sion. 1t was a new look to him. He
had often seen her proud, but never
humble. His jealousy flared: "How
did you answer him? You didn't ac-
cept-you refused the old board
back !"
eyes and no, that is, not yet" the
girl leased.
Vandervyn stepped close and
grasped her arm.
BE so kind as to release me, Mr..
Vandervyn."
"You coquette! You're trying to
play me against him."
$50 that is what you think of meT'
The girl wrenched herself free and
turned from him haughtily.
He stepped forward, and again
grasped her arm. His voice shook
with jealous anger: "You shall have
nothing to do with him! He shall not
have you'll"
Indeed! May ask what right you
have to dictator"
"You love me, that is why" he flung
back at her. "You love me, Marie.
You can't deny it." His voice sank to
a deep, ardent, golden note that sent
a tremor through her. .'You are mine
mine! You know it. Your arm
quivers-that look in your eyes! You
cannot hide your love, Marie-sweet-
heart"
He sought to embrace her. But
again she wrenched herself free from
him. She could no longer feign hau-
teur. Her face was rosy with bushes
her bosom heaved; her eyes, behind
their yelling lashes, glowed with ten
der passion. Yet she kept her head
despite the intoxicating ardor of his
look. Unlike Oinna, she was not so
unsophisticated as he persisted in
thinking her.
"You take q good deal for granted
Mr.. Vandervyn," she attempted a
mocking tone. 81 am not yet your
o,.t T T hon
be-"
He came nearer to her, his eyes the
color of violets and sparkling with tiny
golden CLEANS. He held out his arms.
His voice was low and enticing
neutrality-suspicious."
She swayed toward him, checked
herself in the act of yielding, and
eluded his grasp,
"No!" she crie.1. you're bit too
sure. I've no mother, halfbreed or
otherwise, to advise me, my dear Reg
gle. I must be my own chaperon.
You charge Captain Hardy with trying
to play me. Yet when he spoke to me
of his love he also spoke of marriage
Vandervyn's eyes narrowed and as
quickly widened in their most child
like stare.
'How can you, Marie?" he re-
preached. "You say that as If you
think have been trifling with you all
these months, when you know as well
as 7 But Of course, if you do not
trust me, have no show against him.
He is free. 1 am, as you know, tied
down by the uncertainty Of my posi-
ton"
"That is quite sad, is it not?" she
Knocked. 81 am rather more fortu-
nate. Whether or not there is any
uncertainty about my position, am
not bound to anyone, nor am 1 bound
to bind myself to anyone"
"Why are you so hard to me?" he
pleaded. "YOu know that if my uncle
got even hint that am interested in
a girl out here it would be all off with
me. He doesn't know what you are
like, and it would be impossible in
writing to convince him how charming
you are"
''What a misfortune! Only, as it
happens, I have no wish to marry Sen
ator Clemmer. He already has a
wife,"
'"That's just it-a wife and half a
dozen daughters. It's all cut and dried
that am to marry Ella, the Oldest un-
married one"
"Ah-so that is why" faltered
Marie, the rich color ebbing from her
cheeks. But she was only momentum
lily overcome. Her spirit rallied al
most as soon as it dropped. 1T is
most kind of you, Mr.. Vandervyn, to
tell me the delightful secret. Permit
NO ~ CON ORC flIIota yO.,