The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1917-08-07
ACROSS THE WAY
BY SUSAN E.

AAE A04A oA4 @NAE
fashioned house. the very LONELINESS
Of which suggested comfort The girl
leaning on the gate leading to the cot
tage looked from the one to the other
and nodded her head with satisfac-
ton.
ct viii do. If l can only make the
otbers see It." she thought. Even If
the roof leaks there must be n or
two Of the rooms that are habitable
and the place viii be a riot of beauty
when the June roses are in bloom.
However, / see it's possibilities be-
cause I so desire it. The place is real
~ forlorn."
"Stiek to the possibilities" a pleas
ant voice said behind her. when the
weeds are cut and a few nails are
driven into missing palings you will
not know it,"
The girl turned with a start. her
ewes cold. She had not realized she
had spoken aloud.
at does look uncared for" the man
continued. critically examining the cot
tage and its surroundings, "but | know
its possibilities. If you wish, l will
have 1t put in order at once"
"Are you the ownerF
ST was born here. Strange how one
lets the years pass without coming
back. I have always meant to come,
but never did. / think" he said re-
fectively, that l have been waiting
for just this" He turned and looked
at her for the first time. "You are a
stranger to the place"
She nodded toward the big house
across the way. II am visiting friends,
but / would like to remain all summer
if the cottage is practicable"
"It will be ready when you are
ready" he declared.
At the dinner table that night she
told of what she had done. Margaret
Alden listened with troubled face.
How could you, NanT' she said at
last. "You know how we want you
With US"
81 know" Nan answered soberly,
'but 1 must lead MY own life, Mar
garet. Over there will be home, across
the way will be you, my dearest
friends, to call upon when
did he say what brought himT'
Tom Alden interrupted.
"Who?"
"The doctor-your prospective land
lord" Then he chuckled. Il saw him
in Washington ten days ago, but he
said nothing about coming out. / won
der-yes, / did tell him you were stay
ing with us. He seemed interested"
"Why, l lever before saw the man."
She had been in her home a month
when the accident occurred that ma
terially altered her outlook upon life.
Up to that time she had been absorbed
in her work as an illustrator and had
succeeded beyond her utmost expecta-
tons. Then the seemingly impossible
happened. She fell and broke her
right arm and wrist-slipped upon the
topmost step of the little stairway and
fell to the bottom. Her nanny found
her, a crumpled heap on the, floor, and
picked her up as Wallace Irwin knock
ed at the open door.
He did not hesitate. With skillful
fingers and a sure knowledge as TO
what he was about he made the girl
comfortable. AS he put the finishing
touches to the bandages she opened
her eyes and looked straight into the
keen gray ones above her. Even in her
pain their expression puzzled her. She
had seen that look In the eyes of 9th
err men, but that it should lie In Wal
lace Twins caused her wonderment
and annoyance.
Nan drew more within herself and
he knew her reserve was due to his
one moment of self-betrayal. There
after he was on his guard, but being
q man of swift action he could not
long tolerate delay, and a few days
after the accident he demanded her
attention.
"Why did you run away from me
two years ago, Nan?"
"Run away? Why should TT She
hesitated, looking at him oddly. SIS 1t
really you? l did not know it."
81 have searched for you every
where" he answered gravely.
'"That was unnecessary" Her eyes
flashed. "Unele Dick had no right to
make me a party to such a will-to
parcel me out as he did his stocks
and bonds. I preferred to make my
own living, as | have done"
'True. But he did leave you to me
with the stocks and bonds, and 1t was
up to me TO find you"
Her glance was curious. "Were you
pleased to have a wife thrust upon you
In so arbitrary a manner-to be
forced TO marry a girl, a stranger, be-
cause Of the knowledge she would be
penniless If you did notf"
He laughed. 81 had seen you sew
eral times, and the venture did not
look undesirable. But you gave me ne