White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1918-06-23

ht. 1918. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syrdicate.)

By SUSAN cLAGETT

oil roses ana TIE morning hfetIe Drew
the light curtains to and fro aud waft-
ed the delicious fragrance through the
open window. 4 little child was seat
ed upon the floor huryiug a white
kitten under the red rose petals She
had pulled from stems scattered about.
Near her lag a dol very much IN
dressed. Beside if a little Pile of
dainty clothing ready for use when her
mistress remembered what was due 10
respectabIllty.
Watching the group with listless
eyes was a woman. stretched With an
inpalid's inertness upon a couch. Lis
tening 10 the chlId's low tax, she
caught the sound OF a quick step upon
the veranda and a faint CLEAN Of color
rose to Ter face TO disappear before Il
man stepped through the long window
into the room a maj alert in move
ment whose keen eyes softened to Il
marvellous g%entleness as he looked to-
ward her.
With an almost imperceptible mo-
tIon the girl pressed more deeply into
the pillows supporting her. The slight
movement was not loshupon the man,
who laid his hand upon the ehild's
head. laughing as he turned her face
to meet his gaze.
'What a careless. careless mother.
Ruth. to leave your child in this CON
diti0n. She will take cold"
'I'm aw1y anxious. Doctor Max, and
Tn glad you have come" she an
swered. gravely. I'm afraid Column
bia has hurt herself and will have to
have an OPERATION"
With gravity equaling her own, the
physician took the doll and worked at
stiff and broken joints until legs and
arms moved easily. He was glad of
the respite. for the slight Withdrawing
of the woman upon the couch had hurt
him to the quick. Not until the doll
was In perfect order did he turn and
take the slender hand in his strong,
warm clasp. With professional quick
ness he noted the irregular pulse and
heavy eyes.
"You did not sleep last night" he
said gently.
"No," she answered. quietly meet
ing his eyes.
With a sigh he left her side and
stood for long looking with %unseeing
eyes into the old-fashioned garden /;
searching, as he daily searched. his
mind for some means of combating
the will of the woman he desired
above all things to make his wife, and
as always he turned toward her feeling
the utter futility of any effort he
might make.
"You gain no strength" he said at
last, the misery in his heart told In
the sudden strain of his voice. For
the moment the usually ~self-contained
physician was no himself. And words
he felt should not be spoken at the
present time were forced from his lips
by his ~intolerable anxiety.
IF I thought my leaving you, Mar
geret. would be your gain. / would 90
within the hour. But you need me.
You need ny strength my under
standing. This. that You allow to
stand between MS IS a false conception
of your physical condition. You have
thought about yourself until You have
become obsessed by the idea that you
are a helpless invalid"
"Will | eyer be strong. MAXI"
Strength would come with happi-
ness. tt is happiness you are fighting
with all that is in you under the mis-
taken impression that you would make
of my life a failure by coming 10 me.
whereas I need you more than ! can
say | need peace of mind. That ]
cannot have when I q you putting
from You the owe God has implanted
in your heart: that you have told me
you feel for me.
1.-THE battle is going against you
dear. Each day | see 1t. 1t is the
constant effort TO keep the barrier be
tween us that tells so upon you. ]
know this as your physician. | know
Ii because of my love for you. Why
are you so unwilling to allow me to be
the judge of what is best for me-
That is what you are doing. Deciding
for me. Dear. no maj who Is a mar
is going to accept without protest such
n decision. IF you care nothing for
me there Is nothing more 10 be said.
I am man enough, | hope, to take my
medicine without whimpering. But
you have told me that you do care
that you will not give yourself to me
because you win be n drag upon my
life"
There was a moment of silence, then
she put her slender fingers about his
and rested her check against his
hand. MAX. would that be AT peace
If l did as you wish?" she asked gen
thy as she placed his hand over her
laboring heart. "WouId happiness con-
tinue where there would be constant
regret? You say l am obsessed by
the fear l would spoil your life. ]
am. What help could / be to a man