The Prescott daily news., 1918-04-25

h"'S what WuS uut tItlu, UT l q WTeCk the bunch of them if it took ten years and every dollar 1 had to do it. And l could have put them on the tramp, too-they'd already dipped their fin- gers In where they couldn't stand liti- gation. I'm sure of that-or they would never have come through; which they did.
 But I'm sorry I ever got mixed up with them. I'm going to sell my stock and advise Lewis and the others to do the same while we can get full value for 1t. Lorimer and that bunch will manipulate the outfit to death, no mat ter how the mine produces.
 That's all of that. don't care two whoops about the money. There is still gold in the Klappan Range and other corners of the North, whenever l need it. But 1t nauseated me. can't stand that cut throat game. And Granville, like most other cities of its kind, lives by and for that sort of thing. The pressure of modern life makes it inevitable. Anyway. Il town Is no place for me. 1 can stomach It about so long. and no longer. It's too cramped, too girded about with petty larceny conventions. If once you slip and get down, every one walks on you. Everything's restricted. priced, tin kered with. There is no real freedom of body or spirit. wouldn't trade comfy log cabin in the woods with big fireplace and shelf of books for the finest home on Maple drive-not if l had to stay there and stifle in the dust and smoke and smells. That would be sordid and impoverished existence. I cannot live by the dog eat-dog code that seems to prevail wherever folk get damned together in an unwieldy social mass. l have said the like to you before.
 By nature and training I'm unfitted to live In these crowded places. 1 love you, little person, l don't think you realize how much, but 1 can't make you happy by making myself utterly miserable. That would only produce the inevitable reaction. But l still think you are essentially enough like me to meet me on common ground. You loved me and you found content ment and joy at our little cabin once. Don't you think 1t might be waiting there again2
 If you really care, If and the old North still mean anything to you. few days or weeks, or even months of separation won't matter. An affection that can't survive six months is too fragiie to go through life on. l don't ask you to jump the next train nnd follow me. don't ask you to wire me, Come back, Bill.' Though l would come quick enough if you called me. merely want you to think 1t over so- berly and let your heart decide. You know where l stand don't you, Hazel dear? I haven't changed-not bit I'm the same old Bill. But I'd rather hit the trail alone than with an un- willing partner. Don't founder about in any quicksand of duty. There is no T ought to between us.
 "So it Is up to you once more, little person If my way Is not your way will abide by your decision without whining. And whenever you want to reach me. message to Felix Cour- voiseur, Fort George, will eventually find me. I'll fix 1t that way.
 50. long, little person. like you d heap. for all your cantnnkerous ways.
 BILL"
 She laid aside the letter. with a lump in her throat. For brief Instant she was minded to telegraph the word that would bring him hurrylng back. But-some of the truths he had set down in cold black and white cut her deep Of surety she had drawn her weapon on the wrong side in the min ing trouble. Overhasty ?-yes. And shamefully disloyul. Perhaps there was something in 1t, after all; that is to sny. it might be they had made ms take. She saw plainly enough that unless she could get back some of the old enthusiasm for that wilderness life, unless the fascination of magnificent distances, of silent, breathless forests. of contented quiet days on trail and stream. could lay inst hold of her again. they would only defer the day of reckoning as Bill had said.
 No. she would not attempt to call him back. She doubted If he would come. And she would not go--not yet She must have time to think.
 sAltogether. as the first impression of Bill's letter grew less vivid to her she considered her grievances more. And she was minded to net as she had set out 10 do-to live her life as seemed