The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1919-10-17

months ago. I am Isabella Guilford."
$50 did, Miss Guilford." smiled the
stranger. "I'm from Michigan. Bill
Burdette is my name. / was just be-
ginning to feel bit lonely wren you
came. BY being brigaded with your
townsmen am missing my part of the
fun in my own home town. But it's
all in the game! And these are won
derful days, compared with the time
1--we spent over there"
AS they stood there in the warm
sunlight Isabella tried to make herself
believe that he had come back to her.
that he was glad because she was there
beside him. OF course it was foolish
playing make-believe when she was all
of thirty; but it was better than being
| lonely.
All at once Peggy Lacy's visitor
dashed up to them and seized Capt.
| Bill Burdette's hands. why, Bill, you
blessed thingr' she cried. Then she
stood on tiptoe and kissed him. And
the young medical officer laughed, held
her off at arms length, and then
HuSSeu ner very close.
With an odd sinking of, the heart
Isabella turned away unnoticed and
went back to the hot, smoky kitchen.
Life was always doing things like that
to her. A door through which she
| glimpsed dream of happiness would
open little way and as soon as she
started toward it 1t seemed to close
with an ominous click of the lock.
She was just an old maid and she
would have to substitute service for
self, she concluded. The war had
taught her that self-abnegation keeps
one from grieving over personal prob
lens. She thought of being nurse,
of going abroad during reconstruction
days. There was much that she could
do. She was capable. She knew that.
She began scraping the odd plates
that had held the cakes, piling them in
orderly rows on the Uttered tables.
She could hear the soldiers and the
girls singing outside, could hear their
cries Of delight as they bumped into
each other, trying to dance on the as
phalt paving. The mayor had declared
a holiday. &
There would be feasting and joyful
gatherings all that day, but for her it
would think Of asking her to join their
party that day.
Il beg your pardon" voice said
just above her ear, and she turned so
quickly that an old plate slid out of
her hand and crashed on the rough
pine floor. She looked up into the
| flushing face of the medical officer.
81 hope that you won't think me pre-
sumptuous, Miss Guilford. live
hunted all over the place for you. My
little cousin Is visiting Peggy Lacy
here, and when they asked me to go
home with them told them that had
an engagement with you. Now what
am going to do about it? You see
you were so bright and entertaining,
so much like the girl I've always
dreamed Of meeting that 1 dared"
He hesitated, then continued bravely.
II thought it would be great to go off
somewhere and have little quiet talk
with you until time for the train to
pull out for the rehabilitation camp"
Isabella's heart was beating staccato
time, but with all the coquetry born of
Eve and handed down to every woman
through the ages she smiled at him
and said in matter-of-fact tones, 81
think that can manage it. Well slip
away and go home now"
She must not be too eager, she must
let the male believe himself the hunter
she thought as she pinned on her smart
little hat, her fingers suddenly cold and
shaking. Life had unexpectedly dealt
her the best cards in loves deck. How
carefully she must play them!-