The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1920-12-17

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prophecy. He'd croak you. too; he
croak us both"
Mario smiled family. II am nc
afraid"
| You're not afraid of dying?"
| What is life without your love?
He had thoughtful moment. "Wh
knows but death may prove infinitel
more wonderful than this life of ours
There is but one way of finding GU
|. -
She heard him in stare. The won
an in her could hardly be unaffecte,
by the handsome gravity of that ex
traordinary cOuntenance, whose salien
features gained so much through tina
Rembrandtesque play of deep shadow
and dull light. Under the spell of hi
mentality she acknowledged now TO
the first time that he was essential
all else was nothing. And of sudder
care fastened cruel claws upon he
heart and wrung from it cry of self
betrayal
Maybe you're not afraid, Mario.
don't believe you are. But l am
afraid for you. wish you'd go away
You love pe!' Her hands lifted il
/ protest; he caught and inclosed then
both in his own. His Swallowed face
and eyes grew luminous, his sonOrous
| accents vibrated with emotion. "Yol
| love me, Leonora-at last"
He was drawing her steadily toward
him, all her. strength seemed to Lave
ebbed from her limbs. There was
madness in the beating of her heart
madness mounting like mist into her
brain. Now she was in his arms. and
glad. His lips closed on hers. For a
long breath she was a mere thing of
Keeling senses.
you love me?"
81 don't know" she murmured-
maybe ="
Tomorrow you will marry me, and
we will go away"
Stung by realization of what had
happened. she struggled to be free.
Il don't know-perhaps-y / will.
But not tomorrow-not right away"
why"
Let me go-Tll tell you" He re-
leased her. She stepped back, shaken
with love and fright, looking fearfully
up and down the street.
II can't marry you just yet. I'VE got
to break with Red SOS he won't know
it wasn't him that broke with me. And
I've got other things to do-things I
can't tell you about Mario-things I've
got to tend t. before can marry you.
But you can trust me: I've promised,
and will, as soon as ever can ="
Her voice quavered, and she thrust
out her hands, Tending off his arms
please don't kiss me again, please let
me go now. If anybody saw us and
told Red ;"
He made sign of submission. GAS
you will, so be it, Leonora. l will see
you again-when?"
Tomorrow. I'll give you ring
about noon and fix to meet you-up-
town sOmewheres, l guess. Now-Pve
got to, run. Goodnight . dear"
He uttered in resignation: Good
night" With a Pickering smile of
fondness she turned and left him, her
slight young figure fitting swiftly
through the shadows. Beneath the
lamp at the far street corner, she
turned, looked back, saw him notion
less where she had left him, surmised
hiss look of longing and, waving a
hand, ran on, wild joy in her heart
contending with cold fear.
For now she had done 1t. and
there'd be the devil to pay. But it
couldn't be helped. Though hell and
heaven were leagued against them,
she would go through. She always did.
once she got started. And with Mario
she knew, it was as with her; he too
would go through, now he knew she
loved him, though Red and all the
world besides should try to stop him
At length, well out of her course,
she stopped, imposed conference upon
her thoughts, got her bearings. and
started on anew, in a cooling mood
herself to forget Mario
and concentrate upon the business that
waited for her at her destination.
But the Self outside herself. of
whose constant company she was
wholly ignorant, never ceased to yearn
back toward that gallant, lonely figure
they two had left behind in the quiet
by-street.