The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1920-01-29

"Mine? My nameT said the man
startled out of his role. He stared
absently through and beyond her
why, / haven't anyhow. Not that
amounts to anything" His eyes came
back to her. "Call me Mr.. White Man
as you have begun-just White Man
when you feel genial, IL you ever do
swell, Mr.. White Man." said Andrea,
with emphasis, "what you said about
ruin didn't pass quite over my head.
l believe you spoke with genuine sin
cerity and that, as you doubtless re-
member, is conversational bad taste.
Somehow it didn't bore me, but do you
really think that women are persuaded
by words?'
The man dropped his eyes. "No,"
he said listlessly. II don't. I know,
but / had forgotten, that women are
persuaded by love alone"
"What!" cried Andrea.
Women" said the man. "know no
conversion except through love-"
81 have no interest whatever in your
distractions" said Andrea angrily. II
don't care what you think on any sub
ject under the sun. At this moment
there is only one thing that concerns
me-only one" She turned from him,
threw her bare arms across the table
and dropped her face against them.
What is TO become Of me? What do
| care about women? / care about
myself, about Andrea Pellor."
81 am glad that you do" said the
man. and added grizzly, "Tf you cry,
IL you even start to cry, l shall go
to bed"
Andrea threw back her head and
turned her face toward him. II am
not crying" she said quietly. "and
will not"
Her anger had died and In It's place
had come into her eyes something ter
rbly potent, the unforgettable look
of a hunted thing at bay.
II want to ask you," continued An
drea, Ito implore you. to take me back.
If not tonight, then tomorrow. Flying
or On foot, IL only we could staff now.
I will say that 1t has all been my fault,
that you did nothing beyond what
asked you to do in bringing me with
you, IL oniy--if only you will take me
back. VIII your
The man clenehed his teeth. 81
would II I could. I've told you that
already" he said almost In a whisper,
Then his voice grew clearer and colder
at would take eight days by any
means Mt my disposal-eight days
there and eight days back. I can't
afford 1t and nothing would be saved
or gained as far as you are concerned.
1t would only entail a loss l have no
right to give"
His mood hardened Andrea's. "You
mean that when 1t comes TO choosing
between my personal loss and yours,
you see no reason to hesitate"
The man flushed under his tan and
his eyes cleaned as though her words
had given them new life. "Mine would
not be a personal loss" he said. 81
am not a loafer nor am I here for my
pleasure"
II see," said andrea. "My life
against the interests Of your employer,
Are you a foreman?"
He shrugged his shoulders and ig-
nored the question. "Your life?" he
said. "Wkat are you worth, after all
The best specimen Of woman In this
camp represents nm investment on the
part OF the husband Of two pounds
ten shilllngs-say three pounds at the
most. Every girl child she bears and
rears brings him a hundred per cent
return. and in addition she keeps house,
cooks. chops wood. totes water and
tills his fields"
Again Andrea jerked him out of his
=s!e with her i-nconsequence. "Vh hat
does tote nlean?" she asked rather iciIy
"To tote means to carry. fetch, lug,
bear
THANK you,' she interrupted. by
the way, did you NEAR. TO measure me
against that th~rce-pouHd standardf"
Il did," said the man.
She threw her arms in a gesture
OF disclosure and laughed. ITO think
she said. "that it's only q few weeks
since I was knocked down to the high
est bidder AZ twenty thousand a year T.
"Not YOU" said the man quickly
HE wasn't buying you. You never
even thought II. I Il happen to know him
perhaps better than you do, and I can
assure you that the tinse, and the
pomp he was targaining for. innocent
enough In them selves, would have be
come despicable and tainted by his
possession"
He was silent for a moment; then
just as Andrea's lips were opening t.
u remark, be added. I'm glad you
lbroughkI him to my mind. The thought
OF hin has freed me from my regret
You're here. I'm glad you are, and yor
IshalIs stay. The only question Il
whether you are going to sulk O
whether you will smile and accept thu
cure Of the philosophy Of contrasts"
fiiat 50 new one, ssid andrea.
met at ALL replied tho MAJ. Fhs
PHILOSOPHY Of contrasts Is based OF
the idea that a rut and death ARE ONT
and the same thing
you've missed your vocation. Whit,