The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1920-11-26

piness, did hep Then you knew
about her being here"
'Yes, sir. Some ten years ago,
when l was very little girl, met
your son Bryce. He gave me a ride
on bis Indian pony, and we came here.
So remember"
"Well, I declare! Ten years ago.
Ell? You've met, Ell? You've met
Bryce since his return to Sequoia, /
believe. He's quite a fellow now"
HE Is indeed"
John Cardigan nodded sagely. $50
that's why you thought aloud" he re-
marked impersonally. Bryce told you
about her. You are right, Miss Shir-
ley Sumner. God didn't give her
much time for happiness-just three
years; but oh, such wonderful years /!
Such wonderful years!
1T was mighty fine of you to bring
flowers" he announced presently. 81
appreciate that. 1 wish 1 could see
you. You must be dear, nice, thought
full girl. Won't you sit down and talk
| to me?"
II should be glad to-" she answered,
and seated herself on the brown car
pet of redwood twigs close to his
chair.
$50 you came up here to do lit
tie clear thinking" he continued in
his deliberate, amiable tones. "Do
you come here often?"
"This is the third time in ten years."
she answered. 81 feel that 1 have
no business to intrude here This is
your shrine, and strangers should not
prOfane it,
II think should have resented the
presence of any other person, Miss
Sumner. I resented you-until you
spoke"
"I'm glad you said that, Mr.. Cardi-
gan. 1t sets me at ease"
II hadn't been up here for nearly
two years until recently. You see 1
Il don't own the Valley of the Giants
any more"
"Indeed. To whom have you sold
it?'
81 do not know, Miss Sumner. had
to sell there was no other way out
of the jam Bryce and / were in; so
l sacrificed my sentiment for my boy.
However, the new owner has been
wonderfully kind and thoughtful. She
reorganized that old skid-road so even
an old blind duffer like me can find
his way in and out without getting
lost-and she had this easy-chair made
for me. 1 have told Judge Moore, who
represents the unknown owner, TO eX-
tend my thanks to his client. But
words are so empty, Shirley Sumner.
If that new owner could only under
stand how grateful I am-how pro-
foundry her courtesy touches me"
"Her courtesy?" Shirley echoed.
"Did a woman buy the Giants?"
He smiled down at her. "Why,
certainly. Who but woman-and a
dear, kind, thoughtful woman-would
have thought to have this chair made
and brought up here for me?"
Fell a long silence between them
then John Cardigan's trembling hand
went cropping out toward the girls.
"Why, how stupid of me not to have
guessed it Immediately" he said.
"You are the new owner. My dear
child, if the silent prayers of very
unhappy old man will bring Gods
blessing on you-there, there, girl! l
didn't intend to make you Weep What
a tender heart It is, to be surer'
She took his great toil-worn hand,
and her hot tears fell on it, for his
gentleness, his benignancy, had touch
ed her deeply. ooh, you must not tell
anybody! You mustn't" she cried.
He put his hand on her shoulder as
she knelt before him. Good land of
love, girl, what made you do it? Why
should a girl like you give hundred
thousand for my Valley of the Giants?
Were you'-hesitatingly I'M
cle's agent?"
"No. I bought it myself-with my
own money. My uncle doesn't know I
am the new owner You see, he want
ed it-for nothing"
"Ah, yes. I suspected as much a
long time ago. Your uncle is the
modern type Of business man. Not
very much of an idealist, I'm afraid.
But tell me why you decided to thwart
the plans Of your relative"
81 knew it hurt you terribly to sell
your Giants; they were dear to you
for sentimental reasons. understood,
also, why you were forced to sell; so
well, decided the Giants would be
safer in my possession than in my
uncles In all probability he would
have logged this valley for the sake
of the clear seventy-two-inch boards
he could get from these trees"
"That does not explain satisfactor-
lily, to me, why you took sides with a
stranger against your own KIM" John
Cardigan persisted. There must be
a deeper and more potent reason,
Miss Shirley Sumner"
SWELL" Shirley made answer. glad
he could not see the flush of confusion
her cheek, when I came to Sequoia
last May. your son and. / met, quite
accidentally. The stage to Sequoia
had already gone, and he was gracious
enough to invite me to make the jour-
ney in his car. Then we recalled hav-
ing met as children, and presently /
gathered from his conversation that he
and his John-partner, as he called you,
were very dear to each other. / was
witness to your meeting that night
I saw him take You in his big arms
and hold you tight because you'd
gone blind while he was away having
good time And YOU hadn't told