The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1920-07-16
By HOLWORTHY HALL

didn't intend to send you a remem-
brance at ALL intended to bring it
planned to give 1t to you before din.
ner, but when / was so late. and
everybody was waiting"
She turned with gratifying quick
ness.
did you bring it?'
"Yes," he said, 81 brought 1t. I'm
not quite sure whether you'll like ii
or not"
"I'll like anything you brought ~
The pronoun had an infnitesimal en-
phasis all to itself.
! billiard cleared his throat.
"When was young"
81 beg your pardon?"
He laughed at high pressure and be-
gan over again.
when was young, Mother Grundy
had very small collection to choose
from--books and candy and flowers.
If I'd send you anything by mail,
think I'd have had to obey the rules.
My early training was pretty severe.
But 1 thought if I brought 1t myself,
perhaps could be more original"
"How originate" she asked, with
pretty animation.
His heart was pounding relentlessly ;
he had lost the elaborate recital which
he carefully prepared; and 1t was gone
without a trace. He had to depend
CT presence of mind.
"Since l couldn't keep to my sched-
ule, I've been saving it up to give you
when everything Was propitious." He
rendered her package, tied with holly
ribbon; it was smaller than a book,
and smaller than any orthodox carrier
of confection. Don't open it just yet,
please"
| She looked at it, pinched it, dropped
| it in her lap, and laughed softly.
! rs there such mystery about it?'
Eyes, there u.s." billiard felt himself
begin to go with the current of his
mood. He sat up awkwardly. "All
| that you could ever think of asking
about me :. where I've been and
| what I've done -. is in that box.
It's everything :. a biography, and a
i'iolOly anu IL III S1lI W AOu,
too. But before you open it" He
had to pause to collect himself. "Pll
have to make an explanation" He
fought with it and found his lips
strangely sealed.
as it so very hard to make?" she
asked at length.
almost impossible ;. ~ He was
seeing black and red. Even If "every-
body" had expected him to do this
thing (as Angela had long since as
sured him) what reason did he have
to hope for pardon? "What would
you think" he asked. perilously, "of a
man who cared enough about you to
risk everything he had in the world
:. not his valuables in the sense Of
money -. but all his ambitions for
everything; all his dreams; all his
ideals; all his hopes :. on Christ
mas gift? What would your?
She frowned adorably.
"And :. he's not just little bit
Quixotic?"
Not at all i. suppose he did it
deliberately, and after great deal of
thought. Just on the chance that it
might please you? When it would
either do that-or end their friend
ship?'
She fingered the small package over
and over.
"Why, / should think that if this
mythical person were so very anx-
ious to please me he wouldn't take
quite so much risk"
"But when I'm the mythical person
myself-that's different, isn't it,"
"Why should it be?' She gave him
no opportunity to see her face.
you've forgotten a great deal. 1
told you once that if you knew all that
I've been -. all that I've done :.
you might not be so willing to have my
friendship. anyway"
"No," she said, subdued. "Ive not
forgotten, but you have! I said that
didn't believe YOU"
You're holding it all in your hands,"
said billiard. His expression, as he
gazed at her, was infinitely yearning !;