The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-12-21
HER MISTAKE
BY JANE GORDON

80 49, NPPAeASA&SAy. Ohiy sat hCdA
the window and the sunshine coming
through the neat ruffled curtains
touched her brown hair kindly. Pol
LIS face was very sweet, with an Gag
erness to please, in her swift wistful
smile. But Mrs. Tilden found, evil
IDENTIFY, no satisfaction in her study.
"Of course. Polly" she said, you
must realize that in Stan Wentworth's
coming there Is q decided interest in
yourself. We all know that years ago
he was in love with you; what you
quarreled over is mystery to me.
And when later word came that he had
married there in the city, why, you
failed and faded like a blighted flow
err. Mercy me-" exclaimed Mrs. Til
den, Il am becoming poetic on the sub
ject. But what wish to impress upon
you for your own good is this. Now
that Stan is widower, he's coming to
see his old love. And he is in every
way desirable. We need not dis
semble, you and I it would be nice
thing for you to be settled in a COM
Between u.s." said Polly solemnly,
"a great gulf is fixed Oh, yes, I'M
derstand Lucille. And I am to
bridge that gulf How?'
Mrs. Tilden never understood her sis
ter-in-law in merry mood. IF 1
might suggest" she answered coldly,
Il would wear new and modish dress
upon the night of STAINS call, and I'd
let Coralie do my hair" Coralie was
Mrs. Tilden's daughter.
"Modishly, too?" Polly wanted to
know.
Certainly. That loose knotting of
yours is antediluvian."
"And rouge a bit, Polly went on,
"to cover the devastation of years?"
"You are ungrateful of my inter
est" Mrs. Tilden was decidedly Of
Tended. Polly went to her, softly pla-
eating. Dear" she said, don't you
understand? If I must coax STAINS
love back / do not want it; and if he
is so changed, exacting, why. he would
not be the same Stan 10 me-"
"You admit then" Mrs. Tilden spoke
excitedly, you practically admit, Polly,
that you have loved him all along-do
love him still?'
Polly's wistful smile answered. Her
sister-in-law grasped the advantage.
"You will let me send over Coralie's
her dresses fit you; such dainty fig
ure you have, my dear. Coralie will
love TO have you wear it. She Is
proud of her aunt"
Polly sighed resignedly; her rela-
tive's kindly interest touched her lone
ly heart. "Any way" she was telling
herself, st mattered not what she
might wear. Stan must long ago have
forgotten-forgotten all the old home
ly pleasures of their past, in the little
village. Don't omit the rouge, Lu-
cille," she added good naturally.
Coralie, however, saw to 1t that
touch Of rouge was not omitted. Cor
allie was having joyous time in what
she gayly termed 1.-THE regeneration
Of Sweet Pauline"
Mrs Tilden sat decorously in the
background on the eventful occasion
Of Stanford Wentworth's call. 1t
seemed In accord with convention, she
thought, that her sister-in-law should
not be alone in receiving him.
Stan, she decided, had improved
in the years of separation. Broader,
he was, and irreproachably dressed.
The gray at his temples made him
more distinguished in appearance. Cor
allie herself might look little younger,
for all the years of division.
Polly evidently had followed the cue
Of her very modern attire, and was
discussing current events fiuently.
Mrs. Tilden was astonished to find her
home clinging sister-in-law so convers-
ant with the names and ways of GER
tain screen favorites. Stan Went
worth remained, for the most part, 81
lent, his rowing gaze following slowly
the quaint appointments of the COM
Portable, old-fashioned room. At
length he arose abruptly.
ST thank you for a delightful eve
Ming" he said, and left them.
Polly's voice broke as she turned to
her sister-in-law. 81 will do up Cor
allies finery for you to take home"
She laughed ruefully. 1.-THE masquer-
ade had not its hoped-for effect"
"Still," she reasoned in the light Of
morning, ''he did come back; he re-
membered That's something to think
Of happily"
Polly put on her blue dress with its
boyish white collar and white cuffs
turned back from her rounded arms.
Her brown hair coiled loosely so that
an escaping wave brushed the cheek
devoid of rouge; the heat Of the cook
stove, as Polly rolled and baked her
cookies, brought to that wholesome
cheek a deeper pink. Polly sang; this
had long been her habit while at work.
The kitchen doorway framed sudden
ly tall figure Stan stood there, eager
ness in the smile that she remembered
so well.
81 rang" said Stan, "but you did
not hear-singing. Then I smelled
the cookies-same old spices Of mem
DRY. You used to make them, Polly,
while would sit here in-yes-this old
rocker, and think you the finest woman
God ever made-the home woman.
How often I've looked back to that
picture; thought last night I'd lost it.
Thought you'd grown all ultra modern
Just fashion, like the rest. Got to
have it. of course, Polly, but my my !!
this is coming home"
Mrs. Tilden entering unannounced,
retreated hurriedly. She had seen
Stan Wentworth holding Polly in his