The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-11-09
CHAPTER Ix-Continued.
g.

MY dear, 1t is-Decause you are
here, d some day some gloritied man
will make you see it-but not Hen
bricks Renneslyer. You must promise
me. not Hendricks Renneslyer.
.'But, why? He is very fond OF
me-"
'Is he? How extraordinary l am
fond of you myself, my dear, although
1t never seems to occur to you.
am mad about you. :. think about
YOU constantly. :. With so little time
left l begrudge the few hours L sleep,
and long before there is chance OF
your coming I stand Maggie in the
window there, to watch for you"
"Ah," said Ann wisely, that is be-
cause you are ill, and see no one but
me-"
Densley Howar looked steadily at
her for a moment. No." he SAID,
ait is because / love you. =. love
Won. Strange, isn't it-at the end,
like this? 1t seems a pity, doesn't it,
when we believe that being happy is
what counts?"
Ann started. "Is it, 1 wonder?"
Howard lifted himself higher on his
pillows. my dear, it is! To be hap
py-to be free-that's life"
Uncle says that doing your duty
taking your place in the community
is the important thing"
Howard laughed. your place In
the community is a cold comfort! Fill
your life full, Ann-full to overf1owing
and then at any rate you will know
that you haven't missed anything !!
Look at my life! 1 used TO think that
] was moral to point tale, and yet,
&c hadn't done just what have, II
didn't lie here dying because / have
flung away my strength,-why, then L
might never have known you.
should have missed these exquisite
moments, Ann. Give me your
hand to kiss, dear. I forget what l
was going to say"
Ann stretched out her hand unques-
tioningly: His face was flushed when
he let her draw her fingers away; he
had q fictitious look of health and
yigor. "You are not made for duty,
Ann" he said. you are made for
Joy"
She gladly flung herself upon the
safe ground of argument. Hendricks
expects me to be happy, of course
''But will you be? That is the ques-
ton. Will you be satisfied to let his
standards govern your actions!
Wouldn't you want, ever, TO talk to
some one about the things Renneslyer
can't understand? Wouldn't you ever
have a feeling that you were so hedged
in by laws that you must break out
Just for the fun Of breaking? Wouldn't
you ever want to live fully?"
'T-don't know" Ann murmuret
breathlessly 81 am afraid 1 should
"Of course you can't marry him!
know you, my dear. suppose
there will be the devil of a row if yOr
break with him?''
"On, yes" Ann admitted. ant
laughed.
"And you are dependent on all thes'
Cortlandts. :. Listen to me, Ann, dar
ling-marry me, and cheat my SNUG
faced clergyman brother!'
Ann moved her chair hastily back
and cast a frightened glance at tn
couldn't do that 70 she protested dc
cidedly.
But why not2 You don't need t
love me, you know. 1t would be yer
simple. Well just have ministe
In here some afternoon, and ther
when / am gone, you will come in 70
something that will enable you to sna
your fingers at the Cortlandts."
"But don't want to snap my finger
at Them" she protested. 81 adore m
uncle. He Is the only person
have ever been perfectly honest wit
except you"
"And do you adore me-a little?
His tone was light, but his eyes wer
suddenly tragically intense.
She looked straight at him, with
troubled gaze. Il don't know" sh
said, "but think 1 could, easily"
Densley put out his hand and he'll
hers for a moment, in a close, DIR
clasp. She had not known that he ha
30 much strength left as she felt i
his clinging fingers. That's ALL" h
said, weakly, as, after moment, hi
hold relaxed, and she drew her han
away.
AS the days went on, Ann becam
nervously anxious about her qua
dams return; she was afraid b
would not approve of her intimac
with Densley, and she felt that st
could not give 1t up. The day befoI
his arrival Howard detained her wit
a score of trivial subterfuges: /
looked very Ill indeed. when she sh,
out the last of the sunset, and lighte
the candles on the mantel shelf.