The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-11-23


to explore, for she was more afraid
Of the dark than she had been of the
Confederate guns; and when her
friend came cropping back through the
gloom and touched her Unexpectedly
with his outstretched hand, it was with
difficulty that she stified an impulse to
scream. Instead, she seized his arm
and held to it convulsively.
1T is all very WELL he was saying
reassuringly. 1T is house, and a
fire that we may yet saye-but the
people have left. 1t must be because
of the battle" He looked at her with
great gravity, "Will you Gomez"
Gomez" echoed Ann, bewildered.
There seemed to be nothing else for
her to do, but she hung back, with a
flashing thought of her guardian. you
mean-stay there, with your"
"We have no choice. We are lost,
you know, and in this darkness Ii is
impossible to find the road. / know
not but we may ride into the Confed-
crate lines"
Dul, 10 IucIc uOliiiiS SiSc " w.
"What? / ask YOU"
Il can't think of anything" she said
miserably. "And l am mOnstrously
tired!"
The house was very small and mean,
but there was dwindling fire, and a
pile of kindling beside it; in a mo-
ment blaze sprang up, and filled the
room with dancing light. The
young officer brought bedding from an
inner room, and, arranging il at a COM
| Portable distance from the fire, he in
sisted upon seating Ann ceremonious-
ly before he went to unsaddle the
horse She told herself primly that it
would not do to doZe, but her escort did
not return. 1t seemed a long
time. She slipped down lazily
upon the blankets, murmuring that
! she must keep awake, then she
slumped over, helpless with sleep. . . .
She was indefinitely aware of her
| companions return, and of his ar
| ranging something to shield her from
the heat of the fire.
/
| ing She was stiff from her
exertions of the day before, and stupid
from deep sleep; she stretched her
sinuous body luxuriously and smiled
at the antics of her hoops. For a
moment she thought that she was
alone in the strange place, and the
| glance she flung abroad had panic in
it, but as she met the steady gaze of
her companion of the night before,
! from his place across the room, she
smiled, like a treasured child.
He did not speak, but only con-
nervously, Good morning" Then,
| wishing to break the tension of that
unquieting gaze, she glanced beyond
him through the window, where the
green hills doomed distinctly through
the woolly brown of the rain. ut is
morning, isn't it," she inquired. Have
we been here-all night?" She flushed
with her question, hotly.
The man got stiffly to his feet
YES" he said. at is the first dawn
Il wonder where we are"
He smiled, under the dashing line of
his black mustache, and shrugged his
shoulders. 1--WE are out of the world
you and l."
AIMS eyes widened. Like babes in
the woods" she agreed. "Only there
| are no robins. 1 wonder il
there is anything to eat?"
81 have heard chickens. 1t is pos
sible there are eggs"
"Eggs!" echoed Ann rapturously
do go and look for them!"
She seized the opportunity of his
absence TO rearrange her tumbled hair
and to wash her face and hands at q
pump in the yard. She was great!
cheered after these simple rites, anC
more ready to face her decidedly I'M
conventional situation. He had found
eight eggs, and forgotten pail hall
filed with berries, and Ann discovered
the remains of a hoe cake; it was not
a bad breakfast.
AS she regretfully finished her last
egg, Ann, said, do you know that
NOu SNOL hiON sOuI AAN
yet-i' She broke off with a smiling
glance about her.
my name is Guido" he answered
Guido Avezzana. l am in your coun
try as military observer for my kins
for Victor Emmanuel"
1t had never occurred to Ann be
fore that it was romantic thing Il
serve king, but she liked the way il
which he announced his allegiance
and her beaming eyes betrayed her
Avezzana leaned toward her as b,
talked, interest in his own.
What they said was unimportant
She told him that she had never beer