The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-10-05

We were only married a few years
He was always getting into
trouble, and he never would listen to
what told him. What do you
think Hudson will dor"
| There Is only one way to answer
that" Mr.. Cortlandt said simply. he
crossed the room with long determined
strides to summon the man In the hall.
Tell Mr.. Hudson his wife Is here"
he directed.
Mr.. Cortlandt turned to Ann. "We
have only just finished supper" he
said. Suppose you and l go and see
| II there is any left" The child
glanced irresolutely at her mother.
Ann wanted to stay with her. but
suddenly she realized that she was
devastatingly hungry. Her mother
caught her eye.
Go with him, Ann, for mercy
sakes" she urged irritably.
Mr.. Cortlandt laughed. for some un-
explained, grown-up reason, and led
her away through folding-doors into
what seemed. Individually. fairyland
Her first impression was of a great
glare of light; 1t was like MONDAY In
the big empty room. and she blinked,
bewfldered. Directly under an over
towering brass chandelier was square
table covered with a cloth so white
that 1t glistened like snow; this, then,
was the dining-room. In Milton Cen
ter one sewed. read and sometimes
slept in such an apartment. but this
one seemed scared to the business Of
dining. She looked about her with
avid curiosity.
What is it| Ann demanded
breathlessly, pointing to the fixture
from whence the glory sprang.
The chandelier" Mr.. Cortlandt in
CURED, bewildered in his turn.
No. the light 1t isn't candles-it
isn't paraffin, it"
On, that! 1t is gas"
oh" She recalled weary hours
filling lamps. "Do you put it in like
oilP
mo. I'll fell Won shout r.
but first we must have supper. Are
you hungry?"
Ann gasped. 1t was extraordinary,
but the enormous appetite which had
raVaged her but moment before was
gone. "1-don't know" she confessed.
Mr.. Cortlandt drew a chair out for
her and. pulling a bell cord, he sum-
moned the black man and told him
to bring food. You didn't have gas
in-er-Milton Center?" he suggested.
Ann shook her head; her eyes were
swimming with tears, and met Mr..
COrtlandt's miserabIy.
Suddenly he pulled his chair closer
to hers, and began to talk to her, rap
idly and continuously: at first she
was so occupied in fighting down her
inconvenient emotion that she paid
little attention, but presently she I'M
derstood that he was. with extraordi-
nary kindness, telling her all about
gas. She began to listen attentively.
She forgot all about the delicious
things she was eating as the tale ran
on; she was more interested than she
had ever been before in all her life.
After that they began to talk of
Milton Center, and she spoke of Mrs
Allen casually.
You lived with herr" Mr.. Cort-
landt leaned forward.
"Yes. Isn't your brother q
Christian?"
Mr.. Cortlandt sat back suddenly. II
hope So" he said. why do you ask?"
to live with her because she was a
Christian" Ann explained "She often
said so. She said she hoped she |
was laying up treasures In heaven.
And / hope so. too"
"Your mother had no money at allY' |
"Oh. yes, ma had two thousand dol.
lars. That is a great amount of |
money. Mrs. Allen always said it was
a sacred trust-that was when ma |
wanted to spend it, you see."
Eyes. see. And what did you do
in Milton Center, Miss Ann?"
II went to school. l don't like my
teacher-not much. And of course |
did chores-feeding the chickens, an
helping get supper, an washing up"
This was dear and familiar ground,
and Inn chatted pleasantly on. Her
heart warmed toward Mr.. Cortlandt in
reward for his kindly interest; and
she CURED out unstintingly the simple
story of her life and her mothers. 1t
was a good half-hour before she
thought of returning to the library.
AS Mr.. Cortlandt slid back the fold
ing-door, the sound of a mans voice,
harsh and angry, burst in on them.
MY new fatherT' Ann demanded.
frowning.
Her friend nodded, and she peered
into the room under his arm. A tall
man was striding furiously about.
ut isn't that / resent the child" he
was storming. 'It is the deceit I can
not forgive. The child, of course, Is
a responsibility am not a man to
shirk that-but l hate deceitp He
as his brother opened the door.
DO you know what she has doneY
ne demanded.
Mr.. Hendricks Cortlandt nodded.
and held Ann back, as she would have
pushed Indignantly past him. There's
only one, you know, Hudson" he said
There might just as well
nave been six"
His brother paused, arrested. "SixY
lie repeated. The word had the force
If an explosion.
The older man laughed, and Ann
wondered why. "Of course" he said,
it would have made no difference
lad there been, since 1t is the deceit
hat you resent. and not the chill
lren"
Minnie" her husband roared at
Ter. frantic appeal in his voice, "are
here othersw The bride was so over