The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-11-30

Perhaps when the war Is over,
uncle will take me there"
where do you write to your
uncle?"
I'm care of the American minister,
Paris. Why?"
Avezzana looked at her profoundly.
"Perhaps-for no reason" he said.
Ann felt. intentionally, that there
was more there than met the eye.
"Now 1 really must go back" she
said, suppose some one should come
in, and not find me?"
This was, to AvezZana, potent rea-
soning. He rose at once. She got I'M
steadily to her feet, and allowed him
to take her hand in his. He held it
very tightly, but relinquished it the
moment he had the door opened. On
the threshold, Ann paused, swaying
lightly to the motion of the train.
when you are in New York, will
you come to see us?" she demanded.
II shall give myself that honor"
"But you don't know where we
live"
"Your cousin-he has give me the
place"
"Oh! Well, then, goOd-by."
She gave him her hand again impul-
sively, and vanished into the car.
The next day Ann left the Sanitary
commission women, and went on to
New York. Mrs. Cortlandt was wait
ing for her in the ferry-house; she
received the prodigal without the
slightest Indication of an inclination
to sacrifice a fatted calf-or, indeed,
anything, except the offender herself.
During all the years in which she
had shocked her Ann had never
known such weighty disapprobation.
well, MISS" was all she said in well
come. She ran disappearing eye
over the girls disgraceful frock.
You look a sight" she added grimly.
81 know-my old black dress. :. +.
Isn't it wonderful, Aunt Emily, about
Hendricks-that he Is alive and all
right?"
"We knew that long before your
message came. The very day after
you left we had telegram in answer
to those we had been sending"
Ann stood still in the passageway.
"HOw ridiculous!' she murmured, and
laughed.
II am glad you can laugh, miss.
Don't stand here; let us get home
while we may"
Outside, the streets seemed to Ann
to be strangely empty.
where Is everybody" she asked
Mrs William.
Come, Ann, make haste! Don't
stand there like that Don't you see
those roughs over there?"
"What of it? 1t can't hurt me to
have them look at me. / am
sure / shouldn't think they would
want to, the way l look"
Mrs. COrtlandt broke into hen-like
little run, and Ann hObbled after her
on her aching feet. The carriage was
waiting; the older woman b0lted into
1t frantically, and turned t, pull Ann
after her.
"What in the world, Aunt Fmily?'
Ann cried, half tumbling into the mus
ty interior
Mrs. COrtlandt sank back on the
cushions with great sigh Of relief
"Thank goodness" she gasped. "We're
safe!"
"Safe? Why shouldn't we be?" Ann
glanced out of the window at the still
deserted streets SIS there anything
the matter?" she demanded
Matter? 1 should say there was
Riots, at any moment. Negroes threat.
scared to death! ROughs from the riv.
er-front swarming all over town! We
shall be fortunate If we, reach home
with our livesv'
But what has happened?"
''They have begun the draft for the
army, Ann. Yesterday they drew the
first names from the wheel. They
never should have begun it on Sat
urday-all day Sunday to stir up mis-.
chief, and no soldiers quartered here p
Ann sat silent, letting Mrs. Cort.
landt run on. She remembered that
her guardian had thought the Draft
act bad one. because, for two hun.
dred dollars, 1t allowed rich man to
buy his exemption from fighting, but
that, she thought, would not have
caused rioting.
AS they neared Washington square
the streets were more normal, and
she decided that the danger of riots
was all in Mrs. Cortlandt's head, after
ALL OF course 1t was all nonsense, Ann
thought, with plying smile for one
so aged and panicky as competent
middle-aged Mrs Cortlandt.
That night, safe in her incredibly
comfortable room, and luxuriously
clean and crisp in her starched white
muslin dressing sack, she wrote a let
ter to her guardian.
1t was long past midnight when she
had finished her confession, and she
went to stand in the window for {
moment, before she blew out hel
candle. She was exceedingly glad Il
be at home; the peace and comfort Of
1t was like gentle caress; the pail
and tragedy Of Gettysburg seemed {
long way off. She wished tina
she could forget 1t. She turned
to her bed. waiting, smooth and white
for her tired body. Her las
waking thoughts were OF Avezzana-
nothing definite, only an impression
Of him that made her smile as sh,
drifted out to sleep.
The following morning Ann slep
late; the shadows in the square wer,
already shortening toward midday
when she came downstairs, and sh,
cast an impatient glance at the tai
clock in the hall. There was nobod,
/ I'm the lower rooms. and she sumn,One,