The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-11-02

AIN Stoou gazing SidNCiy uo"h 49,
him. He didn't, she reflected, look bad.
She remembered vague but persistent
rumors of mysterious deeds. He
was, in the language Of the square,
wild" She wondered. He
didn't look wild-she thought he had
a look Of almost boyish sweetness.
The next morning the newcomer
hailed her weakly, as she would have
passed his cot with only a shy smile.
Haven't you been brought up to say
good-morning? he demanded gayly.
Ann paused, while she solemnly Sc
lected carnation pink from the hand
full she carried. 81 brought you this"
she said. smiling tentatively as she
went to lay her flower on the table
beside his bed.
Unexpectedly, he caught her fingers,
and she could feel that his were omi-
nously hot. THANK you," he said.
When she would have withdrawn her
hand, he drew it to his lips and kissed
it.
The girls eyes widened and she
Noo6hS iCA hhSClo away tShpSoSo"oo
ly, but in the face of Towards ap-
parent innocent pleasure in his friend
ly act she felt that she was being
gauche and awkward, so she said moth
ing.
do you know" the young man went
smoothly on, II have a confession to
make to you" He paused, and AIMS
grave eyes Intercepted him. I'm the
night, when didn't sleep, lay and
thought about you. :. You came in
here, when l was just decently dying
when 1 thought this business of life
was all overland willed me to live.
:. 1 couldn't go on dying, after that,
without being rude to you'll"
Il am glad you have such good
manners" Ann ventured, shakily.
IF it wasn't for you, I'd be in long
pine box by this time, and my good
brother Willy would be ordering
mourning with a silver lining.
Well, you willed me to live-and I
don't even know your name!"
"Ann Byrne."
"Ann. It's rather sweet.
:. Well, Ann, what are you go
ing to do about meY'
Ann hesitated. She looked deliber-
ately up and down the ward, gray
white and dreary in the light that
came through rain-lashed windows.
Her glance dropped to Densley How
ard, and their eyes met. 81 WISH" she
said unsteadily, that 1 could take you
away from this horrid place."
II wish you might. It's beautiful of
you to think of anything so delight
full" Densley's eyes and lips were
TRANSPORTED by the sweetness Of his
smile, and for a moment neither of
them spoke. "We'll just have to make
the best of 1t here" he declared at
length. "Will you spend hours-every
day-talking to me?"
Ann nodded. breathless at the
| thought
eff 1 can only manage not to bore
you"
He managed this with ease. AT
| first, when his weakness was pa.
thetically apparent, she bullied him
Shamelessly, and he submitted with q
touching docility. They discussed the
most commonplace things, but Howard
managed to give new significance to
| them.
On her way home that night Ann
paused for moment in front of Dens
ley's house, closed since the death OF
his father, years before, and she
nodded and smiled at the old nurse
caretaker, in an upper window. She
knew all about her, and her old-time
affection for Densley.
He had not been in the hospital
many days when Ann began TO be mis-
erably aware of the possible comment
on her devotion to him. She caught
herself wondering If the men in the
neighboring cots were gossiping about
it, and now and then she raised hel
voice in order that they might realize
how innocuous their conversation was
She did not mention her misgivings tt
Howard, for so complete was her re
spect for his sophistication that she
feared he might think her ridiculous
Instead, she told him that she hat
seen his old nurse, and that once sh,
had gone in through the creaking from
door to tell her that "Mr. Densley'
was better.
maggie is sure that If you would
only go home you would get well a
once" she ventured.
Home? You mean to Washington
square? Back to the house l was borr
in? That would be-complete."
"You might be lonely there" Ann.
look skillfully included the harassin,
nearness of his fellow-patients.
'Do you mean that you wouldn'
come to see me?
Ann hesitated. The fright in hi
voice was too delicious to soothe i'm
mediately. 81 shouldn't be allowed
to-" she said demurely.
"Mr. Cortlandt?"
"He might let me come-but he Il
in Washington. He won't b,
at home again for two weeks"
1.-TWO weeks! 1t will be all over 70
me before that! But it woul,
be good finish"
"Do you mean-that you-are goin,
to die?"
Howard nodded. "a campaign an,
Libby weren't just the best things Il
the world for a constitution like mine
l imagine. My mother died O
lung fever, too. She was year
younger than l. But we won
talk about it."
mo" cried Ann, "and we won
4hink Of I'll You shall get well 20