The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-01-26

ana went toward the club and obser
Vation car in the rear. As he passed
through the sleeper next to him-tre
last one-Harriet Dorne glanced ur
at MN and spoke to her father; Dorne
nodded but did not look up.
! Inc observation room was nearly
empty. The only occupants were =
young woman who was reading a mag.
azine, and an elderly man. Eaton
! chose seat as far from these two nc
| possible.
ne had been there only few min
utes' however, when, looking I'D he
saw Harriet Dorne and Avery enter
Tue room. They passed him, engaged
III conversation, and stood by the rear
door looking out into the storm II
was evident to Eaton, although he did
not Watch them, that they were arg1-
ing something; the girl seemed insist
eht' avery irritated and unwilling
Her manner showed that she won her
point finally. She seated herself in
one or the chairs, and Avery left her
he wandered, as if aimIessly, TO the
reauing table, turning over the maga-
zines there; abandoning them. he
gazed about as if bored: then with a
wholly casual manner, he came
toward Eaton and took the seat be-
side him.
"Rotten weather, isn't it?. Avery
observed somewhat ungraciously.
Eaton could not well avoid a renIv
ITS been getting worse" he COM
mented, ever since we left Seattle"
We're running into it, apparently"
Again Avery looked toward Eaton and
waited.
"Yes-lucky If we get through
Inc conversation on Avery's part
was patiently forced; and if was
equally forced on Eaton's; neverthe-
less 1t continued. Avery introduced
the war and other subjects upon which
men, thrown together for time. are
accustomed to exchange opinions. But
avery did not do it easily or natu-
rally; he plainly was of the caste
whose pose it is to repel, not seek.
overtures toward chance acouaint
ance His lack of practice was per-
fectly obvious when at last he asked
directly: "Beg pardon, but. I don't
think l know your name"
Eaton was obliged to give II.
Mines Avery" the other offered
perhaps you heard it when we were
getting our berths assigned"
And again the conversation. enioved
by neither of them, went on. Finally
the girl at the end of the car rose and
passed them, as though leaving the
car Avery looked up.
Where are you going, HarryY
Il think someone ought to be with
Father"
I'll go in just a minute"
She had halted almost in front of
them. Avery, hesitating as though he
did not know what he ought to do,
finally arose; and as Eaton observed
that Avery, having introduced him
self, appeared now to consider il his
duty to present Eaton to Harriet
Dorne, Eaton also arose. Avery muir
INJURED the names. Harriet Dorne,
Avery's chair, joined in the CONVEX
sation. AS he replied easily and in
terestedly to a comment of Eaton's.
Avery suddenly reminded her of her
father. After minute, when Avery
still ungracious and still irritated
over something. which Eaton could not
guess-rather abruptly left them, she
took Avery's seat; and Eaton dropped
into his chair beside her.
Now, this whole proceeding though
within the convention which. forbid
ding a girl to make mans acouaint-
ance directly, says nothing against
her making it through the medium of
another man-had been so unnatu-
rally done that Eaton understood that
Harriet Dorne deliberately had ar
ranged to make his acquaintance. and
that Avery, angry and objecting. had
been overruled.
She seemed TO Eaton less aIertIy
boyish now than she had looked an
hour before when they had boarded
the train. Her cheeks were smoothly
rounded, her lips rather full. her
lashes very long. He could not look
up without looking directly at her. for
her chair, which had not been moved
since Avery left it. was at an angle
with his own.
To avoid the appearance of studv.
ing her too openly, he turned slightly.
so that his gaze went past her TO the
white turmoil outside the windows
Its wonderful" she said. isn't II ?"
You mean the storm?' A twinkle
of amusement came TO Eaton's ewes.
at would be more interesting If If
allowed a little more to be seen. At
present there is nothing visible but
snow"
SIS that the only way it affects YOU?
An artist would think of it as a back
ground for contrasts-a thing to
sketch or paint; writer as something
to be written down in words"
Eaton understood. She could not
more plainly have asked him what he
was.