The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1924-08-22
CHAPTER XIII
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of day that was to stand out as an
epochal one in his career. The meeting
with the little boy and the quick friend
formed between them; the mishap, and
the trip to the house by the river
these were logical and easily followed
But why, of all the houses in the world
should ii have been Zen Transley's
house2 Why, of all the little boys in
the world, should this have been the
son of his rival and the only girl he had
ever-the girl he had loved most in all
his life? Surely events are ordered to
some purpose; surely everything is not
mere haphaZard chance! The fatallsm
of the trenches forbade any other con-
clusion; and If this was so, why had he
been thrown into the orbit of Zen
TranSley? He had not sought her; he
had not dreamed of her once in all that
morning while her child was winding
innocent tendrils of affection about his
heart And yet-how the boy had
gripped him! Could 1t be that in some
way he was small incarnation of the
Zen of the Y.D., with all her clamorous
passion expressed now in childish love
and hero-wOrship? Had some intelli-
gence above his own guided him into
this environment, deliberately inviting
him TO defy conventions and blaze a
path of broader freedom for himself,
and for her? These were questions he
wrestled with as the shadows crept
down the mountain slopes and along
the valley Al his feet.
For neither Zen nor himself had
cOnniyed at the situation which had
made them. of all the people in the
world, near neighbors in this silent
valley. Her surprise on meeting him
at the door had been as genuine as
his. When she had made sure that the
boy was not seriously hurt she had
turned TO him, and instinctively he
had known that there are some things
which all the weight of passing years
can never crush entirely dead. He
loved to rehearse her words, her ges-
lures, the quick play Of sympathetic
emotions, as one by one he reviewed
them.
"Youl l am surprised, had not
known" She had become confused
in her greeting, and color that she
would have given worlds to suppress
crept slowly through her cheeks.
81 am surprised, too-and delight
ed" he had returned. "The little boy
came to me In the field, boasting of his
braces" Then they had both laughed,
and she had asked him to come in and
tell about himself.
The living-roOm, as he recalled 1t,
was marked by the simplicity appro-
pirate TO the summer home, with just
a dash Of elegance in the furnishings
to suggest that simplicity was a mat
ter of choice and not Of necessity.
After soothing Wilson's sobs, which
had broken out afresh in his mothers
arms she had turned him over to
maid and drawn a chair convenient to
Grants.
you see, I am a farmer now" he
said, alphabetically regarding his
Overalls.
"What changes have come! But l
don't understand; thought you were
rich-very rich-and that you were
promoting some kind of settlement
scheme Frank has spoken Of it."
"All of which is true. You see, I
am man Of whims. choose to live
Joyously."
81 know" And 1t was then that
their eyes had met and they had fallen
into momentary silence.
"But why are you farming" she
had exclaimed, brightly.
For several reasons. But most of
all because love the prairies and the
open life. It's my within, and l fol-
low It,"
You are very wonderful" she had
murmured. And then, with startling
directness. "Are you happy?'
"As happy as / have any right to be.
Happier than / have been since child
hood"
She had risen and walked to the
mantelpiece; then, with an apparent
change of impulse, she had turned and
faced him. He had noted that her
figure was rounder than in girlhood,
her complexion paler. but the sunlight
still danced in her hair. and her reck-
less force had given way to a poise
that suggested infinite resources of
character.
Frank has done well, too," she had
said.
$50 have heard. I am told that he
has done very well indeed"
HE has made money, and he Is busy
and excited over his pursuit of sue
cess-what he calls success. He has
given it his life. He thinks of moth
ing else"
She had stopped suddenly, as though
her tongue had trapped her into say
ing more than she had intended
what do you think of my summer
homer" she had exclaimed, abruptlv.
"Come out and admire the sweet peas"
and with gay little flourish she had
led him into the garden. ''They tell
me Western flowers have a brilliance
and a fragrance which the East, with
all It's advantages, cannot duplicate.
Is that true?"
Il believe /. is. The East has great
er profusion-more varieties-but the
individual qualities do not seem to be
SO well developed"
Il see you know something of East
ern flowers" she had said, and he fam
cied he had caught note of banter
or was 1t inquiry?-in her voice.