The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1924-04-25

anything but dream-never can be.
suppose If had any real courage
but haven't, Joe; not a scrap"
He contradicted her roughly, trying
to put conviction behind the words
that was not there. 1t was her tone
that told him the truth. not the things
she had been saying.
Il am in love with you, and I'm not
with John-never was, / guess. All
the same, love isn't the only thing in
the world-not for me-" Her voice
ran thin, betraying an almost hysteri-
cal note. 'Why, down in that country
Valparaiso, wherever it is-those
people would all be foreigners, talking
a language l don't know word of.
| wouldn't have anybody but you. /
want people around me that like me.
Joe, 1t isn't thinkable; that's all. It's
simply frantic to talk about asking
John to divorce me. John! Then
there's Dorothy, too i didn't want
you TO talk about it. / knew you'd
spoil this one little day of ours if you
did"
What did you want this day for"
Joe asked.
She dried her eyes, and echoed his
words with stare and a slow-burning
blush.
81 wanted to see you," she STAN
mered.
Il knew you were unhappy, and l
was miserable, and / thought" She
broke off here, and after a moments
silence finished with flash of anger,
There's something beastly about you
sometimes. joe"
81 guess that's true of most of u.s."
he said, duly, "but didn't mean to
be beastly then" .,.
Her response to his humility was
another lightning change of mood
Her hand darted out across the table
and rested upon his. I'm sorry, Joe,",
she said. II wish we could be a little
happy"
Down in the buried recesses of his
spirit there had been a SCATTERING
burst of laughter at himself for a ro-
mantle, unbelievable fool. 1t was that
caressing touch of ViOlet's hand that
seemed somehow to have brought
down the whole house Of cards. 1t had
happened before he innkeeper had
come back to make a suggestion that
they come and live here a few days,
or he would have been surprised by
the momentary CLEAN in Violet's face
with which she responded to 1t. He
had looked for it in her face, knowing
1t would be there. What fool he
had been, with his chivalry and his
precious ideals! Well, they under
stood each other, now!
They finished their lunch in silence,
after their host had withdrawn once
more, and then, still without a word,
returned to the veranda When she
had seated herself upon the davenport
he sat beside her, but not very close,
and with his hands clasped between
his knees. She asked him what time
it was and he told her quarter to
three.
"Just a little more than an hour
left she commented, forlornly.
"Wiil that be long enough, do you sup
pose, for you to forgive me in? 1
don't think can bear it if you don't"
There's nothing to forgive" he said.
you're perfectly right about it-about
the craziness of my plan, mean. I've
been a fool. And I've times of being
what you call a beast"
Il don't call you that! Except
when I'm so frightened / don't know
what I'm saying. OF myself, Joe,
more than of you. I'm the worst
coward in the world; that's the truth
about me. But 1 wish / didn't make
you so unhappy"
you don't need 20 worry about
that he said. You've been lot
kinder TO me than / deserve"
but I'm unhappy, too," she sobbed.
"Oh, wish l knew what to dor
He pulled her up then in his arms
and kissed her. and she, with deep