The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1924-06-20


her moody.
We'll, If we must enjoy each 9TH
er's company, we may as well do SO
companionably," she said, with an eff
fort at gaiety. Let US talk. Tell
me about yourself"
First things first" he parted.
"Oh, I've nothing to tell. My life
has been very unromantic. A few
years at school, and the rest of 1t on
the range. A very everyday kind OF
existence"
Il think It's the everyday kind Of
existence that is romantic" he re-
turned. 1T is a great mistake to
think of romance as belonging to other
times and other places. Even the
most commonplace person has expert
enced romance enough for dozen
books. Quite possibly he has not rec
ogniZed the romance, but 1t was there.
The trouble is that with our limited
sense of humor, what we think of as
romance in other peoples lives be-
comes tragedy in our own"
How much did he know? :.
Eyes" she said, II suppose that Is
So"
II know 1t is So" he went on. IF
we could read the thoughts-know the
experiences-of those nearest to us,
we would never need to look out of
our own circles for either romance or
tragedy. But it is as well that we
can't. Take the experience Of today
for example. I admit it has not been
commonplace day, and yet 1t has not
been altogether extraordinary. Think
Of the experiences we have been
through just this day, and how, If they
were presented in fiction, they would
be romantic, almost unbelievable And
here we are at the close, sitting on
rock, matter-of-fact people in a
matter-of-fact world, accepting every
thing as commonplace and unexcep-
tional."
mot quite that" she said daringly.
'1 see that you are neither common
place nor unexceptional." She spoke
with sudden impulse out of the depth
Of her sincerity. She had not met
a man like this before In her mind
she fixed him in contrast with Trans
ley, the self-confident and aggressive,
and Under, the shy and unassertive.
None of those adjectives seemed to fit
this new acquaintance. Nevertheless,
he suffered nothing by the contrast.
eff had been bright enough would
have said that first" he apologiZed,
"but l got rather carried away in one
of my pet theories about romance
Now my life, l suppose, to many peo-
pie would seem quite tame and unro-
mantle, but to me it has been de-
lightful succession of somewhat placid
adventures. 1t began in very ortho-
dox way, in a very orthodox family.
My father, under the guidance, no
doubt, of whatever star governs such
lucky affairs, became possessed of
comfortable fortune, and was
brought up to fit my station in life,
whatever that means. There were
just two boys of US, and I was the
elder My father had become a brok-
er. He wanted me to go into the Of
flee with him, but some way / didn't
fit In. I've no doubt there was lots
of romance there, too, but was Of the
wrong nature; simply couldn't get
enthusiastic over it. Being Of frank
disposition I confided In my father
that I felt /. was wasting my time
in a brokers' office. He, being of an
equally frank disposition, confided in
me that he entertained the same opin-
ion.
Il could see that my father was
panied and disappointed, even In his
anger. You have upset all my plans,
you have destroyed all my hopes he
charged me. His voice was hard, but
think that was to keep it from
breaking. What's the use of making
money If you haven't son to carry
on? Roy'-that is my younger broth
er-is too young as yet, and, I think,
a trif1e reckless for responsibility. I
was counting on you to take up the
load when I laid it down. Besides
he went on, I had other plans for
your future The dear old fellow
had been giving more thought to 1t
than l had suspected. Within a few
years you should marry. Now there's
Emily Forcep'-that wasn't her name,
but it will do for purposes of CONVEX
sation-'good family, and well off. Col
onel Forcep and l are agreed that it
would be just the thing. Capital
match for you, my boy
But / protested, I don't love
Miss Forcep. Why, 1 hardly know
herr
THAT will come in time said he.
You're at the romantic age just now,
but later you'll understand it isn't
hard to love a girl who is well brought
up and has a million In her OVID
right
"At that / fiared up. Nothing do
ing l said. very unexpectedly, I am
afraid. If your business, and your
money, and Miss Forcep, and her
money, not to speak of Colonel For
cep, have to be counted as a going
concern, you can keep the lot. My
life is my own and I'm going to live
it in my own way"
Grant paused, and the girl found
her fingers resting on his knee.
1t was very delightful to have the cur
tain lifted on this strong mans career
Go on" she whispered.
'Ive been sorry for it since-not
for that-but for what l said. You