The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1924-09-05
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CHAPTER xV-Continued.


Phyllis Bruce-rather a nice name"
"What was l saying? Oh, yes;
Phyllis. l grew TO like her-very
much-but couldn't marry her. You
know why"
Denny, you big, big boy!" she
murmured. 'Do you suppose every
man marries his first choice?"
1T has always seemed to me that
a second choice Is a makeshift. 1t
doesn't seem quite square"
mo. / fancy some second choices
are really first choices. Wisdom comes
with experience. you know"
Not always. At any rate couldn't
marry her while my heart was yours"
Il suppose not" she answered. and
again he&6tetl a touch of WEAKNESS in
her voice. Il ajaow something of what
divided affecti6r-if one can even say
1t is divided-means. Denny, l will
make confession. knew you would
come back; l always was sure you
would come back. Then, said to my
self, 1 will see this man Grant as he is,
and the reality will clear my brain of
all this idealism which l have woven
about him. And so have encouraged
you TO come here; l have been most
unconventional, / know, but was
always that have cultivated your
acquaintance. and, Denny, / am so dis
appOinted!'
Disappointed? Then the mirage
has cleared awayT
"On the contrary, it grows more
distorted every day. / see you tower
ing above all your fellow humans;
reaching up into heaven so far above
them that they don't even know of its
existence. l see you as really The
Man-on-the-Hill. The idealism which
I thought must fade away is justi-
ed-heightened-by the reality
She had turned her face to him, and
Grant, little as he understood the ways
of women. knew that she had made
her great confession. For moment
he held himself in check. then
from somewhere in his subconscious-
ness came ringing the phrase, Every
man worth his salt takes what
he wants." That was Transley's NOR
atty; Transley, the usurper, who had
bullied himself into possession of this
heart which he had never won and
could never hold; Transley, the fool,
frittering his days and nights with
money! He seized her in his arms,
crushing down her weak resistance;
he drew her to him until, as in that
day by a foothfll river somewhere in
the sunny past, her lips met his and
returned their caress. He cared now
for nothing-nothing in the whole
world but this quivering womanhood
within his arms.
"You must CO." she whispered at
length. 1T is late, and Franks habits
are somewhat cratic"
He held her at arms length, his
hands upon her shoulders do you
suppose that fear-of anything can
make me surrender you now?"
"Not fear, perhaps know it could
not be fear-but good sense may do it.
1t was not fear that made me send you
home early from your previous calls.
1t was discretion"
"Oh!" he said, new light dawning,
and he marveled again at her consum-
mate artistry.
"But / must tell you," she resumed,
Frank leaves on business trip TO-
morrow night. He will be gone for
some time, and / shall motor into
town to see him off. l am wondering
about Wilson" she hurried on, as
though not daring to weigh her words;
Sarah will be away am letting her
have a little holiday-and can't take
Wilson into town with me because it
will be so late" Then, with burst
of confession, she spoke more DELHI
erately. That's isn't exactly the rea-
son, Dennison; Frank doesn't know l
have let Sarah go, and IL can't ex-
plain"
Her face sh0ne pink and warm in
the glow of the freight, and as the
significance of her words sank in upon
him Grant marveled at that wizardry
of the gods which could bring such
homage to the foot of man. A tender
ness such as he had never known suf-
fused him; her very presence was holy.
Bring the boy over and let him
spend the night with me. We are
great chums and We shall get along
splendidly."