The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1924-08-08
By ROBERT STEAD

"But didn't want TO forget ]" be In
sisted. II wanted not to forget-you.'
She could not misunderstood the
emphasis he placed ON that last word
but she continued as though he had
not interrupted.
81 knew you would write once OF
twice out of courtesy. T knew you
would do that. l made up my mind
that If you wrote three times, then
would know you really wanted to re.
member me. did not get any
third letter."
"But how could know that you had
placed such test-such an arbitrary
measurement-upon my friendshipY
at wasn't necessary for you to
know. If you had cared-enough-you
would have kept on writing"
He had to admit to himself that
there was just enough truth in what
she said to make her logic unanswer.
able. His delight in her presence now
did not alter the fact that he had
found 1t quite possible to live for four
years without her, and 1t was true that
upon one or two great vital moments
his mind had leapt, not to Phyllis
Bruce, but to Zen Transleyl He
blushed at the recollection; 1t was an
impossible situation, but 1t was true!
He was framing some plausible ar
gument about honorable men not per-
sisting in correspondence when Muir
doch hustled in again.
Mother is going to set the dining
room table," he announced, land the
coffee will be ready presently. Well
sir, you do look well in uniform. You
will be wondering how the business
has gomez"
mot half as much as I am wonder
ing some others things" he said, with
significance intended for the ear of
Phyllis.
Come, Mr.. Grant; come, every
body" cheerful voice called from
behind the sliding doors which shut
off the dining-room. The fragrant
smell of coffee was already in the air,
and as Grant took his seat Mrs. Muir
doch declared that for once she had
decided to defy all the laws of diges-
ton.
AT the table their talk dribbled out
into thin channels 1t was as though
there were at hand a great reservoir
of thought, of experience, of deep
groupings into the very weH-springs of
life, which none of them dared to tap
lest 1t should rush out and overwhelm
them. They seemed in some strange
awe of its presence, and spoke. when
they spoke at all, of trivial things.
Grant proved communicative, and
perhaps, in sense, disappointing. He
preferred to forget both the glories
and the horrors of war; when he drew
on his experience at all 1t was to relate
some humorous incident. That, 1t
seemed, was all he cared to remember.
He was conscious of a restraint which
hedged him about and hampered every
mental deployment.
Phyllis, too, must have been con-
scious Of that restraint, for before
they parted she said something about
human minds being like pianos, which
get out o. tune for lack of the mas
ter-touch.
When Grant found himself In the
street air again he was almost swal-
lowed up in the rush of things which
he might have said. He paused at a
bridge to lean against the railing and
watch the trembling reflection of city
lights in the river.
II have itr' he suddenly exclaimed
to the steel railing. II have it"
He paused for moment to turn
over his thought, as though to make
sure 1t should not escape. Then, at a
pace which aroused the wondering
glance Of one or two placid policemen
he hurried to the hotel.
Under and Grant had been assigned
to the same room, and the sergeant's
dreams, If he dreamt at all, were OF
the sweet hay meadows of the West
Grant turned on the light and looked
down into the face of his friend. A
smile, born of fields afar from wars
alarms, was playing about his lips
Even In his excitement Grant could
not help rejecting what a wonderful
thing IT is to sleep in peace. Then
Il have It'll" he shouted. "Linder, ]
have It'll"
The sergeant sat up with start
blinking.
81 have it," Grant repeated.
Them, you mean," said Under, sud
denly awake. "Why, man, what's
wrong with you? You're more ex
cited than If we were just going over
the top"
I've got my great idea. 1 know
what I'm going to do with my money
well, don't do 1t tonight" Lindel
protested. Someone has to settle fol
this dugout in the morning."
Were leaving for the West tomor.
row, Under, old scout"
But Under was again sleeping the
sleep of man four years In France