The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1925-03-20
CHAPTER IX-Continued

Lee did not push his inquiries. On
the whole he felt it would be prefer
able that her memory should return
to her while she was at the mission.
The next morning broke cloudy, the
snow was frozen hard, and banks of
heavy snow clouds were piling up in
the north. The girls knee had still not
troubled her, and they made even
faster progress. Early in the after
noon the prospects of storm became
so threatening that Lee proposed they
should encamp on a ridge of land some
half mile in front of them.
I'VE can find safe nook in there"
he suggested.
"Oh, no." answered the girl, there's
large log house about half a mile
beyond that, and We'll be much more
comfortable there"
AS Lee looked at her, he realized
that she had been speaking without
realizing what she had been saying.
Suddenly she realized it too.
Now what made me say that?" she
asked. But I'm sure somehow that
there is cabin there. l know this
place quite well, only it's as if I'd
seen it in a dream. oh, Lee, wnat if
/ should remember? l don't want to-
never, never! / want our new life
and our love!"
He put his arm about her and tried
to comfort her, but the look of sad
= ness fingered on her face, and every
now and then, covertly watching her,
Lee would see that same perplexed
knitting of her brows.
They passed the ridge, the trail ran
around the bend of the Lakeland sud-
denly they saw the log building in
front of them.
Lee looked at the house in surprise,
for it was built in the most srbstan-
tial way, and contained apparently five
or six rooms. The settler who had
constructed it must have meant to
make it his permanent home, for the
ground around it had been cleared for
sn acre or more; but 1t seemed to
have been uncared for for several
years, for the land was overgYown with
brambles and spindly birch, into the
thick of which Serried cohorts of young
spruce trees were advancing in ranks,
like the vanguard of an army.
The door was unbolted, and when
they went in they were startled at the
aspect of the interior. The rooms were
filed with furniture, nearly all of 1t
made by the settler, but extraordinar-
lily well done. There were widowed
and faded but substantial carpets on
the floors. There were fungous growths
on the walls; but in spite of all the
evidences of decay, the interior looked
the habitation of prosperous settler
They went from room to room. The
contents of the kitchen had been
scrupulously respected. in accordance
with trappers' law. There were por-
celain plates, cups and saucers. cook
ing utensils, large sheet-iron stove
half full of charred logs.
Lee went all over the place, calling
to the girl with the enthusiasm of a
boy.
Its just the place for usi" he
cried. "We1l find out who owns It and
buy it from him, and spend our honey
moon here"
In his exuberance he failed to per-
ceive the depression that had settled
upon her.
They had only just arrived In time
to escape the storm, for already the
fakes were whirling down outside.
"Weil. you were right" said Lee
"It's lucky we're going to have roof
over us tonight. Look, here's fire.
wood piled Now wonder who's been
living herei"
The girl did not answer him. She
was staring about her with the same
bok Of bewilderment, and Lee saw