The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1925-07-17
CHAPTER IX-Continued

He said. You forget" He was in q
towering anger.
mo. don't" Brena replied quietly.
'You bought me"
She picked up novel, read its title
and dropped il suddenly, as she said
Yes you bought me-the bargain Of
giving me a life for growth and in re-
turn was 10 be your companion. You
asked for no more than that and 10
have me help you come back 10 some
sweetness of spirit for which you
longed. Well I've given you nothing
more than rcu bought And nothing
less. For I've tried"
He looked up quickly, turned his ear
toward her and then, having listened,
stared al the ceiling.
81 was wrong" he said "a british
moment i only meant that there is
something. of course-my nerves, no
doubt-a decay"
1T would be unfair for me not to
say more" said Brena.
He folded his small, cold hands upon
the open book in his lap and stared
You do not mean that some man"
'No."
81 couldn't tell, of course. a bar
gain is q bargain. The truth is that /
would be joyful if you were made hap
py. i expect that. But j couldn't
know its approach. Your circles and
mine are no longer the same. You
vira
cleI"
You have no circle" said Brena.
"No." said he, 81 have no circle"
There are times when / wonder
whether this new turn in our lives is
not connected in some way with me-"
New turn?"
Yes" She was vehement. This
thing which hangs over US like a gull
lotine blade This thing which makes
you go about wrapped in your chills
of fear. This thing which makes your
eyes flicker from side 10 side as If
every street corner were an ambush
The thing which makes you afraid to
be alone"
He sprang up
What if il were?" he said 1T is
possible, isn't II? II is possible that a
person might carry around in their
trail some strange destiny. There
might be some extraordinary forces be-
hind you. mightn't there? II is posi-
bic that some tragic end awaits all
men who bind their lives with yours"
Brena opened wide her dark eyes
THAT is enough" she said
What are you going 10 do?''
I'm going to leave you. Compton, :"
she said.
If she had spoken these lines in the
theatrical emphasis with which they
are spoken by several hundred women
N each thousand sooner or later, as
wise a man as Compton Parnalee
would have laughed IN her face. II
was only necessary 70 know Brena to
know that If she SAID these words it
would be with q calm. sureness, a re-
CreTful sorrow all combined In the
tone of her voice and the expression
in her eyes that would carry convic-
ton. Compton was convinced.
knees He came half crawling. stum-
bling, struggling up toward her.
NO no. No. no. Brena-for Gods
saker" he whimpered. "For the love
of Christ don't leave mer'
AT her feet he shampooed his hair
as in an imaginary basin until its
sparse growth had been rumpled un-
der the palms of his clutching, twitch-
ing hands.
well, then never speak of any
mystery trailing upon my heels" she
had said. Never bring this insinua-
ton that a curse follows me- You
have had your chance TO be free of il
and instead of wanting me TO go you
want me to stay. / loathe dramatics,
Compton This is the Twentieth and
not the Twelfth century and those who
now attempt 10 raise superstitions
will fare badly IL others believe as /
do Get upt"
He stood With his eyes indicating
humiliation through the terror which
sill Fingered in his face. he arose and
-aikeo toward the door.