The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1925-10-09

she added, brightly, turning her face
| to US again.
AT length, with assurances that we
would repeat our visit soon, and 9
promise from Mrs. Alton that she
would return 1t when the men had
her house under way, we clambered
into our wagon and started the oxen
on their slow, numbering gait home
ward. Sandy saw us properly off the
place, and even stood at attention
until we faded out of sight in the
twilight. There is likely to be a nip
to the night air on the prairies even
in midsummer, and Jean, l noticed
Struggled comfortably beside me on
the board across the wagon box which
served as seat. Or perhaps
it was that for the first time in
months the latent motherhood in her
nature had been stirred into con
seriousness.
1t was Sunday before we heard or
saw anything more Of Spool. In a
khaki-c0lored shirt and corduroy
treeches and leggings and an Indian
helmet which he had dug up from
somewhere he was a picturesque and
striking figure as he strobe. into the
grateful shade of the shanty. Under
his arm he carried banjo case.
Spool took off his helmet and sat
down in the shade A ring Of dust
had formed on his fair temples and
forehead and his brown hair was
curly with perspiration. He was a
man good to look at; straight and
lean, but not too spare; with white
teeth that flashed behind lips always
ready to spring to smile beneath
sandy mustache that had more in
1t of promise than of realization. His
hands were small and finely formed,
with long, delicate fingers, and he
gave his nails a degree of attention
not often found among those so close
to the realities of life as were we
pioneers.
Opening the banjo case he produced
not only banjo but a box of candy,
which he had managed to smuggle
into it.
1.-THE ladies, 1 hope, will accept"
said he, rendering the candy to Jean.
IF accompanied by a serenade in
our honor?" was the quick rejoinder.
"But not until after / have had a
bath, and have somewhat recovered
my wind" Spool pleaded, and was
excused.
1t was evening before he took up
his banjo, but almost with the first
sweep of its clamoring strings he
started vibrations which seemed to
catch our little band of exiles some
where about the heart and squeeze us
suddenly hollow with loneliness. Then
he sang, dipping into little fragments
of repertoire, until at last he hit upon
something that Jean had learned be-
fore we left the East, and there her
clear soprano joined his tenor as nat
urally as one brook mingles with an
other and both flow on, singing a new
song which is all of the old one, and
something more l had never learned
to sing, and while l felt the heart
tugs Of their harmony there were
other strings tugging at my heart as
well.
"But we forgot the greatest news"
Jean exclaimed, in a pause after one
of their selections. "We have neigh
bors-two new neighbors-three, coun-
ing Sandy. They are living on Eight
cen, to the east; surely you saw
the tent?"
$50 1 did," said Spool, "but I
thought 1t might be a wandering In
dian family. Two, did you say? A
married coupler"
mo, a widow, Mrs. Alton, and her
baby Gerald, the dearest little chap.
He puts US down for Indians, and
with some reason"
"Gerald? said Spool. "How old
is hep
"Just turned three, so Mrs. Alton
told us. You should see her; not
very big, but pluck to the marrow.
She has taken a homestead so that
she can raise the money to educate
her boy. She is coming over as soon
as she is settled, and we must have
you meet her. She's English, and
you'll love her."
Jeans frankness rather set me at
ease again. Evidently was magnify
ing the grip that Spool was gaining
upon her. She was content that he
should love his new English neighbor.
81 shall be wonderfully interested
in her." Spool said, gayly, but ii
seemed to me that his mind had sud
denly gone all a-ramble. There was a
| moments silence, then he took az
the thread again. II once knew q
| little boy of that name-Gerald-was
much attached to him. Strange how