The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1925-10-30

|
Don't you know, Frank 2" she MUIR
INJURED.
Her face was ruddy in the glow of
the lamp, and the pink skin shone
color that was not all reflected. Amaz-
ing as was her revelation 1 could no
longer fail to understand it. / rose
and walked to the table; / took her
hands in mine and lifted her to her
feet
you are waiting for me to-kiss
you. Jean," l whispered.
She was trembling, but she spoke
with outward composure. "There is
something else, first"
Something else-frst? / don't un-
derstand."
"You should"
l could not follow her thought. 81
kissed you once before" ventured.
..Many times before"
mo, only once. The other times
were when we were children. They
don't count"
do things that happened when we
were children not count-with your
''Do they-with you?"
ASK me, and see."
1t had come; the moment of which
had told myself in dreams and
visions; the moment to which l had
looked forward with strange fear
and great hope. JEAN" whispered.
81 love you. Will you be my wife?"
As write the words they seem very
bare and matter-of-fact. But they were
all that Jean required. She made no
spoken answer, but she turned her face
to mine, and l drew her up in my
strong arms and kissed her in the
GREATNESS passion of our young
love.
After a time, with one box serving
US both, we talked of our future. /
limited that circumstances made our
immediate marriage somewhat de-
pendent upon the course that Jack and
Marjorie might elect to follow. / took
it for granted that Jack and Marjorie
would marry, but l was very vague in
my idea as to when this would happen.
Il don't think we shall have to wait
on Jack and Marjorie" Jean remarked,
knowingly. Il rather think they have
been waiting on u.s."
''Then they need wait no longer" l
said, boldly. 81 am ready at once;
now"
1--WE might make it by Christmas"
Jean remarked, more thoughtfully.
1--WE can't afford any special wedding
clothes but we can at least afford a
few weeks anticipation
"Then Christmas be it ~ exclaimed.
"Oh, Merry Christmas!"
l was so stirred with a strange new
joy that all the future looked rosy and
inviting. But suddenly / felt Jeans
arm tighten on my neck and / looked
up in her face just in time to catch
the splash of warm tear on my
cheek. / was Immediately filled with
wonder and misgiving What could
make Jean cry in moment of such
happiness? l pressed the question.
I'm not sorry" she said at length,
'.but I'm a little-frightened. Not for
you; for myself. Oh, my dear Frank,
my dear boy-will you always-will
we always-love each other as we do
tonight?'
| Manlike, assured her that of
course we would. She rested her head
against mine, and for awhile she
seemed to nestle at peace in the soft
luxury of our love. But presently q
| shiver ran through her frame, and
drawing back little, she looked me
fairly in the eyes.
you know, Frank" she murmured,
sit seems strange to say it, but i
am SO glad to get this settled"
| "Not gladden. than /, little one,' said
| /, shaping my lips to endearments with
the awkwardness of my racial reti-
cence. "You couldn't be gladder than
| | am"
II have waited so long," she con-
| tinued, almost disregarding my inter-
ruption, ito get 1t settled-to be sure
of myself-to know just what is going
TO happen"
ITO lie sure of yourself? How sure
of yourselfY'
she dropped INTO mOmentS silence,
as though studying her words before
attempting an answer. "You won't mis-
| understand, l think, Frank" she said
at length, IF / tell you-that / have
been somewhat like traveller on the
! prairie who comes upon two roads,
/ and is not quite sure which he should
take. Let us say a storm is sweeping
down from the north, and his very life
depends on the right decision. But the
longer he stands there. looking at
them, the harder 1t is to make the
choice. It's comfort to choose, and
be on ones way"
"But suppose he chooses the wrong
way?" I Numbered out, only half fol-
lowing her meaning.
'Oh, Frank !" she cried, Selling my
shoulders in her strong, supple hands.
at mustn't, mustn't, mustn't be the
wrong wayl won't have it the wrong
way-I won't think of that as pos
! siblel See, here we are And we have
known, always, since We were little
children, that we were for each other,
haven't we, Frank? 1t has always
been settled, in heaven. don't you
think, and we have just confirmed 1T
Oh, know 1t has-I know 1t has !"