The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-08-20
n won can. You see, Miss Eliza-

me, II you can. You see. Miss Eliza
beth, / am taking little yachting
party to Key West, and ought to
keep In touch with business affairs.
II you could accompany US, you can
have another holiday when we get
back"
The yachting trip was to take about
six weeks. Miss Elizabeth had never
been at sea; much as she wanted to
see Tom again the invitation was ir-
resistible. The colonel told her that
there were to be three or four other
ladies. They were to go aboard the
vessel at the little private dock at
seven In the evening, a week hence.
Miss Elizabeth wrote a letter to
Tom, explaining the situation and
promising to come home as soon as
she returned Then, at the appointed
hour, she accompanied the colonel,
who called at her boarding house in
taxicab, to the pier.
The yacht lay alongside the wharf.
A Waterman paced her decks, but,
though they inspected her from stem
to stern, there was no sign of the 9TH
ers. They had sat down for a mo-
ment In the dining room. The girl
was becoming a little nervous.
Eve will have dinner now," said the
colonel.
"Wait minute" said the girl hur-
riedly. when will the others be
&c t. oh. or naf-
ed before we dine?"
The colonel pulled his mustache
! and looked hard at her. Then he
stretched out one hand and patted
hers gently.
"My DEAR" he said, 1--WE are going
to be the only two passengers aboard
this trip"
The girl looked at him with terrified
| eyes and rose from her chair with
little gasp. To the last day Of her life
she always pictured the colonel thus,
seated before her, pulling his dropping
mustache, and smiling at her with
such kind expression on his face.
II thought you understood, Eliza
BETH" said the colonel In tones OF
|
In his voice, but Colonel Slice could
never be anything but gentleman.
"But-you said-you said" the
girl exclaimed; and even then she
could not quite believe it. But pres
emily she understood. She was not
at all angry. She felt the tears Of
humiliation rush to her eyes, that he
| .ho,,Ia hove ,,o;s,,n darStood bor Gu And
there was more than humiliation
there was real sorrow for the loss of
friend, the only friend she had had,
except Tom, since her parents died.
"Are you going, Elizabeth" asked
the colonel, watching her.
She began buttoning her coat. You
ought not to ask me that-oh, what
have I done to make you think other
wise" she pleaded.
"My DEAR" said the colonel, Il
thought you understood the situation
Perhaps | was wrong; had no wish
to deceive you. That Is not my way
There are certain conventions
why did you think / was taking you
out to luncheons and dinners?"
Gas a friend" she cried holly, feel
ing her cheeks burning.
He shook his head. "Men of fifty dc
not make friends of their lady EN-
ployees in that way, my DEAR" he an
swered. 81 am sorry. Let me hell
you with your coat"
They went up the stairs to the deci
and stood side by side there for
moment Everything in Elizabeth's
life seemed to have crumbled into
ashes. She turned.
81 am sorry" she said. Il wish
had understood Good-by."
For the life of her she could no
summon any indignation against him
She did not feel the insult then, onl!
the unbearable loss.
Colonel Slice took her hand in hi
and bent over It. They strolled up tn
dock; he called taxicab and escort
ed her to her door. Then he raised hi
. hat and left her
, On the following morning a specia
delivery message arrived for the girl
. asking her to hold her position at tn
store till the colonels return. The
need not meet, he said, but he truste'
she would take charge of his interest
> till he could make arrangements
Elizabeth went back to business.
: She did not see him again. Tn
Yacht was wrecked in the great storr
that ravaged the Florida coast tina
!, summer. Colonel Slice never appeare
> again. He doubtless died, with all tn
!. crew. But he had had time to max
: certain arrangements. The girl foun
!. herself the possessor of substantis
!. legacy. But she never told Tom a
!. the circumstances. That was pag
:. of her life that she tore out of tn
8 book.