The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-09-20
A Northland Romance
by
Robert w. Service
Illustrations by Ir,Vin Myers
WNU Service
CHAPTER IX-Continued

denly. he stopped.
"Oh, by the way, l saw friend OF
yours before | left No need to men.
ton names, you lucky dog. Whens
the big thing coming off? Well.
must congratulate you again. She
looks sweeter than ever. By-by."
He was off. leaving a very sinister
impression on my mind. In his part
ing smile there was trace of mock.
cry that gravely disquieted me-
had thought much of Berna during
the past few months, but as the gold
fever took hold of me put her more
and more from my mind. ! told nv
self that all this struggle was for her.
In the thought that she was safe }
Gained all anxious fear. Yet at Lo-
casto's words all my old longing and
heartache vehemently resurged.
In spite of myself, ! was the prey
OF growing uneasiness. began to
worry, so that I knew only trip In
TO Dawson would satisfy me. Ac-
cordingly, hired big Swede TO take
my place at the shovel, and set out
IL.
My strange. formless fears for Der
ma were soon set at rest She was
awaiting me. She looked better than
! had ever seen her, and she well
coined me with an eager delight that
kindled me to rapture.
We crossed the Yukon to the green
glades of North Dawson, and there,
on little rise, we sat down, side by
side. Never was lad so happy as |.
/ spoke but little, for loves silences
are sweeter than all words. From
time to time she would give me d
glance so full of trust and love that
my heart would leap to her, and wave
on wave of passionate tenderness
come sweeping over me. .
yes" she was saying, doesn't Il
seem as if we were dreaming2 You
know, always thought it was
dream, and now it's coming true.
You'll take me away from this place,
won't you, bOy?-far, far away. I'll
tell you now, dear, I've borne II all
for your sake, but ] don't think ]
could bear it any longer. don't
know what I'd have done If 1t hadn't
been for the rough miners. They've
been so kind TO me- When they saw
l was straight and honest they
couldn't be good enough"
She looked at me archly.
"And you know, I've had ever so
many offers Of marriage. from hon
est, rough, kindly men-and I've re.
fused them ever so gracefully"
"Has LOcasto ever made any more
overturesp
Her face grew grave.
Eyes, about month ago he be-
sieged me, gave me no rest, made all
kinds of proposals and promises. He
wanted to divorce his outside wife
and marry me. He wanted to settle
a hundred thousand dollars on me
Then, when, he saw It was no use,
he turned round and begged me to
let him be my friend. He spoke so
nicely of you. He said he would help
us in any way he could. He's every.
thing that's kind to me now. He
can't do enough for me. Yet, some
how, I don't trust him."
swell, my precious" | assured her,
"all danger, doubt, despair, will soon
be over. I'll take you away from II
all, soon. Well go to my home, to
Garry. to mother. They will love you
as | love you"
I'm sure | will love them. What
you have told me Of them makes them
seem very real to me. Will you mol
be ashamed of meT
81 will be proud, proud of you, my
girl. On the first day of June. he.
loved, will come to you, and we
will be made man and wife. You will
be waiting for me, will you mott"
"Yes, yes, waiting ever so eagerly,
my lover"
kissed her passionately, and we
held each other tightly for a mo.
ment- | saw come into her eyes that
look which comes but once into the
eyes of a maid that look of ineffable
seIf-surrender. of passionate abandon.
ment.
She rested her head on my shout.
der; her lips lay on mine. and they
moved family. ......
Eyes, lover. yes, the first of June
Don't fail me, honey, don't fail me-"
We parted. buoyant with hope. in
an ecstasy of Joy.
got back to the claim. Every
thing was going merrily, but I felt
little desire to resume my toll
was strangely wearied. worn out
somehow. Yet | took up my shovel
again with a body that rebelled In
every tissue. Never had | felt like
this before. Something was wrong
with me- | was weak. AT night
sweated greatly. | cared not to eat.
"WeIl." said the Prodigal one day.
Its all over but the shouting. From
my calculations we've cleaned up two
hundred and six thousand dollars
That's a hundred and three between
us four. It's cost US about three to
get out the stuff; so there will be,
roughly speaking, about twenty-five
thousand for each of u.s."
How jubilant every one was look.
ing-every one but me. Somehow 1
felt as if money didn't matter jus,
then, for was sick. sick.
"Wby, what's the matterP' said the
Prodigal, staring at me curiously
"You look like ghost"
81 feel like one, too" I answered
"Pm afraid I'm in for bad spell. !
want TO lie down awhile. boys
I'm tired. The first of June.
I've got date on the first of June.
] must keep il, | must Don't
lei me sleep too long. boys ! mustn't
fail It'S n matter of life and death