The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-08-09
-,iow can you help me7-

were the last man left In the world"
she cried vehemently.
"Why?" tried TO be calm.
"Whyl why. you don't love me: you
| don't care for me-"
.Yes, I do. Berna do indeed.
girl. Care for you'll Well. care SO
much that beg you to marry me.
Since the moment set eyes on you.
| loved you. Long before ! ever met
you. ! loved you. | was just waiting
for you. waiting. Since the beginning
Of time 1t was all planned that should
love you. And you, bow do You carer"
She stood up to hear my words.
She would not let me touch her. but
there was a great light In her eyes
Then she spoke and her voice was
vibrant with passion. all indifference
gone from it
"Oh, you blind! You coward
Couldn't you see? Couldn't you feell
That day on the scow II came to me-
Love. DO you know what l wished
as we went through the rapids? I
wished that II might be the end, that
in such a supreme moment we might
go down clinging together, and that
in death might hold you In my arms.
Oh. If you'd only been like that after
ward. met love open-armed with love.
But, no! you slipped back to friend
ship. feel as If there were a barrier
of ice between Us now. Leave me,
leave me, for l never want to see you
again."
"Yes, yon will. you must, you must,
Berna. love you so, ! love you So"
| crushed her to me, / kissed her
madly. yet she was cold.
"Have you nothing more to say than
fine words? she asked.
MARRY me. marry me-" l repeated.
"Now?"
Nowl | hesitated again. The sud
denness Of IL was like a cold douche.
God knows, burned for the girl. yet
somehow convention elamped me.
Now If you WISH" l faltered; but
better when we get to Dawson Bet
ter when I've made good up there.
Give me one year. Berna. one year
and then"
Zone year,
The sudden CLEAN of hope vanished
from her eyes. Then she turned to
me In sudden spate of passion. her
face pleading. furrowed. wretchedly
sad.
"Oh, my dear, my dear. / love you
better than the whole world, but
hora6 CON xzouId oora auouoh for mo
to marry me now. II would have been
best, believe me. Well. be 1t so. wen
wait one year."
"Yes, believe me. trust me. dear; IL
will be all right I'll work for you,
slave for You. think only of you. and
in twelve short months-I'n give my
whole life TO make you happy"
-Wfll you. dear? Well, It doesn't
matter now. -. I've loved you"
All that night | wrestled with my
self l felt ought to marry her at
once to shield her from the dangers
that encompassed her. She was like
lamb among a pack of wolves. l
juggled with my conscience. | was
young and marriage to me seemed
such q terribly all-important step.
Yet In the end my better nature
triumphed. and ere the camp was astfr
arose. I was going to marry Berna
that day. A feeling of relief came
over me. How had II ever seemed
possible to delay? was eiated be-
yond measure.
hurried to tell her. Love words
trembled on my tongue tip. 1t seemed
to me could not bear to wait q
moment
Then as I reached the place whert
they had rested 1 gazed unbelievingly.
sickening sense Of loss and failure
crushed me.
For the scow was gone.
II was three days before we made
a start again. and to me each day was
like a year. Why her sudden de-
parture? / had no doubt II was en-.
forced. | dreaded danger. Then In
a while | grew calmer. was foolish
10 worry. She was safe enough. We
would meet In Dawson.
At last we were under way. Once
more with swelling sail we drove be-
fore the wind Perhaps the rich
ground would all be gone ere we
reached the valley. Maddening thought
after what we had enduredi We must
get on
The days were insufferably hot and
mosquito-curst; the nights chilly. damp
and mosquito-haunted. suffered
agonies from neuralgia. Never mind.
II would soon be over. We were on
our last lap. The trail was near
Its end.
Yes, II was indeed the homestretch.
Suddenly sweeping round a bend we
raised shout of joy. There was that
great iivid scar on the mountain face.
the Slide" and clustered below II
like shells on the seashore, an army of
tents. II was a goId-born city.
Trembling with eagerness we pulled
ashore. Our troubles were over. At
last we bad gained our Eldorado.
thank God. thank Godl
A number of loafers were coming
to meet US They were strangely
calm.
"How about the goId?" said the
Prodigal; lots Of ground left TO
stalker"
One Of them looked at Us contemptu-
ously. He chewed a moment ere he
spoke
"You Cheechakers better git right
home. There amt a foot of ground
to stake. Everything in sight was
staked last fall The rest is all mud
There's nothing doin' an there's ten
men for every jobl The whole things