The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-03-15
6beMarked Man

PLY 10 the words that were read over
Norman Erickson's father. Her tears,
when they fell. were for Norman's
sake When faithful Jim Nelson
stepped forward al the end and pui
a handful of stones In the box with
his shipmate's body. Julie exclaimed.
unable 10 understand. and drew closer
to James Delong.
belongs face had become leaner In
the few days, his lips were drawn
tighter. Julie had recovered from her
aversion 10 the lawyer. She even re-
monstraled with him when he blamed
himself for the flood
Captain Stockin. walke1 over TO
Copperhead road the following Thurs
day, begged a ride and attended the
funeral of Fritz elOng. he hunted
out Julie and her father after the
services, anu told them that Susan
insisted that they visit the lighthouse
the next Sunday but one. Norman
would be all right by then Julie
promised
James Delong accompanied Ser
maine Richaud and his daughter when
they waded over the dunes to the
light He explained that he had met
them on the road. had sent Peter back
with their team and brought them
himself in his car.
Germaine still distrusted James De-
long; not so much as he had, but
enough "WhaI do you do with the
devilish hole now?" he asked insult
ingly.
1.-The little lake?" belongs big face
darkened. I'm going TO clean out the
bottom anG sod il down, Mr.. Richaud"
Norman waited impatientiy at the
tower door. He had not seen Julie
since the evening OF the food; two
weeks IL had been. She had seemed
close to him then. Her impulses IN
Ger the stress of that days excite
ment certainly had smacked of some
thing besides the hills Julie was al
ways faithful TO him. She was like
Jim Nelson in that; he believed she
would consent now to anything he
asked her 10 do.
Captain Stocking dropped asleep In
his chair soon after the guests ar
rived: his daughter and James De-
long retired to the fishcord hammock.
Norman felt light of heart as be
showed Julie and her father about
the respondent and orderly reserva-
ton. jules "oh's" and "ah's" de-
lighted him
Il like it" she cried -Oh, not to
live here, but to see once. its so
cIeanr'
Il don't like white paint" Ger
maine growled. 1t gets too dirty.
How much longer do you stay here,
Norman?" he asked. when are you
coming back to Iand?"
Il don't know" Norman answered
vaguely. He raised his blue eyes to
jules black ones. at depends on a
good many things. Perhaps I'll not
come back ever"
He sat with Julie on the Riehaud
steps that afternoon and confessed
that he was afraid OF storms Real
storms And she had laughed at him.
She had warned him never to tell
anyone else. ge changed the subject
quickly.
passioned heart that Julie would con
sent TO anytime ne asked. She ran
impulsively down the line of wet
rocks that swung in a narrow finger
off IIe tip O. the point, out ward
the submerged stone ledge OF Blind
Mans Teeth. She waited for Norman
then. submitted TO being led down to
the beach an. along the powders that
reared above the lake
They came 10 heap of stones
where the wafer Shelved off deeply :
there they sat down, facing the broad
horizon They did not speak at first
II was as if the immensely of the dis
tance commanded silence. as If IL
forbade speech Aow long they sat
thus neither one of them knew. And
then Norman heard a sound that he
mistook al first for laughter When
he turned. he discovered tears upon
jules cheeks.
why, julie"
I'm sorry. Norman. But IL makes
me cry all this -
She waved her hand despairingiy al
the horizon, al the jubilani waters be
meath her feet She glanced up al
the round sky. Her gaze became fixed
upon IFS emptiness, and Norman, un
able to understand grew troubled
The lake could make one love If or
hate il, whichever il chose
III is too big for one girIw Julie
explained. AND wiped her cheeks. She
added impetuously: at is very splen-
did, begin TO see ] do see
'.hy your isJher loved It"
Norman. accepting her mood. tried
% reason il out for himself
81 don't know whether il is spIen-
did or not, Julie" he said hesitantly.
Il don't know whether / love 1t or
hate it Once in a while | hate Ii
mol often now.
"You must notI"
"Bur If dor Perhaps | am like my
mother. Julie She didn't wish TO
live by the water. She wanted my
father to farm | could farm. Julie"
The words burned in his mouth.
FARM? she spoke incredulously
sis Henri Plamondon's forty still
vacant?"
norman Ericksoni :" She stood on
the rocks. struggling for balance.
"You must not think OF thatI"
But l can't ask you to live by the
water. Not since you have cried |
was going to. Julie. here. now. out on
these Ticks. ] was going to ask you
If you'd ever love me enough TO live
here al the light
@You must not ask mel I can an
swer without that No, Norman This