The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-10-18
CHAPTER XIV

u SeSnicu as IL LIE years uuu ToileN
away. and we were boys together.
Ii all came back to me, that sunny
shore, the white-washed cottages, the
old gray house among the birches, the
lift of sheep-starred pasture, and
above it the glooming dark of the
heather hills.
And 1t was but three years ago.
How life had changedl Fortune had
come to me, love had come to me.
was no longer callow, uncouth lad.
Yet, alas no longer looked future
ward with joy; the SAVIOR of life was
no more sweet. 1t was another "me'
| saw in my mirror that day, @me"
with face sorely lined. with hair
gray-1ecked; with eyes sad and Bit
ter. Little wonder Garry, as he stood
there, stared at me so sorrowfully.
"How you've changed. ladr' said
he at last.
"Have |, Garry? You're just about
the same. But by all that's wonder
full, what brought you here?"
His teeth flashed in that clever,
confident smile.
"The stage. l just arrived a few
minutes ago, and hurried here at once.
Aren't you glad to see mel"
"Glad? Yes, indeed | can't tell
you how glad. But it's a shock to me
your coming so suddenly"
ut was a sudden resolve; should
have wired you. However, I thought
would give you surprise. How are
you, old man"
Mech, I'm all right, thanks"
"Why, what's the matter with you,
lad? You look ten years older. You
look older than your big brother now"
"Yes, l daresay. It's the life. it's
the land. A hard life and hard
land"
"Why don't you 60 Out?'
II don't know, don't know. keep
on planning to 60 and then some
thing turns up, and | put it off lit
tie longer. | suppose l ought to 60.
but I'm tied up with mining inter.
ests. I'm making money, you see"
"Not sacrificing your youth and
health for that, are you?"
IL don't know, | don't know"
There was a puzzled look In his
frank face, and for my part ! was
i'll at ease. With all my joy
at his coming, there was a sense of
even of fear. had not want
ed him to come just then, to see me
there. l was not ready for him. /
had planned otherwise.
His gaze rOved round the room.
Suddenly it fell on piece of en-
broidery. He started slightly and
saw his eyes narrow, his mouth set.
He looked at me again, In an odd,
way. He went on speak
ing, but there was queer constraint
in his manner.
"Pm going to stay here for a month.
and then want you to come back
with me. Come back home and get
some of the old color into your cheeks.
The country doesn't agree with you
but Wen have you all right pretty
soon. Oh. we'll have the good old
times over again You'll see. wen
soon put you right"
Its good of you, Garry, to think
so much of me; but I'm afraid, I'm
afraid l can't come just yet I've got
so much to do. I've got thirty men
working for me. I've just got to stay"
He sighed.
well. if you stay I'll stay, too. |
don't like the way you're looking.
You're working too hard. Perhaps I
can help you"
"All right: I'm afraid you'll find
1t rather awful, though. But for
time it will interest you"
II think 1t will" And again his
eyes stared fixedly at that piece of
embroidery on its little hoop.
Between the curtains that. hung over
the bedroom door could see Berna
standing motionless. l wondered If
he could see her too. His eyes fol.
lowed mine. They rested on the cur.
tains and the strong, stern look came
into his face. Yet again he banished
it with a sunny smile.
Mothers one regret was that you
were not with her when she died. Do
you know, old man, | think she was
always fonder of you than of mef
She missed you dreadfully, and be-
fore she died she made me promise
I'd always stand by you. and look
after you If anything happened.
"Now you must come home. Back
there on the countryside we can
find you a sweet girl to marry. You
will love her, have children and for
get all this. Come"
l rose. | could no longer put 1t of.
Excuse me one moment" said.
parted the curtains and entered the
bedroom.
She was standing there, white to
the lips and trembling. She looked
at me piteously.
"I'm afraid" she faltered.
BE brave, little GIRL" l whispered,
leading her forward. Then threw
aside the curtain.
Garry" l said, "this is-this Is
Berna."
There they stood, face to face at
last. Long ago l had yisioned this
meeting, planned for, yet dreaded it.
and now with utter suddenness it
had come.
The girl had recovered her calm,
and ! must say she bore herself well.
As she gazed at my brother there
was proud, high look In her eyes.
And Garry-his smile had vanished
His face was cold and stern. No
doubt he saw In her a creature who
was preying on me. an influence for
evil, an overwhelming indictment
against me of sin and guilt. AL this
| read In his eyes; then Berna ad-
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