The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-02-27
CHAPTER XI

The weekend party was In full
swing. Roberta moved among group
of men, some of them new, some of
them old acquaintance, but all lik-
able. Her father, for the first time
since his Unrestricted for the first
time since Roberta had douted his
island-was really enjoying himself.
Sir George, Roberta told herself jeal-
Ously, was treated like a favored son.
He was gay and charming, and as her
Aunt Aggy took care to let her know
looked like one of those old gods"
MY dear aunt" Roberta protested,
''you talk of nothing else but Sir
George from morning until night"
ut can't be as bad as all that y her
aunt exclaimed, evidently alarmed.
This is the first time | have spoken
about Sir Geordie this day. There's
something about the way you listen"
"There must bel" declared the mad
dened Roberta. "Tll take care to
change that something, for you may
as well know, now as later, that I'm
sick of the sound of Sir Georges
name on your lips"
Dear, dearl Have l done that for
the Iadl I'm terrible sorry, Roberta.
wouldn't have had that happen for
a great deal. You see, it's only the
last few days that I've known how he
feels about you, and maybe that's why
have, without meaning to, you might
say, been having him on my mind
when / look at you"
"How he feels about me? Why, he
hates mew The amazed girl almost
shouted it.
"Shish! He says so with his lips
maybe. There's an old Gaelic saying
that the lips must defend the heart
though it is breaking"
Il will say, Aunt Aggy, that man
who can defend his heart as well as
Sir George does his will never be
in danger of losing or breaking it."
$50 you say" returned her aunt
shrewdly. Hearts aren't made of
glass, it's true, my lass, but they do
break. Not right away, maybe, not
dropping down dead as they do in the
stories, but nevertheless, they do go
off, and for nothing but dead love-"
Roberta, who seemed exasperated
beyond all need at this conversation,
surveyed her aunt with unblinking
eyes. "Well, next time you see one
dying that way, call me, so that l can
come and watch his 'eath struggle"
81 have" said her aunt, land you'll
no believe me-"
She left before Roberta could reply.
What could you do with a woman
like Aunt Aggy? The idea Of trying
to make her pity Sir George! Or was
it scheme of Sir Georges very own,
to keep her from telling her father
what she knew? Did he suspect Jack
of giving her his true history?
What was she to do? What could
she do? She had promised Jack to
meet him, and yet as the hour drew
near when she must fulfill that prom
ise she grew more and more reluctant.
1t must be this afternoon or never.
That was her feeling as she crossed
the terrace to where her father, with
Ray Browne, Sir George and the rest
of the young men, watched with in
terest a motor driven by Roger Dun
ham, filed with girls, coming over the
bridge.
Roberta gave Sir George a quick,
keen look that might mean almost
anything. Involuntarily he followed
her down the steps. Since he had
read that marriage license announce
ment he had followed her like hound
on the trail. He could not bring him.
self to tell Macbeth and expose the girl
to anger and ridicule. He meant to
make her lead him to Jack Navarro
and then he would take matters in his
own hand and spare both the girl and
her father. They were not married