The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-06-17
CHAPTER X-Continued


she was leaning against the end of
her bed, breathing quickly, a hand
pressed against her breast TO still the
beating of her heart. For a time she
was silent; then:
"Jim,' she said, and had to bite her
lip to steady it. Jim, what of your
schemes for revenge against my IA
Their? Against Gresham's?
His answer was a short laugh.
"They are gone forgotten :"
he said.
The fear in her eyes lifted slightly.
rs that true?" she asked, eagerly.
''True that you no longer care for re-
venge? Jim, is this love of yours so
real and true, that it has had the
power to cast the hate from your
heart?"
There is nothing in my heart to-
night except the madness of my love
for you. I've been fighting ii
all day, Lucy. Trying to gather
strength against it. But it has beaten
me. You have worked your woman
magic upon me, and won. To-
night, there is only you in all the
world for me. :"
She looked at him with very serious
eyes.
THAT is not love, Jim. That is
something. Oh! something far
less pretty. Tonight, you say.
But what of tomorrow"
Il am not thinking of tomorrow. l
am thinking of you :" he answered,
and came nearer to her, his face tense
with the strength of his feeling.
She Tended him off with a little ges-
ture of the hand which he did not
want to obey, but nevertheless did.
Don't play the 'ooI with me, Lucy"
ne said again, in low voice. Il tell
you l can't stand it. You have
given me your lips. Let me hold
you in my arms. / want these
things again. 1 tell you, want them
again. :"
yes, JIM" she said clearly. when
you love me, truly. When you come
to me with something more than mad
ness in your heart. When you
can tell me that love has cast out re-
venge anu hate. :"
II tell you I'm willing to give up
everything I've ever thought of, or
schemed for Just for your love,
Lucy!" he cried, coming nearer still.
Looking up, she saw that his eyes
were dangerous, but she still Tended
him off with an appraised hand
You are offering to give up your
schemes for my love- To barter your
revenge for it. To sell your hate for
1T. But, Jim, my love is not to be
bought. You are not really won. 1t
is the madness that is in your heart,
that is making you say that you do
not care for what happens to your
schemes, If only you can have my
love. But when this madness is
passed. What then, Jim? VIII
the revenge be really gomez"
II am willing to swear that I'll
never do another thing against you or
yours, Lucy. Don't torture me,
darling. Have mercy on a poor
devil who's crazy for you. :"
"That is bargain 1 cannot make,
JIM" she said quietly. "And if you
were not so crazed for me, you would
not ask me to make it."
You sha'n't turn me down nowl"
ne cried out suddenly; and caught
her shoulders with a strength that
was painful. LUCY love you
so. Don't you understand? And
you have made me love you. De-
liberately made me. Haven't you
done everything in your power to
make me confess it? Haven't you
tried everything you knew to make
me succumb to the magic of you?
Haven't you tempted me with the
knowledge of your love for me?" His
eyes were blazing down into hers; his
hands were trembling upon her Shout
ders
mo, JIM" she said, meeting his
eyes squarely. Il have tried to make
love wipe the revenge from your
heart. Tried to make it seem to
you better thing than hate Tried
to make it seem a strength, not
weakness. Tried to make it come to
you. not as surrender, but as a con-
quest. But l have only sue
ceeded in arousing this this :.
madness. -" Her voice faltered
slightly, and there was a sad bitter
ness in her words. He caught her to
him.
But l swear II. never do another
thing against you, Lucy. I'll give
up Linforths. DO anything you
say. :" His words stumbled out
desperately, anguish of losing her in
his voice. She struggled and freed
herself.
'You are asking me to make bar
gain that shames me, Jim,' she said,
shakily. do you think that would
use my love for you like that? To
lure you into a promise that you will
change merely your plans, when what
i have been praying is that my love
might change your heart? Jim, don't
believe that have deserved this Sec
ond cruelty at your hands. - She
seemed near to tears then, but no
tears fell. Lee was beside himself.
Utterly baffled by her; torn to shreds
with a passion for her that was Civ
ing him no peace. He caught
her in his arms again; was pleading,
angry, violent But she would
not weaken He flung her away from
him.
you say you love mel" he cried
''But how can that be true when you
can deny me so easily?"
She faced him. pale with the strain
of 1t all.
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