The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-04-22
By
Concordia Merrel
(Copyright.)-wNU Service.

| us for" he retorted.
"Just because he hadn't been since
we were married" she answered.
| hesitating slightly over the last word.
He opened his lips as if he would
| speak again, but closed them, with
| nothing said, and to her dismay, caught
| her arm, pulled her into the drawing
| room and only stopped close beside the
window. His hand under her chin, he
said abruptly:
you've been crying"
She made no answer; couldn't; her
| lips were trembling so.
you're crying now he added.
She tried to free herself, but he
wouldn't let her go.
what are you crying for?" he
| went on.
Because. Oh, / don't know!
Oh, what does one cry for? Not be-
cause one is :. gloriously happy,
anyway. :"
did he make you cry? Ames"
NO Yes Perhaps it was
| he. Oh, do let me go!" She was
| power to disguise or control the fact.
He released her suddenly, his face
darkening:
"All right-go," he said, sullenly.
| and she turned and fled to her bed
room; flung herself face downward
into her pillows, and let the tears
| have sway. After the tears. came
| blessed few minutes of sleep, from
which she was awakened by Anne
coming in to put out her evening
| things.
"Oh, Anne it's you :" she
said, only just waking fully. as it
| late?"
about a quarter past seven. madam.
| Will you wear the graz crepe?"
"Oh, anything, Anne" broke in Lucy,
| lying back again. I've I've a
| splitting head. Just put my things
out and I'll look after myself. :"
| She hoped that excuse would serve
for the heavy eyes. When Anne had
left her, she rose, tiredly. and dressed.
She had just slipped on the SHIN
merry, sleeveless frock of palest gray
that Anne had laid out for her, and
was struggling with rather awkward
shoulder fastening, when Jim knocked
at her door and came in from his
room.
She forgot the refractory hook,
dropped her hands to her side, and
her gown fell apart, revealing the
flawless white of her shoulder and the
sweet, curving line of her girlish neck.
He stood for moment, quite still,
looking at her, and beneath that look
she found herself blushing holly and
made a quick effort to gather the
shoulder of her frock together again.
He put out hand and pulled her
nearer to him suddenly, and then gath
| cred up the shimmery gray stuff.
This is a devoted husbands tradi-
tional job, isn't it?" he said. and grave
ly studied the mystery of hooks and
eyes that presented itself.
Don't, JIM she said, unsteadily,
and tried to move away from him, but
he held on to that flimsy. shimmery
stuff and wouldn't let go.
ut was one of the conditions you
laid down that l should play the part
of devoted husband he said.
"Jim don't make fun of
it. 1t isn't fun . to me-"
"Nor for me-" he said quickly.
NO know that And know why.
4. And. Oh, Jim, I'm so ter
ribly sorry about it Gllr'
mean. Lucy?" he asked sharply.
She raised her blue eyes to his.
you told me that you had known
/. love | know what you
meant by that. now" she said, gravely.
"I've found out And it's aw-
full, Jim
awful. p he echoed
"That you should have lost that hap
| piness for the sake of re-
venge She loves you, too,
you know"
81 know she does!" he broke out.
and suddenly pushed her away, and
| covered his face with his hands II
know she does. God help me"
| he muttered.
So it was true, then. she thought
| Jocelyn hadn't been talking for effect
SIS hate after all, so strong Jim?"
| she asked, her quivering lips only just
able to whisper the question. as hate
strong enough to conquer love?"
1T is. 1t is! 1t shall bel" he
cried. Those three years of hell :.
have got to be paid for. That isn't
revenge, that is simply JUS
tice. And justice is a law of
| God :"
They stood for a long moment fac
| ing each other.
"Jim," she broke out, suddenly.
"Give way to this love you feel. :.
Give way to it, Jim. Let 1t possess
and soften your heart; let it drive out
the devil Of revenge. i. +. Perhaps
it's awful Of me to suggest it. seeing
how things are. but better that, than
this hate that is poisoning you. :"
The effect of her words upon Lee
was astonishing.
"What are you saying! What are
you saying!" he cried. on a low, tor
tured note. You are telling me to
give way to love? To let love rule
me? To take what my soul in its mo-
ments of abject weakness. Graves?
You are telling me this? Lucy. :.
| Lucy! :"
II am telling you, because it Is the
only way / can see," she went on,
breathing rather quickly. "The only
hope can see. It's the only thing l
| can think of, Jim. see now that it is