The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-03-18
John Gresham's Girl


terrible way, that she had refused
divers devoted love. For man
who had suddenly become this terrible.
this monster thing that Jim had
shown himself to be. From being
everything she had loved, he had be-
come-thiS.
What did she feel for him now?
An answering hatred? An answering
vengefulness? She searched her heart
for the truth. II was none Of these.
She did not know quite what it was.
Just sort of numbed horror was as
near as she could get to 1t. Fear?
No. There was no fear Of him in her
heart. She had told him tha., and II
had not been in any way a bluff. Just
horror. that was all Horror of finding
that something she had loved and
reverenced was really thing to be
hated, despised, abhorred.
Thoughts began then to go round in
circles; repeating over and over again
dinningly; unbearably. 1t was nearly
dawn when she YEARLY undressed and
got into bed; and full day before. ex-
hausted with sort of utter exhaus-
ton she had never before known, she
sank into sleep.
She did not see Lee again until
noon next day. She had not been up
long, but evidently he had, for he
came into the house In riding kit. AS
he crossed the hall, he turned, and
through the open doorway of the liv-
ing room he saw her standing by q
table. arranging pink roses in a big
silver bowl. He stopped, startled by
her strange air of composure. She
had been pale and dazed last night.
She was pale, still but there was O
look of determination In her eyes; a
queer firmness about her lips; the
little hands among the roses were
steady and purposeful. He knew. too,
th.t nothing was finished last night,
and that there was almost everything
still to have out with her. He said
challengingly:
"Well?"
She lowered her eyes to the roses.
selected two and put them into the
bowl before saying:
"Yes, l suppose there are things to
talk over We haven't quite said
it all, have WEI" Her voice was
strangely steady and controlled. She
was not the girl ne had married yes
terday-the happy, radiant-eyed bride
who had put her fond little hand into
his-but at least she was not the
stunned. hurt thing she had been last
night Evidently, even though there
had been no magic wand to work its
wonders for her, sleep had brought
some sort Of peace and determination
with it.
He was silent, and he couldn't quite
look at her. Then she said, looking
him up and down:
81 have been thinking, JIM" she
said slowly.
"Yes. | suppose So"
She hesitated a moment, then:
"First of all, / want to apologize
to you. :"
He flashed a sharp look at her.
''To meT he exclaimed. "In heavens
name. what for?
II asked you last night whether you
had done that horrible thing for which
you suffered 80 badly. / don't believe
that you did do it. And apollo
gize for asking"
That shook him badly; 1t was so un-
expected; and so brave.
Believe what you like about it."
he said roughly to hide that he was
moved.
swell, then, l believe that you didn't
do it. And now, Jim-about US. You
married me to revenge yourself upon
father and Oliver, but your revenge
has fallen, cruelest Of all, upon
me. -. No matter what they
might suffer because of 1t, II could
never come so near to, them as ii has
to me. Because you see. Jim, | did
not marry you for revenge or for any
other reason in the world other than
that l loved you. It's best to put
things quite squarely between u.s."
She spoke very gravely and stead
lily. He scarcely knew what to say.
He had regarded her as little more
than child, but he saw now that that
was a mistake. 1t was woman who
stood there, confronting him; with a
woman's seriousness on her lips and
a womans suffering in her eyes.
"Yes," he said, after moment. "As
far as it's possible we may as
well have things square ;"
He paused again. then added, chal-
lengingly: $50 you may as well know
that nothing you say or do will turn
me from my purpose. =. Those who
punished me have got to bear their
punishment in return. Nothing
that has happened between you and
me is going to alter that You
are your fathers blood, and as long
as life lasts, his blood and mine will
be at war. I'll beat him. humble him.
drag him down as he allowed me to
be dragged down. T'r make him suf-
fer, through you, as he could never
suffer for any pain of his own. :.
I'll do this still, and you cannot stop
me-"
He broke off, drawing breath.
"Tve admitted risking my first move
for some weakness that can't ex-
plain but it cannot hurt my main
schemes. And 1t shall not You can
do what you like; shall not con-
slider you again."
She answered the challenge Of his
tone and eyes with an unfiinching look.
81 quite understand, Jim; and |
don't think that | shall interfere very
hnf hnr