The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-04-01

OF, ne salu, DoylsHtI linpulSfNe.
Then what has happened to make
you changer"
Il have changed, anyway. And
I'm going, in consequence" he equivo-
Gated.
THAT doesn't answer me-" she in
sisted.
Il can't answer you any more clear.
| ly. Please don't ask me to-" He
turned back towards the door. as if
he were going TO leave her. But she
stopped him.
Don't go. This is most ire
| mendOusly important TO me-
Perhaps you scarcely guess just how
| tremendously important il is"
you can't know anything of this
! he said. 1T isn't possible. If
you want TO know, please, Lucy, ask
| him; not me-"
Its something you have discovered
about him. isn't itT' she said. the
words coming more as an assertion
| than a question.
He nodded.
- .nething that seems utterly i.
discreditabIe," she went on.
He nodded again.
SWELL, perhaps you'll be surprised
to hear that not only do | know about
it, but that yer probably | know
more than you do :" she said
slowly. And yet | haven't gone"
You you really know and can
take it so quietly!" he half stam-
mered.
1T isn't always safe to judge a man
by what you hear he has been
or has done :" she an
swered slowly.
But this is what he is =. what
he is doing" cried the young man.
She looked at him sharply, opened her
mouth to speak; closed it again with
nothing said, and stood quite still and
silent. After a moment she asked, in
a changed voice:
"Then you aren't going because OF
something you have heard of him
something that happened some
years .ago?"
mo. | haven't heard anything i.
It's nothing to do with anything that
is past . And you know | wouldn't
judge him on hearsay Of any sort. :"
He broke of, and for moment she
left the silence unbrOken. Then:
Very we'll Thanks for letting me
speak TO you about this. You must, of
course, do exactly as you think I'll
not ask you anything more. Perhaps
I'll take your advice and-ask him."
She spoke steadily, her voice in per-
feet control, but new note in it made
st. Abb realize then. a thing he hadn't
realized before: that quite apart from
the sudden knowledge that had come
to him of Lee, something was seriously
wrong with this marriage about which
he had been so glad.
He turned away: turned back
stammered out with boyish earnest
ness:
Il say, I'm deadly sorry :" and
left her hurriedIy.
She heard him go along the corridor
TO his room. Then she went straight
TO the study. She found Lee standing
by the window, his back toward her,
head bent and hands thrust deep into
his coat pockets The sound of the
closing of the door made him turn
quickly, and as his eyes met hers. it
seemed as if be braced his big Shout
ders. slightly. She came few PAGES
into the room and stopped.
jim, why is Perry leaving your
Perhaps it is because he has bet
ter job in view?" he suggested.
you know it isn't
$50, evidently, do you"
She paused a moment, her eyes still
steadily meeting his.
You have done something to utterly
lose his respect What is it, Jim?"
she asked again.
why should you think I'll tell your
81 don't know. But, somehow. I
think you will. if. - She broke off.
IF you nag at me long enough?"
he asked. with disagreeable laugh.
She laughed. too. rather cheerlessly
"WeR. yes. if you like" she said.
Il wasn't really thinking that. though"
She was silent a moment, so was he.
Then she said:
Perry has found out something
about you. Something of the
present; not the past. He said
so.
Then he did tell you something's
"Only that
what right have you to ask fur
ther?"
Haven't I the right. Jim?r she
you owe me something"
Am to pay for that one thing all
my life," be cried.
Il shall probably pay for il. all
mine" she replied.
He turned away; stood for while.
staring moodily out through the win
dow, then turned back and flung him.
self into the revolving chair before his
desk.
What is ii you want to known be
asked bluntly.
lust what | have already asked
you" she said. May sit down. too?''
He rose quickly. coloring. and pushed
up chair for her. She thanked him
and sat down.
lust exactly why" she went on. as
If the little interruption hadn't hap
pened- "A man who has always
thought a tremendous lot of you.
should suddenly change his opinion to
the extent of feeling impeIled to leave
you q.
"Al right: you shall know. You
know Linforths?'
She nodded Then Sf-aiphfonad S,,@