The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-06-03
Men Who Love
By BERTHA LEAH CROSS
&c by Mcclure Newspaper SyndicateD
lWNU SerNIcel

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her head lifted watching the blue bulk
Of the mountain, and the gilded orange
that arose from behind il Her figure
was slim, and she might have been
a high priestess at her devetiens SO
still was she. With sigh, her gaze
dropped to the gloomy cavern Of the
woods, and she peered, expectant,
down the path which stretched way
into the blackness where the pine
trunks Struggled closely together for
companionship.
Tins later she said aloud. Hes
been late a lot lately" A shadow
| seemed TO fall on her heart; a sud-
den weight as she thought that per-
haps he was already growing tired OF
these nightly trysts.
HE hates mother; he won't come to
| the house, and his mother hates me.
It's all so impossible and absurd. Tim
and are both the victims Of our par
ents."
Her thoughts roved over the seem
ing impasse. But her common sense
revealed the solution if only Tim
would see it.
His father and pOther have each
other. He's not really needed az
home not the way l am"
She sighed. 81 guess it's just because
| I've given him too muchp' bitterly.
Men are that way when women are
| fools like mel"
''Oh, why can't he see things right?'
she said aloud. "And why does he
never consider me and my wishesT'
Her thoughts swept back TO their
last discussion of the problem Their
words were recorded on her memory
Il can't marry you and your mother,
tool Your first duty should be TO
| thing to me TO the man You
say you love. We should come first
our happiness together"
But you don't understand. TimI
Mothers sick and all alone but for
me. She's helpless with that arthritis.
| have to help her. She can't even
dress herself alone. 1t would be in
human to leave her. Oh, if only you
would :"
Lets not talk about it any mOreI"
In his careless way he shunted the
subject and pulled her into demand
ing arms.
"I'll never come there 10 live with
her, Carrie" as she still hung back
$50 we'll have to make the best OF
things till you get ready to come TO
me Love me?" changing the
subject abruptly. "Going to be nice
| to me?"
She capitulated. The evening end
ed as the many others had
After another interval of waiting
and of thinking, she saw a spark OF
light coming down the dark path, a
tiny glow. Footsteps approaching. The
cigarette was tossed carelessly aside
"TimI !" she cried, throwing herself
into his arms. Il thought you were
never coming. I'm afraid in these
dark woodsI''
He laughed carelessly, drawing her
up to him with caressing arm.
Sorry, Carrie. You see, we were
playing pool down at TOMS and lost
track of time" His careless words
struck her like a blow in the face
Lost track of time" she mentally re-
peated. "How little he cares about
seeing mel"
Her silence seemed to yex him. He
pulled her down beside him on the
pine needles, and looked at her re-
| prOachfully.
"Here | come a mile to see you and
| all you do is sulk !" Then he ex-
pressed penitence again, and the ten
sion was eased. She yielded herself
to his love making with sweet ardor.
81 love you, TIM" she whispered,
her hand against his smooth cheek.
."Oh, | love you so! If anything were
to part us, should die. want to be
married, Tim, and have things right
| want to be your wife, and maybe
| have children
His kisses were hard and demand
| ing on her lips. He drew her closer
to him, and caressed her more passion
ately.
"Well, then if you love me, prove it,
You know I'm ready when you say
the word. I'm not stuck on this bach
elor love making myself I'm ready
. when you are"
But mother
"There you are ]" sayagely. Back at
the same old stand. She's always in
your thoughts. I'm sick and tired OF
hearing mother, mOtherl all the
| time"
He pulled her to her feet.
"Pll never marry a woman who
| doesn't put me firstI'' he said. And
that's my last word. I'll never 90 there
to live if you ask me a hundred years
| What're you going TO do about it,"
She stood facing him suddenly an
CRY.
You're cruel 7" she sobbed. You're
| hard and ruthless and unfeeling. You
know l can't leave that poor woman
alone and helpless. You're selfish and
your love is nothing but passionI''
"All rightI" quietly. you've had
your say. Now I'm going. And you
need never come her again 10 meet
me. I'm donel"
Flinging aside her suddenly desper-
ate hands; ignoring her broken Il
didn't mean i'll" he strobe off into the
woods which opened and received him.
"Oh! Oh, Tint"
Like haunted wild creature OF the
woods, the woman fled across the field
Her eyes, wide and desperate, were
fixed on the reckoning finger of light
that streamed out from the corner
room downstairs her mothers
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