The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-04-08

81. Ohc COuluu DC hClu '
bound hand and foot, by mere emo
| ton. Against ones reason; against
| ones will against everything
one had hoped and worked fort" He
caught a breath and stopped abruptly,
wheeling round, away from her, and
plunging his fists deep into his pockets.
She looked at him, amazed at the
| feeling he had shown, and stood, IN
certain whether to stay or TO go. Since
he did not move she decided to go,
and went toward the door. Halfway,
though, she stopped and turned back.
''Jim," she said slowly, suppose you
should ever love anyone. :" She
paused.
"Wen?" he said without turning.
Aren't you going to find your
schemes for revenge are hitting back
at you?"
"HOw?''
"Well, they made you marry me
and you do not love me. Is it
| going TO be worth it?'
81 shall never love-"
"You cannot be sure Of that" she
argued.
Il am sure of it. l have proved it !"
| he cried, facing her suddenly.
| She looked at him, startled.
proved it?s she echoed. Then you
have lOved?'
His face went curiously set.
"And conquered" he said, as II he
! defied her TO contradict this.
Il I didn't know" she said,
| stammering a little. I'm awfully
! sorry jim" She added that i'm
! pulsively. There was something so
tragic to her in this splendid man, be-
| ing so burnt up with the desire for re-
venge; it was such an appalling waste
OF fine possibilities such a frittering
| of strength.
You needn't be sorry" he flashed
back quickly. I'm safe; because hate
is set more deeply in my heart than
| love could ever be. :"
Safe For such a reason! How
was she ever to win him back TO a
real safety Hope came through what
he had told her: that he had loved.
There was hope for any man who
could love.
She left him then, because there
seemed nothing further to say.
Later on, st. Abb came TO her to
say good-by. She gave him her hand,
said she was sorry that he was going,
and seemed as if she meant to let 1t
go at that. But after a moments
hesitation she said:
1--WE seen him, and I can under
stand your Indignation against him.
l was going TO ask you TO stay, at
first, but / won't, because l don't be-
lieve the situation would be bearable
if you did"
Thank you" he said quietly. "Pm
glad you aren't going to ask that Of
me. l couldn't, Lucy. It's amazing
that he can do it! From sheer bust
ness greed ..
That's where you are mistaken, y
she told him gently. Business greed
has nothing whatever to do with this.
Jim isn't greedy. He is a splendid
man. Only :" her voice fall
tered slightly, "he has been terribly
hurt. l told you that probably l
knew more about this than you do. /
do. Only I couldn't make you under
stand without going into a lot that
I'm not ready to go into yet. But,
| Perry, don't condemn him too sweep
ingly. Think OF him as gently as you
| can. :" Her voice shook slightly.
| He found himself swallowing hard.
Beneath his merry exterior was very
feeling and sincere heart, and he saw
tragedy here.
Il was so glad about you and the
boss" he said impulsively. Il thought
| it was going to bring him all the E.
well, all the decent. normal things.
Make him happy, don't you know, and
all that sort Of thing"
you'd seen, then, that he wasn't
happy?"
"Of course. I thought 1t was some
woman had played him up. Unre-
| Quilted love and so on. But | see now
it's something worse. You've got the
| pluck OF Dozen" he stammered.
ANY time l can do anything just tell
me. I'm yours to the death. You can
| absolutely count on that"
She held out her hand, and he caught
it quickly and raised it TO his lips
with a little action of boyish devotion.
Perry" she said quickly. do this
for me then: come back TO him, when
I ask you to- VIII your"
You can bet on it. Lucy" he said,
and left her. She looked after him
/ through tears.
He went straight TO Lee; told him
that he was<ready to go; said good
by, got only the briefest OF answers.
and went; feeling bluer than he'd ever
felt in his life.
he was just going to his taxi. when
Jocelyn Upton turned into the street,
bound for Lucy's. He tried hard TO
make his escape before she spied him.
But she hailed him with an appraised
hand and next moment was close be-
side him, her small. dark, very quick
eyes going from him to the baggage
laden taxi and registering surprise.
question, and determination to know
the inmost why and wherefore, all at
once.
Going on a holiday" she asked.
and he grabbed at that explanation
Of the baggage, eagerly.
"Yes, rather. Just Off"
Perry, you're lying. You've quar-
relied with Jim And you're leaving.
Or he's sacked you for incompetence
or something. Why the devil couldn't
you say sof'