The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-04-15


| Oh, Lucy, you don't know what it has
beeni"
Lucy stood quite still, her heart beat
| ing hard. Here again was something
new and-something genuine. Or,
so il seemed. Jocelyn was so utterly
broken down. She seemed like poor,
| broken-hearted little girl If it were
acting, Lucy argued. it was acting of
the most consummate perfection and
| finish
Jocelyn moved presently, drew away.
turned, and flung herself in the corner
of the couch, looking drawn and mis-
cradle. Lucy looked at her moment,
then asked:
"What do you know of Jim's reason
for marrying me, Jocelyn?"
Everything" said Jocelyn, sharply
"Jim has told you?"
"Yes."
"And has he really said that he is
only waiting TO TO get rid of
me TO come back to your"
The words would not come smoothly.
Not so brutally as that
When said all that, was beside my
self, Lucy. You would not believe
you sneered and laughed at me and
spoke of snowy talk. ="
Jocelyn broke off on a sharply drawn
breath.
But, brutally or not, he did say
it?' persisted Lucy. Jocelyn nodded.
r T hot tR h.1r~
ly do. FIN not heartless, truly. I've
Just had about as much as
can stand; that's all. You don't know
what it is to long for him and know
that he is longing for me. And
that there's just this mad, impulsive
marriage of his between US. And
he knows now that it was mad busi-
ness and that that it oh.
that it hasn't been worth it !"
1t was some moments before Lucy
spoke again; then she said, slowly:
"Jocelyn, that night of my party,
you limited to me that Jim was :.
philanderer. You said that some peo-
pie knew just what he happened to
be, where women were concerned =. :"
"Oh, lucy, was racked with jeal-
ousy. l admit it. l had thought he
was so absolutely mine. Remember,
that only an hour before he had
been well, letting me think that
nothing could ever take him from
me- And then to see him, ap-
parently bowled over by you Of
course, if | had known the truth of
his reason for making love to you,
should have known that his heart was
still with me in spite of everything"
Jocelyn bowed her head into her
hands. Its so awfully hard on US
BOTH" came her muffled voice $50
awfully hard, Lucy. To miss the only
thing in life that is worth while. :.
It's so so darned hard on US,
Lucy. :"
1t was rather hard on Lucy, too !;
but that aspect of it didn't seem to
have struck Jocelyn. And Lucy had
determined TO think only of Jim, and
so she didn't let it strike her either.
"JOcelyn," she said slowly. "Will
you leave things as they are for
while? Perhaps only for a day or
two. Just to give me time TO
think and get this clear 1t isn't alto
gether easy to straighten things out,
all in a moment Don't try to
see Jim. Or if you do, don't say
anything of what has happened today.
l must think But l promise you. I'll
try all | know, TO make things cas-
Ter -. to be fair to you-both."
Her voice shook slightly. Jocelyn was
silent a moment; then she said:
You are right. Much better TO
leave it for a while. l. l will be
brave. If | see him I'll
not say anything. 1 promise
that, Lucy."
J0celyn took Lucy to the door.
There Lucy hesitated; then turned
swiftly, caught Jocelyn's arm and said
quickly:
''Jocelyn, you have told me the
truth? You wouldn't you couldn't
say such things if they were not
true?"
Jocelyn's queer, perky little face
took on hurt, almost martyred look.
You Lucy. l think you might
know I couldn't" :. she said, in a low,
indescribably panied voice.
Lucy said no more: she nodded her
head, but the adieux she tried to speak
would make no sound.
She turned away, and went out into
the street, holding her head high and
proudly.
But once she was out Of sight of the
house her posture Of proud carriage
crumpled somewhat She felt shaky
and wretched as if she had been act
ually physically beaten. She tried to
think and didn't know where to begin.
That Jocelyn should be the girl Jim
loved! That he should have
talked everything ont with her So