The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-02-19

happy at home with her adored and
adoring father; that life and youth
were so lovely and so sweet. that she
didn't want TO do anything to change
the happy course they were rum
But Oliver had been insistent and
she had realized suddenly that his love
for her was 4 much bigger emotion
than she had ever known. So. with
an unaccountable feeling of being
driven, she had compromised by prom
Using TO give him definite answer on
this evening of her nineteenth BIRTH
day. She had thought that she must
surely have decided by then. But
she had awakened this morning, with
all her doubts still upon her.
That was why this evening was
something so much more than birth
day party, TO her; and that was why
it kept her in a culver of restless
excitement
In the ballroom she began lively
chatter, simply because she was afraid
of silence between them.
There are going TO be heaps of
people here tonight; some don't even
know. Mrs. Theodore Dale asked if
she might bring a party; so did the
Melvilles and Lady Cordelia Upton !;
she wants to bring among others Perry
st. Abb and the man he's secretary TO.
He's the latest thing in millionaires,
you know. One James Lee. Doesn't
it sound lively!" Lucy ratified on,
more for the sake of avoiding silence
than anything.
He came a step nearer and caught
her hand in his.
Lucy you haven't forgotten,
have you? Do you remember what
you promised?"
"Of course Of course DO. {.
And | will, Oliver. =. Only
leave it a little longer. :"
she answered breathlessIy. Its such
a. Oh, such very big thing to
decide"
I've loved you so long, Lucy. Wait
ed for you so long. And I've waited
faithfully, dear. There's been no
woman in my heart but you. :"
You've got my heart in these little
hands of yours, and got it forever"
She caught a breath. 1t seeemd
awful that it should be hers to make
him happy or TO make him suffer, just
with the speaking of a word. From
sheer pity the word that would make
him happy was on the very tip of her
tongue, ell ready to be spoken, when
the sound Of her fathers voice calling
to her made her start away from him,
jerking her hand out of his.
There's dad. He wants
US :" she said breathlessly. II
suppose people are beginning to ar
rive. How awful of me to neglect
my duties soI' She laughed a little
TREMENDOUSLY, and ran to the door, but
he came after her. caught her hand
and pulled her round
Before | go. Lucy. Give me
my answer before | have to go. :.
Remember, won't your" he urged her.
"Of course. Oh of course
I'll remember And she was on her
way to the hall, her full skirts swing
ing round her.
The big house seemed alive with an
uncountable crowd of young people all
bent on carrying the occasion through
on one unbroken ripple of gaiety. But
Ames scarcely knew how TO live the
evening through even though his time
was all too short. Lucy was so much
in demand. He watched her all the
time; saw her glance at this man
smile upon that; laugh with another;
and did not know that behind all her
brilliant gaiety she was thinking,
thinking; trying to decide. And she
had feeling that the jolly evening
with all its light and sound and gaiety,
was rushing her toward some difficult
crisis.
It was during an interval in the
dancing that Ames saw her captured
and cOrnered by three determined
young men, who each put forth excel
lent reasons why he should have the
next dance with her.
But | can't dance with all three"
Lucy was laughingly protesting, when
tall youth in a tight costume of
green and white stripes. suddenly con-
stituted himself master of revels, and
from the cleared center of the ball
room floor made this elegant proc
lamation:
"Oyez! Oyer! Know all We by
these presents-and all that sort of
jolly old bunk. Boiled down, what
Elean is this: that if the girls who
haven't fixed up the next dance'n
pop off and hide. We'll give 'em three
minutes, and then come and find
them. How's that for brain
wave?"
A chorus answered him.
Finer Get on with it !" Scatter.
you girls
And amid chatter and laughter, the
girls scattered, Lucy with them. Most
of Lnem do not bother to make their
hiding places very obscure. but Lucy
left them. and turned toward the back
of the house, pushed through a green
baize door into the main corridor on
the other side of the staircase and
slipped into the library. There was no
one in the room. A single light. shaded
in deep crimson, cast a somber glow
over her lacy flounces. as she tip-toed
across the room, climbed into a deep
window seat and pulled a heavy cur
tain IN front of her. She was glad
Of the peace and quiet this refuge gave
her. : +. She wanted TO think. ;.
Must think. Must decide
The sounds of jollity came to her