The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-05-20


| the slam of his door. She raised her
hand to her forehead, drawing quiy-
| ering breath.
Something had happened this even
| ing that changed the whole aspect of
| life for her. She knew that Jim did
not love Jocelyn; never had loved her !;
| and she knew that he was jealous of
| Oliver. Beside that wonderful knowl-
| edge, her indignation against Jocelyn
| for the lies she had told, dwindled TO
small thing. Amid the glorious
crowd of new thoughts and new hopes
that were suddenly in her heart, she
could find very little room for anger
against anyone
When she was in bed she lay for a
| long time staring up into the dark,
I unable TO think for the memories of
jim; of looks and words, that kept
racing through her mind. When at
| last she did sleep it was to dream of
his harsh, broken voice, and his dark,
| tormented eyes, But along toward
| midnight, her dream changed TO more
| violent things. 1t seemed to her that
| the hotel was on fire and that it was
| Billy who had set it alight. She lay
| for a moment, rigid, staring, while the
lightning flickered its piercing, vivid
light through the room, and thunder
crashed overhead. Then panic swept
| her, as a storm always made it, and
before she knew it, she was halfway
| RI Lees door But evidently he
had already thought of her, for before
she reached it, she saw him in the
doorway, dressing gown over his
pajamas, and he was saying:
"It's all right; Lucy, don't be afraid ;
I'm here if you want me. :"
If she wanted him! She just stum-
bled toward him, hands outstretched,
and found herself caught in his arms |;
then picked up and carried in his
strong, effOrtless strength, back to the
bed. He put her back between the
sheets, pulled the clothes up around
her, and then sat beside her, and gath
, cred her close. Words of comfort
came rather stumblingly from his lips,
and his cheek was close against her
shining hair.
Its silly, I know" she gasped-
clinging to him with all her strength.
But, Jim, stay with me till it's
over. Don't leave me- :"
Hold tight hold tight. :.
Little kid! I'll stay; of course I will.
What makes you so afraid?"
Il don't know. It just catches
at me. :" She buried her face
against his neck, as binding flash
lit the room, to be followed by a
vicious crash that seemed to shake
the world.
He crushed her close, his big arms
wholly around her; gentle with the
wonderful gentleness of great strength;
comforting; tender; just what she
needed But she struggled herself free
enough to raise white face to his.
Something was hit that time. wasn't
it, Jim?" she asked in a shaking
| whisper.
Sounded like it." he answered.
Don't be frightened. We aren't like
" TO be struck"
I'm not afraid of being struck"
she answered. Its just the :.
awful light and the awful noise.
The not being able to do anything
against it. /. oh, Jim. I'm so glad
you are hereI What should /
have done without you? All alone
49,. With all that awfulness going
on. Do you think I'm an utter
| little idiot?"
NO, Lucy. No. Just rather
a little girl, that's all. :" He was
whispering, too, and the words were
breaking from his lips jerkily.
She sat quite still. clinging close,
giving herself to the lovely comfort
Of his arms. listening to his kind.
soothing words, until the storm rolled
away into the distance. Then came
the swapping of the tension. His arms
dropped from around her, and she lay
back, rather Imply, into her pillows.
There was considerable silence Then:
THANK you, Jim, DEAR" she said
softly.
He rose from the edge of the bed
! quickly, at that, and moved over
toward his own room.
You can be the most wonderful
dear, when it pleases you to be-" she
added softly, her eyes following him;
but he went straight on, without turn
ing I'D without a word
But, Jim, you laughed at my
| fright" she went on. Wasn't that
rather dangerous thing to do?"
"Dangerous?" He flung the word,
| questioningly, over his shoulder.
Yes; because 1 might retaliate BY
laughing at some of your fears. :.
1 know one or two things you have
been afraid of, Jim, dear. YDu
have been afraid of Oliver. :"
He bit his lip, but would mot
speak. ''And 1 know something
that you are afraid of now; all the
time; at this very minute. :"
cd So do II" The words broke
from him.
Jim, you're afraid of me. !.
Afraid of loving me. Aren't you.
Jim?"
Lucy" Her name rang through the
room on note Of sheer torture, and
left the silence ringing with ii. He
stood for a moment, while some bat
tie ragged itself out within him. :.
Then flung open the door and left
| her.
She lay looking at the door he had
closed rather sharply behind him, half
smiling as she looked. Then raised
hand and turned out the light.
She scarcely slept at all, after that.
until il was almost day. Then she