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

Is
She raised a hand TO her breast as
If to still the sudden quick beat of her
heart. His sOmber eyes watched her
narrowly.
"Wel?' she said at last. And she
waited. too. Waited for him to tell
her that he loved Jocelyn and knew
now that she knew it, and had come to
see her TO say that any further pre-
tense was impossible. Come to ar
range with her, perhaps. for that free
dom which JOcelyn had insisted that
he so much desired.
"Well?" she said again. unable to
endure the suspense in silence.
Il didn't know that you were going
TO boast Of the tiascO of our mar
riage =" he said harshly. st
thought the idea was to pretend that
it was a great success"
Il didn't boast of it," she said I'M
steadily. "JoceIyn guessed it. Knew
it. And, Jim, hasn't she good reason
for knOwing?"
What reason? That l love herr"
The words came oddly. DO you be-
Iieve that / love herr"
She gave me such evidence of it."
she answered. mo woman could have
said all that she said, if it hadn't been
true"
Then you do believe ft?'
81 did believe her this time
though mostly 1 am never quite sure
n-ru r,r-~ nfrarr CHI CIV s. al
in with what you had said, yourself"
The words came stammering out.
What had 1 said?'
THAT you had loved and con-
quered love" He laughed suddenly.
"Oh, jim" she cried out. at isn't
funny -
mo. And I'm not amused" he an
swered. why don't you usually be-
Ieve what Jocelyn says?" he added.
els she a liar?
she is inclined to be hyster-
ical :" said Lucy.
IF she told you a lie, she could
tell me one That stands to reason.
doesn't it,"
Yes. What has she told you,
JimT'
He opened his mouth to speak:
closed it again and turned away with
nothing said. Then:
''She said that you loved Ames"
1t was her turn to laugh now.
ST should think I have given proof
that didn't" she said. the bitter note
still ringing through her words.
He drew a breath.
"She says that you regret-choosing
me- he said.
Il have reason to regret it. But. of
all things concerning our marriage,
Jim. my choosing you . my loving
you. is the one thing I don't regret"
You do love me then? Still?'' The
words broke from him.
She nodded.
He drew deep breath and breathed
II out again before speaking. Then
he said:
"And I don't love her. Never have:
never could; never even remotely
dreamed of it Does that mean any
thing to you, Lucy?'
Jim, you know it does"
There was considerable silence.
Then:
Il came here really to see whether
you were with Ames" That was said
professionally, and he looked rather
shame-faced as he said it.
She looked at him with incredulous
eyes.
That's why you have kept on ask
ing whether were alone!" she cried
He nodded.
when 1 arrived here this after
noon they told me that you were out,
but that you had been in, not long be-
fore, with Mr.. Ames, Of Gresham's.
=. 1 asked if they knew where you
were, and they inquired and found
that you'd mentioned going to Brady's
cottage. So I CHANGED it. :.
And came after you - He told
her all this, not quite looking at her.
'I see" she said slowly. Il see. l
had lunched with Oliver, and he had
brought me back here afterward. And
from that you thought. :" She
broke OF, and after pause went on:
But, Jim, whatever the conditions
OF our life together may be. 1 shall
not make that sort of fool of your
name; our name; you needn't ever
fear it. And I'd like you TO apologize
for suggesting it,