The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-06-11
CHAPTER T-Continued

CHAPTER I-Continued
,
TO be happy, man required a girl;
indeed, men declared this and sought
a mate more openly, more frankly.
Mems voices, at such seekings, be-
trayed them, as Rodney Braddon's just
had done
The Deep Sea-" her father had
dubbed him in contrast to his brother.
The Devil with women) and the Deep
Sea! Well, the Deep Sea had phoned
from his brothers, the DEVILS office,
and was on his way to her.
Agnes never thought of making spe-
cial preparation for him; and he
wouldn't have liked If. She kept on
the cornfOwer blue knitted dress which
became her slenderness and which
deepened, by its lighter shade, the blue
Of her eyes, and which went" with
her straw-colored hair. The cold wind
Of the morning had whipped a pink
glow into her clear smooth skin.
She procured her own little coupe
and drove alone through the snow TO
the station to meet Rodney.
He, If he could, would have turned
back. He sat by himself in the train,
going over and over what he had done
and what he had set out further TO
do, and his purpose appeared to him
not only hopeless but fantastic. Yet
he had spoken the words TO ier that
told he was coming and which i'm
piled more. He had no retreat.
Did Jud honestly believe that he
had chance? Or had Jud goaded him
TO this in the belief that, by speaking
10 Agnes, however hOpelessly, he
would be the better for 1.-THE better
for putting an end to his impossible
dreams?
Standing on the car steps as the
train slowed, he passed her. He swung
down, recklessly. slipping in the snow
When he Strengthened, she was beside
him.
Little Agnes!" he said, the sylla-
bles escaping him. If she caught his
exclamation, what difference? He had
come to say to her much more.
She felt it.
She asked him after he was settled
beside her and she was driving him
home: You haven't had lunch, Rod?"
Il never thought of it," he admit
ted.
The snow had begun to blow so
blindingly that it became almost an
adventure to follow the familiar road
TO the house. 1t shut in Rodney Brad
don and Agnes Gleneith together,
away from contact or sight from all
& others, increasing the tension of their
intimacy, though during the drive,
E Rodney said scarcely a word, and he
did not touch her.
In the house he made no ATTEMPT To
touch her. They went into the pleas
ant. easy least ROOM" which on or
binary days overlooked the lake. Now
the snow swirling at the wide windows
B shut them in, as it had when they
were in the car.
Rodney appreciated this. and he
turned to her, gratefully.
You'll let me tell you what
shouldn't"
IF you want to, Rod"
"YOu know the trouble with me. ]
love you. You sit there, will
you? And I'll stand here. I'll not
annoy You more than 1 must. .
I've said I love you. I've had medi.
cal training. know what love is, or
is supposed 10 be- But it's not that
with me when l think of you. . . .
l suppose every hopeless fool denies
it. He tries to make himself out bet
ter than he is
You couldn't, Rod" she said gently
She was seated where he asked her
to be. and watching him, looking up
at him, so tall and troubled before
her; and a little ungainly. as always
in his brown ready-made clothes.
He was more carelessly nodded thar
Jeb, except in his brow, his chin and
his hands. Perhaps especially in hi:
hands. so lean and strong and capa
BILE. Her eyes came to rest on his
hands, restrained close beside him as
his brothers never would have beer
at such a moment.
How this man fought the appeal Of
physical sensation! And why did BIZ
down 1t so?
Because he was capable OF a feelins
beyond his brothers.; far beyond any
other man she knew.
Agnes recognized this now, If no
with her mind, with her stirred In
stincts, which aroused their needlin:
excitements through her.
Money means nothing to you,
know, Agnes" he said. THE fac
that I've none; that's not my trouble
It's me and my life-isn't it?'
Your life?"
The fact that. you never could liv'
It."
She said, without thinking, "Wh!
not?" for she did not willfully Intend
20 lead him on; but never, with an!
man who had made love to her, haC
she found herself so confused by feel
ing.
"There'd be nothing In 1t for yo'
but being my wife"
what would that be like, Rodney?
Now, why had she said that? Did shr
want him TO break the restraint b
held upon himself?
Being my wife? Do you want nj
to tell your"
"Can you, Rod?"
Can II" He was gazing at her s.
that her eyes fell before his, fell &
his hands, which he was keeping con
trolled beside him. Il can tell yoI