Summer had merged into autumn. Crisp, exhilarating mornings ushered in

glorious days flooded with sunshine, followed by sparkling, frosty

nights.

The strike at the mining camp had been adjusted; the union

boarding-house after two months was found a failure and abandoned, and

the strikers gradually returned to their work. Mr. Underwood, during the

shut-down, had improved the time to enlarge the mill and add

considerable new machinery; this work was now nearly completed; in two

weeks the mill would again be running, and he offered Darrell his old

position as assayer in charge, which the latter, somewhat to Mr.

Underwood's surprise, accepted.

Although his city business was now quite well established, Darrell felt

that life at The Pines was becoming unendurable. Walcott's visits were

now so frequent it was impossible longer to avoid him. The latter's air

of easy self-assurance, the terms of endearment which fell so flippantly

from his lips, and his bold, passionate glances which never failed to

bring the rich, warm blood to Kate's cheeks and brow, all to one

possessing Darrell's fine chivalric nature and his delicacy of feeling

were intolerable. In addition, the growing indications of Kate's

unhappiness, the silent appeal in her eyes, the pathetic curves forming

about her mouth, and the touch of pathos in the voice whose every tone

was music to his ear, seemed at times more than he could bear.

There were hours--silent, brooding hours of the night--when he was

sorely tempted to defy past and future alike, and, despite the

conditions surrounding himself, to rescue her from a life which could

have in store for her nothing but bitterness and sorrow. But with the

dawn his better judgment returned; conscience, inexorable as ever, still

held sway; he kept his own counsel as in duty bound, going his way with

a heart that grew heavier day by day, and was hence glad of an

opportunity to return once more to the seclusion of the mountains.

Kate, realizing that all further appeal to her father was useless, as a

last resort trusted to Walcott's sense of honor, that, when he should

fully understand her feelings towards himself, he would discontinue his

attentions. But in this she found herself mistaken. Taking advantage of

the courtesy which she extended to him in accordance with the promise

given her father, he pressed his suit more ardently than ever.

"Why do you persist in annoying me in this manner?" she demanded one

day, indignantly withdrawing from his attempted caresses. "The fact that

my father has given you his permission to pay attention to me does not

warrant any such familiarity on your part."

"Perhaps not," Walcott replied, in his low, musical tones, "but stolen

waters are often sweetest. If I have offended, pardon. I supposed my

love for you would justify me in offering any expression of it, but

since you say I have no right to do so, I beg of you, my dear Miss

Underwood, to give me that right."




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