lay restlessly turning till long after
midnight, and when she slept she dreamed, not of him, but of Sibley and
her mother and the toil-filled, untroubled days of her girlhood. She
rose early next morning and awaited his coming with more of physical
weakness as well as of uncertainty of mind than she had ever known
before.

Haney was also up and about, an hour ahead of his schedule, sure that
Ben's business concerned the mine. "It's the labor war breaking out
again," he repeated. "I feel it in my bones. If it is, back I go, for
the boys will be nading me."

They went to the station in their auto-car, but, at Bertha's suggestion,
Mart sent Lucius in to meet their attorney and to direct him where to
find them. The young wife had a feeling that to await him at the gate
might give him a false notion of her purpose. She grew faint and her
throat contracted as if a strong hand clutched it as she saw his tall
form advancing, but almost instantly his frank and eager face, his clear
glance, his simple and cordial greeting disarmed her, transmuted her
half-shaped doubts into golden faith. He was true and good--of that she
was completely reassured. Her spirits soared, and the glow came back to
her cheek.

Fordyce, looking up at her, was filled with astonishment at the picture
of grace and ease which she presented, as she leaned to take his hand.
She shone, unmistakable mistress of the car, while Haney filled the role
of trusted Irish coachman.

As he climbed in, the young lawyer remarked merrily, "I don't know
whether I approve of this extravagance or not." He tapped the car door.

"It's mighty handy for the Captain," she replied. "You see he can't get
round in the street-cars very well, and he says this is cheaper than
cabs in the long run."

"It has never proved economical to me; but it _is_ handy," he answered,
with admiration of her growing mastery of wealth.

And so with something fiercely beating in their hearts these youthful
warriors struggled to be true to others--fighting against themselves as
against domestic traitors, while they talked of the mine, the state
judiciary, the operators, and the unions. Their words were impersonal,
prosaic of association, but their eyes spoke of love as the diamond
speaks of light. Ben's voice, carefully controlled, was vibrant with the
poetry that comes but once in the life of a man, and she listened in
that perfect content which makes gold and glory but the decorations of
the pa