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〃Yes；　indeed；　you　may　be　quite　sure　of　that；〃　replied　Jane；　smiling　brightly　back　at　him　as　she　left　the　room　with　Nora。

〃What　a　pity　she　is　so　plain；〃　said　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt　when　she　had　returned　from　seeing　Jane　on　her　way　with　Nora　and　Mr。　Wakeham。

〃My　dear　Sybil；　you　waste　your　pity；〃　said　her　brother。　　〃That　young　lady　is　so　attractive　that　one　forgets　whether　she　is　plain　or　not。　　I　can't　quite　explain　her　fascination　for　me。　　There's　perfect　sincerity　to　begin　with。　　She　is　never　posing。　　And　perfect　simplicity。　　And　besides　that　she　is　so　intellectually　keen；　she　keeps　one　alive。〃

〃I　just　love　her；〃　said　Kathleen。　　〃She　has　such　a　good　heart。〃

〃You　have　said　it；〃　said　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt；　〃and　that　is　why　Jane　will　never　lose　her　charm。〃



CHAPTER　XVII

THE　TRAGEDIES　OF　LOVE


When　the　week　had　fled　Dr。　Brown　could　hardly　persuade　himself　and　his　hosts　at　Lakeside　Farm　that　the　time　had　come　for　his　departure　to　the　coast。　　Not　since　he　had　settled　down　to　the　practice　of　his　profession　at　Winnipeg　more　than　twenty　years　ago　had　such　a　holiday　been　his。　　Alberta；　its　climate；　its　life　of　large　spaces　and　far　visions；　its　hospitable　people；　had　got　hold　of　him　by　so　strong　a　grip　that　in　parting　he　vowed　that　he　would　not　await　an　opportunity　but　make　one　to　repeat　his　visit　to　the　ranch。　　And　so　he　departed　with　the　understanding　that　Jane　should　follow　him　to　Banff　ten　days　later　with　her　friend　Nora。

The　ten　days　were　to　Jane　as　a　radiant；　swiftly　moving　dream。　　Yet　with　so　much　to　gratify　her；　one　wish　had　remained　ungratified。　Though　from　early　morning　until　late　night　she　had　ridden　the　ranges　now　with　one　and　now　with　another；　but　for　the　most　part　with　Larry；　Jane　had　never　〃done　the　mine。〃

〃And　I　just　know　I　shall　go　away　without　seeing　that　mine；　and　Winnipeg　people　will　be　sure　to　ask　me　about　it；　and　what　shall　I　say？　　And　I　have　never　seen　that　wonderful　secretary；　Mr。　Switzer；　either。〃

〃To…morrow；〃　said　Larry　solemnly；　〃no　matter　what　happens　we　shall　have　you　see　that　mine　and　the　wonderful　Mr。　Switzer。〃

It　was　the　seeing　of　Mr。　Switzer　that　brought　to　Jane　the　only　touch　of　tragedy　to　the　perfect　joy　of　her　visit　to　Alberta。　　Upon　arrival　at　the　mine　she　was　given　over　by　Larry　to　Mr。　Switzer's　courteous　and　intelligent　guidance；　and　with　an　enthusiasm　that　never　wearied；　her　guide　left　nothing　of　the　mine　outside　or　in；　to　which　with　painstaking　minuteness　he　failed　to　call　her　attention。　It　was　with　no　small　degree　of　pride　that　Mr。　Switzer　explained　all　that　had　been　accomplished　during　the　brief　ten　weeks　during　which　the　mine　had　been　under　his　care。　　For　although　it　was　quite　true　that　Mr。　Steinberg　was　the　manager；　Switzer　left　no　doubt　in　Jane's　mind；　as　there　was　none　in　his　own；　that　the　mine　owed　its　present　state　of　development　to　his　driving　energy　and　to　his　organising　ability。　　Jane　readily　forgave　him　his　evident　pride　in　himself　as　he　exclaimed；　sweeping　his　hand　toward　the　little　village　that　lay　along　the　coolee；

〃Ten　weeks　ago；　Miss　Brown；　there　was　nothing　here　but　a　little　black　hole　in　the　hillside　over　there。　　To…day　look　at　it。　　We　have　a　company　organised；　a　village　built　and　equipped　with　modern　improvements；　water；　light；　drainage；　etc。　　We　are　actually　digging　and　shipping　coal。　　It　is　all　very　small　as　yet；　but　it　is　something　to　feel　that　a　beginning　has　been　made。〃

〃I　think　it　is　really　quite　a　remarkable　achievement；　Mr。　Switzer。　And　I　feel　sure　that　I　do　not　begin　to　know　all　that　this　means。　They　all　say　that　you　have　accomplished　great　things　in　the　short　time　you　have　been　at　work。〃

〃We　are　only　beginning；〃　said　Switzer　again；　〃but　I　believe　we　shall　have　a　great　mine。　　It　will　be　a　good　thingfor　the　Gwynnes；　I　meanand　that　is　worth　while。　　Of　course；　my　own　money　is　invested　here　too　and　I　am　working　for　myself；　but　I　assure　you　that　I　chiefly　think　of　them。　　It　is　a　joy；　Miss　Brown；　to　work　for　those　you　love。〃

〃It　is；〃　replied　Jane；　slightly　puzzled　at　this　altruistic　point　of　view；　〃The　Gwynnes　are　dear　people　and　I　am　glad　for　their　sakes。　I　love　them。〃

〃Yes；〃　continued　Switzer；　〃this　will　be　a　great　mine。　　They　will　be　wealthy　some　day。〃

〃That　will　be　splendid；〃　said　Jane。　　〃You　see　I　have　only　got　to　know　them　well　during　this　visit。　　Nine　years　ago　I　met　them　in　Winnipeg　when　I　was　a　little　girl。　　Of　course；　Kathleen　was　with　us　a　great　deal　last　winter。　　I　got　to　know　her　well　then。　　She　is　so　lovely；　and　she　is　lovelier　now　than　ever。　　She　is　so　happy；　you　know。〃

Switzer　looked　puzzled。　　〃Happy？　　Because　you　are　here？〃

〃No；　no。　　Because　of　her　engagement。　　Haven't　you　heard？　　I　thought　everybody　knew。〃

Switzer　stood　still　in　his　tracks。　　〃Her　engagement？〃　he　said　in　a　hushed　voice。　　〃Her　engagement　toto　that〃he　could　not　apparently　get　the　word　out　without　a　great　effort〃that　Englishman？〃

Looking　at　his　white　face　and　listening　to　his　tense　voice；　Jane　felt　as　if　she　were　standing　at　the　edge　of　a　mine　that　might　explode　at　any　moment。

〃Yes；　to　Mr。　Romayne；〃　she　said；　and　waited；　almost　holding　her　breath。

〃It　is　not　true！〃　he　shouted。　　〃It's　a　lie。　　Ha；　Ha。〃　　Switzer's　laugh　was　full　of　incredulous　scorn。　　〃Engaged？　　And　how　do　YOU　know？〃　　He　swung　fiercely　upon　her；　his　eyes　glaring　out　of　a　face　ghastly　white。

〃I　am　sorry　I　said　anything；　Mr。　Switzer。　　It　was　not　my　business　to　speak　of　it；〃　said　Jane　quietly。　　〃But　I　thought　you　knew。〃

Gradually　the　thing　seemed　to　reach　his　mind。　　〃Your　business？〃　he　said。　　〃What　difference　whose　business　it　is？　　It　is　not　true。　　I　say　it　is　not　true。　　How　do　you　know？　　Tell　me。　　Tell　me。　　Tell　me。〃　　He　seized　her　by　the　arm；　and　at　each　〃Tell　me〃　shook　her　violently。

〃You　are　hurting　me；　Mr。　Switzer；〃　said　Jane。

He　dropped　her　arm。　　〃Then；　my　God；　will　you　not　tell　me？　　How　do　you　know？〃

〃Mr。　Switzer；　believe　me　it　is　true；〃　said　Jane；　trying　to　speak　quietly；　though　she　was　shaking　with　excitement　and　terror。　　〃Mr。　Romayne　told　me；　they　all　told　me；　Kathleen　told　me。　　It　is　quite　true；　Mr。　Switzer。〃

He　stared　at　her　as　if　trying　to　take　in　the　meaning　of　her　words；　then　glared　around　him　like　a　hunted　animal　seeking　escape　from　a　ring　of　foes；　then　back　at　her　again。　　There　were　workmen　passing　close　to　them　on　the　path；　but　he　saw　nothing　of　them。　　Jane　was　looking　at　his　ghastly　face。　　She　was　stricken　with　pity　for　him。

〃Shall　we　walk　on　this　way？〃　she　said；　touching　his　arm。

He　shook　off　her　touch　but　followed　her　away　from　the　busy　track　of　the　workers；　along　a　quieter　path　among　the　trees。　　Sheltered　from　observation；　she　slowed　her　steps　and　turned　towards　him。

〃She　loves　him？〃　he　said　in　a　low　husky　voice。　　〃You　say　she　loves　him？〃

〃Yes；　Mr。　Switzer；　she　loves　him；〃　said　Jane。　　〃She　cannot　help　herself。　　No　one　can　help　one's　self。　　You　must　not　blame　her　for　that；　Mr。　Switzer。〃

〃She　does　not　love　me；〃　said　Switzer　as　if　stunned　by　the　utterly　inexplicable　phenomenon。　　〃But　she　did　once；〃　he　cried。　　〃She　did　before　that　schwein　came。〃　　No　words　could　describe　the　hate　and　contempt　in　his　voice。　　He　appeared　to　concentrate　his　passions　struggling　for　expression；　love；　rage；　hate；　wounded　pride；　into　one　single　stream　of　fury。　　Grinding　his　teeth；　foaming；　sputtering；　he　poured　forth　his　words　in　an　impetuous　torrent。

〃He　stole　her　from　me！　this　schwein　of　an　Englishman！　　He　came　like　a　thief；　like　a　dog　and　a　dog's　son　and　stole　her！　　She　was　mine！　She　would　have　been　mine！　　She　loved　me！　　She　was　learning　to　love　me。　　I　was　too　quick　with　her　once；　but　she　had　forgiven　me　and　was　learning　to　love　me。　　But　this　pig！〃　　He　gnashed　his　teeth　upon　the　word。

〃Stop；　Mr。　Switzer；〃　said　Jane；　controlling　her　agitation　and　her　terror。　　〃You　must　not　speak　to　me　like　that。　　You　are　forgetting　yourself。〃

〃Forgetting　myself！〃　he　raged；　his　face　livid　blue　and　white。　〃Forgetting　myself！　　Yes；　yes！　　I　forget　everything　but　one　thing。　That　I　shall　not　forget。　　I　shall　not　forget　him　nor　how　he　stole　her　from　me。　　Gott　in　Himmel！　　Him　I　shall　never　forget。　　No；　when　these　hairs　are　white；〃　he　struck　his　head　with　his　clenched　fist；　〃I　shall　still　remember　and　curse　him。〃　　Abruptly　he　stayed　the　rush　of　his　words。　　Then　more　deliberately　but　with　an　added　intensity　of　passion　he　continued；　〃But　no；　never　shall　he　have　her。　　Never。　　God　hears　me。　　Never。　　Him　I　will　kill；　destroy。〃　　He　had　wrought　himself　up　into　a　paroxysm　of　uncontrollable　fury；　his　breath　came　in　jerking　gasps；　his　features　worked　with　convulsive　twitchings；　his　jaws　champed　and　snapped　upon　his　words　like　a　dog's　worrying　rats。

To　Jane　it　seemed　a　horrible　and　repulsive　sight；　yet　she　could　not　stay　her　pity　from　him。　　She　remembered　it　was　love　that　had　moved　him　to　this　pitch　of　madness。　　Love　after　all　was　a　terrible　thing。　She　could　not　despise　him。　　She　could　only　pity。　　Her　very　silence　at　length　recalled　him。　　For　some　moments　he　stood　struggling　to　regain　his　composure。　　Gradually　he　became　aware　that　her　eyes　were　resting　on　his　face。　　The　pity　in　her　eyes　touched　him；　subdued　him；　quenched　the　heat　of　his　rage。

〃I　have　lost　her；〃　he　said；　his　lips　quivering。　　〃She　will　never　change。〃

〃No；　she　will　never　change；〃　replied　Jane　gently。　　〃But　yo