The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-02-22
UncIo Archie's Wife.


claim each time the postman passed
our gate without q call. or called TO
deliver letters that seemed only an In
suit and offence because they were not
from him. Dear mother. how good and
patient she was with me then! | know
how much IL cost her 10 subdne her
natural curiosity and rendy indfgna-
ton at anything that seemed like a
slight 10 her child And was CRATE
ful 10 her in my heart; bat my nerves
were unslrung, and there were mo-
ments in which found the perpetual
pity OF her eyes harder to bear than
any spoken words could have been.
Once overheard her speaking In a
hurried, excited whisper 10 uncle
Archie. who was openly perplexed and
annoyed by my lovers mysterious dis
appearance and her words made me
vince.
'.Do not speak to Irene about it,
at least not yet she said eagerly.
Things may come right. you know;
and then we should be sorry TO have
said anything against the young man.
though admit his conduct seems
most unaccountable."
Most Infamous, call it," uncle
Archie cried angriIy. 1.-The child
looks the picture OF misery! cannot
bear TO meet those pretty proud eyes
OF hers and think what she has TO bear!
BY George, II | thought that fellow
meant to play fast and loose with
her
Uncle Archie gripped his thick stick
and glared so savagely that mother
started up in quick alarm, crying
fecbly-
"Good gracious, Archie, do not take
things so seriously yeti Why should
we think the worst at onceP And
drawing herself up with maternal
pride -"why should we think that he,
or any man, would dare, or wish to
jllt lrene?n
"Why?n uncle Archie echoed with a
groan. You are too guilelcss for
this world, Gertrude. II you do not see
and know. When this young man
asked our poor child To marry
him, she was the recognized heiress Of
the Hall = a prize in the ,oarsest and
most mercenary sense OF the word;
.Archier
i stayed TO hear no more. MY
mothers indignant exclamation broke
the spell that had held me motion
less listener until then. and / fed to
hide myself and struggle with this new
torturing doubt.
Was uncle Archie rightp Was II
possible that Dick. who had seemed so
true and honest-who had declared.
with such apparent candor, that the
loss OF my prospective inheritance had
been clear gain to him. since 1t cleared
away barrier between us-was il
possible that Dick had been acting all
this time-that, even while he played
the part OF disinterested lover, he had
been secretly plotting and planning TO
obtain his releaseP II IL were so, how
quickly / would set him free. But no,
could not, and would not, entertain
that degrading thought even then. It
was no less painful TO think that Dick
had been dazzled and led astray by
AhR HH'AA VI tti tntuOllItNS anu HUu
fed from a temptation that he felt
himself powerless TO resist; but II was
eas or than TO believe him base and
mercenary, and there was less OF dis
loyalty in The thought.
Two more days passed. the end OF
tht week had come, and / still knew
nothing OF my lovers movements /
was standing at the gate resting my
hot and aching head against the rough
bark Of the old tree that guarded our
path in sentry fashion and looking aim
lessly out upon the deserted high-road.
when / was reused from my reverie by
the sound OF light quick footstep,
coming from the opposite direction TO
that in which | gazed, and, looking
quickly round, found my face almost
touching Estelle Gerrard's.
II was early morning still-not later
than eight o'clock-and ! should al
most as soon have expected TO meet n
ghost or goblin afoot In the fresh
morning air as my uncle's
beautiful wife. She laughed
that curious laugh OF hers,
that always suggested TO me IA silvery
peal OF bells in which there Jared and
tangled one harsh note. and said, with
airy pleasantry--
What "A cruelty disappointed lookl
DO not kill me because | am not the
postman, childl | would act rs the
bearer of good tldings II could; but.
alas. through life that pleasant. part
has rarely fallen 10 my share. Have
you no tidingB OF the absent swain,
Irene2"
Moelxing rs her words were. there