The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-04-05

He was astonished and stared at her
b.ankly.
why, Lily. what ails you, child?"
s'Don't tell me. father, l can't
listen--l WON'T Please don't tell me,
Dear father, don't can't bear i'll
know what he said--I mean. ] guess
but don't want TO hear IL. Don't
tell me. father!"
He might have told her--might
even have spoken angrily 10 her; for
he knew instinctively that, had she
never seen the handsome face OF Owen
Ormiston, this strange little scene
would never have been; but, with a
pitiful gesture OF repugnance and al
most childlike helplessness. she sud-
denly put her hands 10 her face and
burst into tears. They disarmcd him
In a moment; he put his arm about
her. softly smoothed her golden hair
with his large rough hand, and ten
derby whispered to her. as II she had
been a child, that she was not 10 cry
no one should tease her.
There there, lily he said fondly,
when she was little quieier-"don't
you cry. my dear. Maybe managed
1t wrong. ehP Mop Well never mind.
Wedlake's good fellow, and I'd have
liked IL well enough In year or two,
II so be that you could like him well
enough; but, II you can't, why, there's
an end fit, my girl-that's ALL"
She thanked him with kiss. but
still kept her face hidden on his
shoulder. She looked up presently,
with laugh that was almost a sob,
and tried TO utter some little testing
speech about having been silly, and
would have moved away from his arm,
but, instead OF responding 10 her
movement, IL clasped her more
| tightly.
wait a minute, dear. You haven't
been feeling just yourself lately, have
you?"
''l'm very we'll father"
Eyes, yes. but not quite so bright
as I'd like TO see you. I've been
thinking that we'd go away TO the
seaside for bit. That pretty little
place-Seaford where we went last
year, sayP You'd like thatP"
Yes" she faltered reluctantly;
''but | don't think l need go away,
father; and you like being at home
best, you know, i think-if you
don't mind-that i would rather
stay"
"But think I'd rather you went.
my dear said Aaron Blair, sturdily.
1T will cost too much, father,
Lily urged.
mot more than can afford.
Don't you be afraid-rm not so poor
as all that comes TO. You get your
| frocks and bonncts and things ready.
and well be of, say, the day after TO-
morrow. And. II you waut some new
fallals, my dear, why, l dare say
there's five-pound note or SO that /
can spare. There, thatll do! Run in
and see about it, and don't go leaving
all my shirts out, as you did the last
] time
lie gave her slight push OF dis
missal, and turned away with a laugh
as she went across the grass TO the
house. her head bent down; but his
rugged face was clouded and grave as
he watched her.
"Itll dol he muttercd. ''He won't
come tomorrow after what | said; and
ri get her away the next day. My
lady Elizabeth will be of from The
Cot before we're back again, and I'll
do my best 20 keep her nephew-or
her husbands nephow--far enough
outside my gate for the future. That
I'll take care Of. II was bad luck that
brought him in her way. poor child;
but IL couldn't be helped. AT least, =
he added. aftor n moments pause, ii
couldn't help 1t; and I'd have risked a
good deal sooner than she should ever
have heard Owen Omissions name. y
TO BE CONTINUED.