The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-04-19
AARON BLAIR'S ATONEMENT.
CHAPTER v.-CoNrrNurD.

tutt tIJs httliHs lib arm bcnutEl9
about his daughters waist. Aaron Blair
looked at the young man with a wrath
ful fr0wn. A greater contrast than
the gentleness Of his action and the
intense though repressed anger OF his
expression could not well be.
.'Mr. OrmIston. he said. speaking
In n low, carefully-repressed tone. al
though the thick network OF veins
upon his forehead started out like
strained whip-cords beneath the violent
restraint that ne was putting upon
himself. II did not expect this, sirl
We have not deserved this from youl
She. at any rate. deserves all respect
at your hands +"
.She has IL. sir" retor;ed Owen.
recovering himself. bring any
charge you please against me rather
than that OF lacking respect Tor your
daughter. You can find nowhere any
one who yields her respect more en-
tirely. or. who would more earnestly
insist upon IL Us her due"
Maybe, maybe" returned Aaron
Blair. with milton OF his hand as
though 10 wave the speaker away. '.It
does not matter. since you have done
tho mischief that hoped ~ prevent
your doing. You can excuso yourself.
| don't doubt; but don't wish 70 lis
ten. Ii was a bad day for me when
you entered my doors and saw my
girl; but Il can't lie helped now /
was fool when let you have the
chance oil making her your anuse-
ment while the fancy for the play
might last; but ] had hoped that you
would tire 30 time. an that IL would
not be SO bad rs this. There's enough
OF thut--go. II you plcasel"
"Oh, fatherm gasped Lily family.
Her face was hidden against him, but
u shuddering sob shook her.
Aaron Blair started; the piiiful ap-
peal pierced him like daggcr-ihrusi.
Owen Omissions face flushed: his
spirit was reused; he woald have been
much poorer creature than he was
had he yielded for a moment and re-
signed himself TO take his dismissal.
His voice was not low and restrained,
but eager. earnest, indignant
''Mr. Blair. don't understand youl
/ may be n fool, but / declare that
don't know in the least what you
meant What have | done? Does my
love FOR your daughter make me
criminal? | have loved her since
saw her first You must have known
it. DO you want 10 dismiss me be-
cause have asked her 90 become my
wifeen
..She will never be your wlielr said
Aaron Blair CURLY.
"Who says thatg"
II, for one
"You leave her out OF the question,
sir. - Owen smiled trlumphantly.
'She has promised 10 be my vile"
"That promise will not be kept.
You waste your time. Mr.. Ormiston.
and make worse the harm you've done.
Go. II you please"
'Oh, father, father-don't dontl'
Lily pleaded. With IA sudden move
ment she released herself. and. per-
haps hardly conscious OF what she
did, shranx from her father and turn
cd towards her lover, whose arm
was about her again in a moment
Aaron Blair, looking at them. turn
cd deathly pale; his broad chest
heaved; his clenched right hand drop
ped 10 his side helplessly.
at is You who distress her--not
L." said Owen angrily Don't you
see she loves meP"-with Implying
triumph. you have no right TO
separate us even II you are her
father. There. therc-never mind.
darling--it will be all right Don't
tremble So Mr.. Blair. l can only
suppose that your refusal 90 listen TO
me arises from some idea that Lady
Elizabeth Ormiston may object 10 my
marriage. Well, won't ask for your
consent until l have obtained hers
and that I'll do without loss OF time.
But In any case. hope you will
understand that neither Lily nor viii
give each other up. Goodbye for
little while. my dearest; I'm sorry
that you were made TO cry upon this
OF oil other days; but I'm not TO blame
for that"
He kissed her. released her. and was
walking swiftly away, when he sud
denly turned back again. Perhaps
the selfishness and arrogance OF HIS
words Jared upon his own ears In the
midst OF his .exation that he should
have been repealed in such "A fashion
by this rough-mannered man; for he
turned impuisively and held out his
hand TO Aaron Blair.
Don't part bad friends with me. sir
for Lily's sake--we have made her
cry between ns as IL Is. Perhaps you