The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-02-22

| ly; II have business. as you may guess
1 by my being out so early business
that will hardly wait. did not mean
you or any one 10 sec me; but. when
caught sight OF your woe-begone face
- What queer thing It must be
10 show all ones emotions so plainlyi
wonder IL you have any idea now
how tragically miserable you look?"
felt my face flush. but did not at
tempt to answer her words--indeed
they were spoken In reflective tone
and much more TO herself than 10 me;
but when / made restless, impa-
tient movement towards the house. she
put out her slender hands and seized
me quickly by the wrists.
wait! have few moments still
TO spare. and there Is something /
want 20 say. Irene Gerard, do you
nate me quite? But of course you do
You have every right--every reason
TO hate me. Have not robbed you
OF your heiresship--come between you
and
''Oh, hush" / interrupted eagerly.
shrinking with an inexpressible dread
and terror from the words she seemed
likely 10 say next. al do not hate
you. Mr. Gerard; / was prepared 10
welcome you, for my uncle's sake.
Whether you have given me any cause
TO, as you say, hate you, you alone
know"
She released my wrists with n
strange laugh, shrugged her shout
ders. and said drily-
II shall not keep my secret long
then, for you and all Ludleigh will
know soon. Goodbye, Irene. You
are an honest-hearted. generous girl,
whether you hate me or not. 1 al
most think | could have liked you II /
had tried"
She moved away soquickly that had
not time 10 try to detain her. or even
ask the meaning OF her mysterious
words--the graceful figure had vanish
cd round the curve OF the road before
| recovered myself.
What does she mean Where can
she be going at this hour OF the morn
ing P" wondered. in dire perplexity,
as walked slowly back TO the house;
but could find no answer that was
even plausibly satisfactory. and
mother gave me little help when APP
pealed 20 her.
"My dear Irene, how cun we posi-
bly, account for the eccentricities OF
your Uncle Archie's wife P" she said,
with that tone of asperity she always
assumed now when she spoke OF Es-
telle Gerard. Extraordinary /? OF
course IL was Everything she does is
extraordinary. Pray do not talk OF
her; you will spoil my breakfast IL you
do. F."
or course | dropped the subject
then, ard fell to thinking sadly OF
Dicks unaccountable and insulting
silence. had been patient so far,
at leas', as any outward display OF
feeling went--long enough; felt that
some show OF dignity was necessary
now. But how was that dighed recent
ment TO be shown There was some
thing iudicrous as well ms unendurably
painful, In the position In which l
was placed since knew neither the
reason OF my lovers prolonged alb
sence nor even where he was.
was not destined 10 remain long
in ignorance OF Dicks whereabouts.
| shall never forget the sharp and
cruel pain felt when Mrs. Knyvett,
who with Miss Clarissa Green paid
MS an extraordinarily early visit that
morning, peered sharply into my face
and said, with an acrid playfulness-
''Still pale and heavy-eyed, Miss
Irene That is not right | was say
ing TO Clarissa, as we came along.
We shall find the roses in full bloom
again at the Downer House now that
the truant has come back !"
How hard IL was to feel my face
turn pale and rigid under the mali
cious scrutiny OF those eyes-how hard
or far TO realise, in all It's crushing
misery. the meaning OF those words
"Come back p' mother echoed.
"Who has come. Mrs. Knyvett And
why should Ireno have more or less
color than usual to-day P'
The two visitors smiled maliciously;
then Miss Green said. with her usual
shipper
"Dear Mrs. Gerard, IL Is only n
little innocent joke or course we
were speaking OF Mr.. Martineau's re-
turn
"Dick Martineau ~ saw the
colour rush 10 mothers cheeks; then
she laughed, not very naturally, and
added, with swift warning glance at
me, "Oh, did you meet him at the
station ? Irene was lazier than you;
she does not like such early trains
"Such early trains ?" Mrs. Knyvett
! echoed. with sxaOperatod nernloxitv.