The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-09-06

All the color had faded from his
own. and tho look on IL was not good
10 see.
..Foundl foundm he murmured. Il
knew l would find you. you yellow
haired traitress, and my time has
come"
He did not 60 toward them. but
stood watching Elaine. who laughed
and talked. utterly unconscious OF the
dark. passionate eyes watching her SO
intently.
That evening Diane and Ralston
were down on the beach together.
Few words had passed between them
since that fatcful glance. when heart
spoke TO heart. and soul 10 soul.
Ralston broke the silence.
II asked you TO come down, Diane"
he said. II have a story 10 tell you,
and a question TO ask.
Years ago. Diane. there were two
friends, bosom friends; one had a
daughter, the other a son, who grew
up 10 girlhood aud manhood as inti-
mate friends. The father of the girl
was supposed TO be wealthy; he was
the owner apparently OF "a stately
home. aud lived luxuriously, but the
fact was. all his property was heavily
mortgaged 10 the father Of the young
man.
The young mans father died, and
by the terms OF his fathers will. he was
compelled 10 make the girl his wife, or
lose the wealth his father died pos
sessed of. The terms of the will were;
81 give and bequcath all die possessed OF
20 my son. on condition he makes the daugh-
ter OF Clark Vernon his wife, III he refuses 20
comply with these terms leave him 20; tho
remainder OF all my possessions to be divided
among my nearest OF KIN
diane. the young man was heart
free at the time, and the girl was fair
as poets dream. IL he refused TO
comply with the terms OF the will he
not only beggared himself, but her, and
so. without much serious thought, he
asked her TO be his wife,
He paused n moment.
Diane, he said slowly, after that
he met another, and learned what love
meant. For love OF another woman
he was willing 10 forfeit all. Diane,
what should he do, rs an honorable
manW
A long. long silence-a silence in
which the girls face grew pallid. tha
lovely eyes darker with pain. while the
man watched her, hoping against hope.
What was all earth 10 him In compari-
son TO this dark-eyed grip
What should he do?n sho said slow
ly, what could he do but keep his troth
to his promised wifcp"
He knew il would be her answer,
and yet--his passion conquered him.
n IL. 10 Ia .tsia
"Oh. my love my beautiful love, l
cannot give you upf"
You cannot give up what you never
possessed, she said. with faint smile;
"and. Ralstou, your honor Is dearer to
you than all else on earth. as il is TO
me; and,-and we must part. Our
paths lie far aSunder."
Her voice was low and faint. but
clear. and he knew she meant it.
Their paths lay far apart.
Without word he drew her toward
him and pressed his lips to hers in one
long, passionate caress. and she did
not say him nay.
LAS we kiss the dead. Diane" he
said. And then: "Good-by, sweet
heart. good-byr
And Diane Leigh was alone on the
beach. the murmuring waters Mt her
feet seemed TO repeat the bitter-bit-
ter-sweet farewell:
"Good-by sweetheart, good-by.n
Three weeks later she stood at the
death-bed OF the man whom all her life
she had believed her father, and there
heard tale that blanched her beauti-
full face with the temptation it offered
her.
Out under the starlight she fought
again the battle with her heart.
The temptation before her was bit
terly strong
She could 90 10 the man she loved
and tell him all. He would not lose
his birth-right, and she--ah. could she
give him up-could she throw wealth
aud love away together for the sake Of
Ralston st. Glars honorp
Your honor Is dearer 10 mo than
life" she had said to him. Come veal
or woe Elaine Vernon should be his
wife.
For loves sweet sake | will be ST.
lent she cried; my hand will never
hold the tantalus cup To my darling's
| lips. will drain IL myself in silence. !"
And so the story told her on James
Lcigh's death-bed was the secret OF her
own heart.
So Elaine Vernon's wedding day
drew near, and DANES beautiful face
grew strangely pale her proud. dark
eyes heavy with unshed tears.
| Il cannot bear il. " she cried. stand
ing on the lonely beach, and stretch
| ing out her hands TO the blue waters
meeting the horizon. ''Oh. my love.
my love. how. having known you. can
| life ever be the same to me again aud