The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-01-25


and sympathetic friend. Please do not
look so shocked. Mrs. Walter! The
facts cannot vary OF course; but
| whereas their dry bones are enough
In the one case--in The other WE'LL
In the other. one may let "A little feel
ing be SEEN"
''Do you really think IL necessary
TO tell us more than we know already,
Mrs. Gerrard?" interrupted mother;
and knew the stiff protest was sim
cere. Curious ns she was. she shrank
from hearing the story OF Archibald
Gerrad's wooing told by these scorn-
fully smiling lips; but EsteIle would
have her way.
"Quite necessary. II not for your
satisfaction, then for that of l.udleigh
at large. or course tho gossips are
on the q,I rirc To know all about me.
and will metaphoriCally tear you and
Irene to pieces II you are not pre-
pared TO crafty their curiosity to-
morrow. You cannot deny that
Mother could not so she simply
shook her head and allowed her sis
ter-in-law TO proceed.
'sTell them that my mother made
great mistake when she Tilted Archi-
bald Gerard for frank Egerton's
sake--a mistake she repent d within
"A week OF her marriage and to the
last day OF her life. My father was
n spcndthrift. gambler, and bad
cruel husband: he made her miserable
for fifteen years. and then deserted
her and her last living child deserted
her on her death-bed.n
She was evidently excited by her
own story; her eyes flashed, but her
voice neither softened nor broke as
she spoke OF her deserted and dying
mother; her lips still retained their
scornful curve; there was no touch OF
pity in the brilliant face; and yet, l
hardly know why, | began to feel. a
certain amount OF pity for her. She
looked at me and laughed.
"iou think me very horrible TO
speak SO OF my own father, Irene; but
il your experience had been like mine,
you would perhaps have grown as
hard as /. But there is no need 20 go
into all that now. When my mother
felt that she was dying, and knew that
she must leave me alone In the world,
she wrote out and gave to me last
despairing appeal to her old lover,
asking him 10 bcfriend her friendless
child"
HAS she only just died thenpn |
asked. as had asked uncle Archie a
little while back. puzzled by her be-
wildering avoidance OF all dates.
.'Oh, no she died ten years since.
when was just seventeen. But / did
not care TO present the letter at once.
| was mt war with the all world with
ull the people who had wronged my
mother-and did not care 20 meet tho
one she had wronged. | was strong
and fairly well-educated, and | deter
mined to be accomplished IA well. /
went as pupil-teacher to IA Brussels
school, stayed there for three years,
working hard, and gaining golden
opinions OF my employer Madame
Ledru-and, more than that, an intro
duction TO very great family, in
which I remained for seven years as
governess To one girl.
I'VE spent those sovcn years in
Italy. My pupil married there; and
then the great family needed my SER
vices no more. They did not turn me
adrift in any ungracious fashion; they
rewarded me handsomely, and init
mated. In the kindest manner, that |
was now free TO return to my home.
My homel had no home, Irene; and,
being always extravagant in my
n ,.st.. fun kng
upon until | found other occupation.
However, i was too proud TO say IA
word OF this TO my employers. /
thanked them for their presents and
good wishes. and went at once, with
half intention OF returning 10 Brussels
and asking Madame Ledru TO take me
in. But fate changed my plans. /
went TO Paris instead. fell In poor
lodging there, spent all my money,
and was reduced to almost absolute
despair. when saw your uncle's name
one day in a visitors list.
Then / suddenly remembered my
mothers letter. Why should | not in
this strait appeal TO the one man who
might help meP / went home, took
the little packet-which | had kept
more from supersttious reverence
than from any thought that | should
ever use it--from the cid pocket-book
In which for ten long years II had lain
undisturbed, and, giving myself no
time 90 reflect upon or reconsider my
determination. sent IL TO the hotel at
which. as the newspaper told me,
Archihal Gerard was staying"