The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-02-08
Uncle Arches Wife.


.sIrene. | want Mr.. Martineau 20
come TO The Hall. We will take every
care OF him. aud make no claim upon
his time" said Mrs. Gerard. turning
to me. Your uncle has not asked
him yet, II seems"
hope the dismay | felt was not APP
parent In my ewes as uncle Archie
muttered polite Endorsement OF the
Invitation. or all the time Estelle's
brilliant eyes were fixed upon my face.
/ am sure she meant TO read her tri-
umph there; but In that case she was
doomed 70 appointments, for Dick
answered with careless promptncss-
ooh, thanks very much, Mrs. Ger
rardl But have my old quarters in
the village, and have arranged TO be
there tonight"
breathed freely again. Mother
smiled. and Estelle looked rather
taken aback; she bit Ter lip, flushed
crimson. and said sharply
AT least you will dine with US to-
night? You--Alrs Walter aud Irene
~ meanpn
Mother was about TO refuse the un-
ceremonious inyitation--she had al
ready made up her mind that Dick
should dine with US; but touched her
hand, and. with a swift glance, begged
her 10 accept the ofer. Ii cost me no
small effort TO give up the pleasant
evening | had planned--the happy
hours that my sweetheart and would
have spent together out In the old
fashioned fower-scented garden. or
here over the piano trying our favor
tie songs. while mother smiled and
nodded in her chair; but. after all. IL
was only "A few hours. and we were TO
spend our lives together by-and-by.
"Oh, yes--we will comet" | answer
cd cheerily. trying To cover mothers
visible reluctance by my own elusive
ness; and Estelle was. | suppose, salts
fed with that concession. for she rose
at once TO go.
.'Why were you SO tire ONE, IreneP"
nguired mother, with justiiiable inn
patience. when Dick had gone down
stairs with the visitors and we were
left alone. ..You know how | dctest
going To the Hall now land We were not
In the least bound TO accept the invi-
tation-indeed. il was almost an i'm
perlinence to ask US In that way; and
SO am sure your poor uncle felt but
he cannot resent anything she does.
Did you ever see a man 50 broken
spirited in your lifeP"
did not an wer indeed, though !
heard the gentle murmur OF her re-
monsirance hardly seemed 10 under
stand the words From my post OF
vantage ilf the window | was watch-
ing the little group near the ga c---the
beautiful W, man i'm the carriage with
the look OF triumph on her face, and
Dick, who seemed literally unable 20
remove his eyes from her.
Even when the carriage drove on he
seemed unable TO break the spell that
had fallen upon him, and gazed after
IL for quite five minutes. as though
under some strange fascination. My
heart sank as | watched him standing
bare headed at the gate. apparently
unconscious OF anything but the
strange at raction that kept him root
ed there. until the last speck OF the
wheels had noated away in the sun
shine aud the carriage itself was out
oi sight. Then he came back into the
house; and | thought he looked pale
and anxious, changed. and unlik {:
himself when he rc-entered the rooms
but | kept the fancy TO myself II wa
so much more likely that | was nurse
ing fantastic ideas, such as mother
otcn accused me OF entertaining. than
that dick was upset by a few soft
words or the sight OF beautiful
face.
We'll, mother asked eagerly,
sswhat do you think OF my sister-in-
law. DickP Is she at all the sort OF
person you expected her 20 be?"
! III do not suppose Dick had any
idea concerning her, mother" inter-
posed. thrusting myself into the con-
yersatlon with wild desire 10 cover
what seemed like unaccountable con-
fusion on Dicks part; .'or. II he did
expect her 10 be a beautiful woman.
he is not disappointed. am sure"
Mo- Dicks brows were knitted,
his face had troubled look, and he
seemed a though he was trying "a
solve problems Is very beauti-
Iful--perhaps the most beautiful WON
an have ever seen, except"
1--WE all know the exception,
mother interrupted. nodding ut me
with a well-pleased smile. full OF ma.
ternal pride; ''but We must not let our
partially mislead us. Dick. Mrs,
Gerard. though cannot say quite