The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-02-15

her shoulder -s.do not cry SO my dar-
ling-or. rather. do cry--it will do
you good spoke harshly. know;
but at times one must be cruel 10 be
kind; and you will soon and easily for
give me for being Dicks advocate even
against yourself
CHAPTER VIII.
Mothers little lecture acted like q
wholesome tonic. bracing up my nerves,
and serving the useful purpose OF max
ing me thoroughly ashamed OF myself.
do not know that / was much less
miserable. as lay awake that night
with tears In my eyes, and my cheeks
burning. rs / recalled the events OF
the evening; but / was at least In a
mood TO think myself more OF n sinner
than avictim~-to deal more mercifully
with others than myself
Before fell asleep. | was quite con-
WINGED that there had bee : no signs
OF coquetry in Estelle GerrArd's man.
ner; while Dicks interest in her story
was the most simple and natural thing
in the world. My own morbidly ex-
cltable imagination was alone TO
blame for all the uneasiness / had en-
dured-and on that convenient
scapegoat the Walls OF my wrath were
outpoured.
"Dick will be here soon!n That
was the thought uppermost in my mind
when awoke the next morning.
There shall be no more stiffness or
Misunderstanding between us; for l
will tell him all my folly and beg his
pardon. He will forgive me, / know"
/ heard voices in the breakfast
room, and paused at the door with a
half-delighted. half-alarmed convic-
ton that Dick had already come; but
only mother was there, talking to
Susan the parlor-maid, who had just
brought in "A letter.
lit is for you. dear. and means, l
suppose, that Dick cannot come" said
mother In vexed and disappointed
tone, as she pushed the envelope
across TO me; and | felt my hopes die
sudden and cruel death as | recog-
nized the bold, clear handwriting.
"Open ii, child, and see what he
says
Slowly | obeyed tho Injunction. my
fingers trembling with terror beside
which that / had subdued last night
seemed faint and shadowy indeed
Slowly i read the few lines Dick had
written; then passed the note across
the table with a weary hopelessness
no longer cared 10 conceal.
"Am to read IL, dear ?''
Certainly; IL isis 1t not love
letter, and is as much to you as me, )"
| replied, with quivering lips; and
mother picked up the note and read it
carefully.
dearest Irene"-Dick had written
al hoped and fully intended when
we parted last night TO have passed
the morning with you; but circum-
stance / cannot at present explain has
changed my plans, and / am OF TO
town by the first train. | may be
away three or four days-possibly /
may return tomorrow. Please ask
Mrs. Gerard to forgive my broken
engagement with her, and believe me,
always yours, Dick"
"Well w III IL we're less deep-rooted
mothers Indignation was much more
vehement than mine; her eyes spark
led, her cheeks flushed, rs she said
quite angrily. II scolded you for be-
ing exacting last night. Irene; but |
think you have the right To show some
little spirit and resentment now; for
Mr.. Martineau is certainly not treat
ing you with kindness or consider
alton here. II | we're you. should
tell him SO when he comes back"
..When no comes back !" echoed
dreariy. mo; do not look at me
like that. mother l am not talking
wildly; l am not angry--not so angry
as should be perhaps. | only feel
as Thoughts though
LAS though what, my poor dear
child P" mother asked pitifully, and
the kindly look In her eyes. tho ten
der loving way I'm which she drew me
down into chair and stroked my
smooth plails-the hair 1 had dressed
for Dick-only made me laugh wildly
and unreasonably.
..As though were fighting fate ~
/ exclaimed. with feverish sharpness,
And that Is such "a hopeless fight
had better give IL up at once y
"And give mp Di,kP'
did not answer her; did not know
perhaps It might even come 10 that
that | should have 10 give up Dick,
or even, as | thought with sharp
pang OF wounded love and pride, that
he would. unasked set me free. The
thought was more than torture--it
dazed and bowildered me. had been
i Al .,ro,,dlv s,,ro of nickfa 1.-Two I had