The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-03-01
AUNT ESTHER.
-wherc have you been'"
TO the lake. Aunt Esther.

The aunt. grum. unlovely. wrinkled
and shrunken, AS withered leai Oh
autumn. sat among the soft pillows
that lifted her time wrecked form In
M invalid chair.
Tho niece, fresh and bright, with
sunny touches on the brown OF her
hair, and a somewhat daring spirit
aiming from her dark eyes, stood near
the fireplace. where rnddy light
flashed up and swept across her ana
showed the slim. girllsh figure clad la
heavy cloth and fur. =,
What were you doing NJ the laSeV
Skating. The Ice Is like glass
there, aunt. and | wins practicing Tor
tonight You know we are TO have
skating party on the lake tonight
and
And you are not going 10 IT,
mot going Why?'
because you are under my care
and my control and forbid you
10 eoT' cried Esther Claremont
sharply.
but / have promised will be
called form began Vera Claremont,
piteously.
Who Is to call for you ?'
Strengthened suddenly. her shrunken
hand was put out and laid on the
girls arm. while her fierce. untender
eyes traced the fair young face. In
which a slow color was Huttering.
you need not tell me. know I"
cried Esther ClaremonL with passion
ate anger In ner slnten eyes and
showing la the unsteadiness OF her
wrinkled lips.
II am lying here day after day
helpless and crippled. and you would
fain deceive me; but you cannot j
know who Is playing Mt love with you.
who Is teaching you that love Is sweet
and youth In sweet aud truth and hon
esty only words idle words That
fair young face OF yours has brought
you what fairness aud youth brought
me ut your age; but your life shall not
be wrecked by IL as nan has been.
will save you though ! have 70 use
bolts and bars 10 keep you safe One
Clarcmont IL enough 10 be blighted by
q Damnrcl. and the lying lips OF the
son shall not bind you t0 him heart
ard soul, as the false lips OF The father
bound me when I was crodnlous
young thing like you =
She paused. painting. Vera had
grown pale. but she could not remove
her eyes from those burning ones be-
low her; nor could sho free her arms
from the grasp OF those thin, fierce
fngers.
speak cried her aunt. "Is not
Lee Damarcl trying To win your love9"
Yes slowly and falteringly. "lie
has said he loves me.
And you believe him? Tell mem
III believe him"
Esther Clarcmont laughed-a quick.
nlrthless. mocklng. bitter laugh--and
suddenly loosing her hold OF Vera,
pushed the slight figure from her
so" she cried. jeeringly. II am
too latel You love the son OF Conrad
Damarell You have given me no con-
hdence; owe you no consideration -
yon. you. whom | took into my house
when you were "A homeless child; you.
70 whom have been kind for ten long
years."
Never kind. Aunt Esther" spoke
out Vera. clearly. You clothed aud
fed me, you allowed yocr roof 10 shelte
me. but never In all those ten years
have you even spoken one kind word
10 mo-"
migrate" Missed the woman.
mot that. Aunt Esther. for | am
grateful 90 you for what have receiv-
ed"
sProve III Prove your gratitude.
then, cried Esther Clarcmont fierce
ly. .'Give up this lover OF yours;
never sec his face again."
Poor. pale little Vera Where did
sho get the strength 10 stand, straight
and fearless. before the woman whom
shc had always feared before?
/ would rathcr die" she said. below
her breath.
DIE As IL IL would be hard TO die ~
her aunt exclaimed, harshly. TO
live requires courage--to live loveless.
friendless. unable 10 put faith in one
human being. Blu; let me tell you
why the nnmc OF Damarei Is hateful To
me. You never heard the story?"
II have heard IT, but not from you. :"
answered the girl gently.
And she stood In an attitude OF deep
interest. "a. with the brief winter day
dying. and the shadows gliding 10 her
chair, Esther Clarcmont told her story.
II loved Conrad Damarel." she
said. her voice pulsing with feeling;
II loved him with my whole heart
And hc-.he played at love. lie mover
truly loved me. or he would not have
made y few impatient words OF minc
sufficient excuse for breaking with
mo. did not mean thom God knows
I did mott But they were spoken. and
he mndo them his excuse. Ito left me
standing In the sun light out there"