The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-07-26

u0u always it2Icu utl0ltf a.
Il would rather die" she said. below
her breath. 1,l
..DieP As II II would be hard to der
her aunt exclaimed harshly. ITO live.
requires courage-to live 1oveless.
friendless unable TO put faith In one
human being. But let me tell you why
the name of Damarel Is hateful 10 me.
You never heard the sforyPn d
II have heard il. but not from you
answered the girl. gently.
And she stood la an attitude of deep
interest. as with the brief winter day
dying. and the shadows gliding 10 her
chair. Esther Claremont told her story.
II loved Conrad Damarel," she said,
her voice pulsing with feeling; Flowed
him with my whole heart. Aud he
he played at love. He never truly
loved me. or he would have made q
few impatient words Of mine sufficient
excuse for breaking with me. / did
not mean them--God knows did mott
But they were spoken and he made
them his excuse. He left me standing
in the sunlight out there.n 4aa
She lifted one thin. tremulous hand,
aud pointed to where vast sheet OF
undiscovered lawn might be seen
through the window.
That was the love of n Damarel.
He went away and forgot the girl he
had won. aud married some, stranger;
and l. through all the years that have
gone by since. have ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
membered till. heart and soul grew
soured and warped. T"
The girl went and knelt beside the
invalid-chair, and drew one OF the thin
hands to her cheek. On that soft, fair
check tears were lying.
Aunt Esther. let me tell you what
Lee told me--let me tell YOU what his
fathers dying lips told him" she said,
brokenly. You were so wrong-so
wrongl Conrad Damarol loved you all
his life" N ilfH
1T is falsel He left me because OF
few angry words. He was glad TO be
set frees cried the woman iiercely.
He loved youi but when you babe
him go--when YOU told him you could
live without him you were tired
of him aud his aflcction--he left you.
Do you remember his parting words 70
you. Aunt Estherp II you wanted to
sec his face again, you would recall
him. You never did. He waited fU
five years hoping. You sent neither
word nor line. He then met fair.
sweet girl. whose heart went out TO him
without the asking. whose tender nature
90 knew could never wound him, and
no outlived him. aoH
Aunt Esther. he has lain under the
earth for seven years. aud dying, he
gave the story OF his love for you 10 his
son. That son has come 10 me. loving
me as his father loved you. and IL
will not make his life n sorrow, will not
break my own mt the very root. M
Hear me out-be patient yet mo-
ment. No human being should be
allowed to sever loving hearts-no
human power can part Lees and minel
But. Aunt Esther. you will not try to-
YOU will not"
.Hushr cried Esther Claremont.
hoarsely; "hush! Go--leaye mel If L
have wrecked my own whole life
wrecked IL by my own fierce temper,
my own unholy pridel Oh, God abovew
Vera saw her lift her hands and cover
her face.
Then in the winter twilight, the girl
arose and left her there--left her 10 face
IclliOT5e huu ItgItt rs btHl sue uiSHt
In the very winter of her life.
An hour later the following note was
put in Vera's hands by servant:
Child, do what you will with your life. with
your love. When you return from skating.
ESTHER"
And Vera went with the skating
party, and was happier than ever be-
fore, although now and then, even as
she sped like swallow over the ice. a
pitiful thought for the lonely, loveless
woman she had left in the twilight was
with her.
I'VE will be nearer after tonight"
she told herself; and when she has
seon Lee. she will not wonder that i
love him." A
Returning in the starlit cold of the
night she led her lover TO where that
frail figure lay back among the pillows.
Aunt, have brought Lee, as you
babe me" she said. softly. ~
No answer. eu4f lnsi
She bent over the still face, looked
moment into IL, and shrank toward her
lover with a cry of terror slI
Aunt Esther was deadl ~ f