The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-12-20

Sam Eckae was me. honest lau
when poor Nell married him, and he
said he would give up the drink when
he was married. But he never did"
Sam McRae Is dolt OF man. an
swered Willie. ''and Nell but cries aud
looks scared when he comes about her.
You could have made something even
of sam" he continued admiringly,
'.but Nell never could"
..He should. make something Of him
sell" Jane replied. flushing. "A man
should not offer TO take care OF wo-
man. and expect her 10 make "A man OF
him.
Il don't look for yon TO do that for
me, Jane. ! can do that for myself. l
think; and ii YOU will marry me.
swear To You l will let drink alone.
though It's little enough harm it has
ever done me; aud it's good thing. |
can tell you, girl, in rough sea on
wet night"
IF you stop drink. viii marry
you when the boats come home again;
but not unless you swear 10 me then
thai You have drunk no drop from this
night till that; and If yoa cannot come
aud tell me then. will wait until YOU
can tell me that You have stopped; for
do love you dearly. Willie, and / viii
be the wife of no man hut YOU"
And Jane Somers had laid her small.
firm hand in his huge one. and had
lifted up her brown face TO be kissed.
and with tile kiss had registered VOW
that she would wait till the end OF
time. If need be.
Then Trejor had gone to the boats
with a sulky, honest purpose in his
heart. He would stand the gibes Of
the men-that would be the hardest
part of all--that he might GO back and
tell jamie she should get "A wedding
gown ready.
They had had good luck-so good,
that the men could not 90 home until
They had celebrated ii by "A grand
carousal. Trejor had not meant TO join
them. but then. they had tainted him
with being in leading strings, and that
he dared not 70. So he had gone at
last. but promising himself that he
would yet keep his word TO jamie
about the drink. But the human will
IA weak. even in strong men. some-
times. And in the morning Trejor
nwoke with n shamed feeling that he
had not been man--thate ven his love
for jamie had not been enough 20 make
him man. And she would not marry
him. and trust to making man OF him
afterwards; he knew Jane Somers well
enough never TO think that.
The boats were ready to start home-
ward, but Trejor was not going
with them. He could not face jamie
,ttt ha ha1
promised TO wait for him. and he knew
she would keep her promise. So he
sent a letter. very humble and very
manly. saying he would 90 away AID
stay until he could come back with
clean conscience. He would come
back; he was sure OF that.
Jane had read his letter by herself.
but had made no moan. She had not
even been surprised. for she had little
faith in such promises among the fish
ing men. She had seen so much Of
them. Mrs Somers had guessed her
daughters trouble. but she gave Jane
little sympathy.
You are foolish girl. Jane. TO
spoil your life for such notions. Will
lie Trejor is the best fisherman in the
village, and he will make the most
money. What II he does spend tri-
ile of IL for drink You should be
willing 10 give him his pleasure.
You know IL is not that mother.
But IL he should strike me once when
he was in his cups. then should hate
him, and there would never be peace
between Us any more"
MANY better woman than You has
al So. - ..l...
loved. said the mother
1T may be so. But am not such
creature ms Nell McRae. to sit down.
white and scared. IL brute of man
should strike me. or swear ut me; and
well does Willie Trejor know thatV"
she added with flashing eyes.
Tut tut! girl. II you talk that
way it's wide berth all the lads will
give YOU"
II want them 10 do that They are
ont worth Willie's little fnger.n
Yes. he's well enough grumbled
the mother. but If he doesn't come
back. remember there's just as good
fish In the sea He's not the only lad
in the village nor on the coast"
Ii was a waste OF words talking to
Jane. III Willie came not. none need
come. And SO she waited. and grew
old and plain. and set in her ways, rs
women will who live without love.
And now dozen years had gone by.
and no word had come from Trcjor
Sometimes they heard rumors through
some OF the village lads who had found
their way to wider seas. One said he
WAS mate upon a slip that traded Ia
the great ports. Another. that be was
of In some foreign navy. trying to get
shot IN wars that were no concern OF
his. Jane listened and waited II he