The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-02-14
A STRANGE MARRIAGE.

John Collins was out OF work. In
common with many others. for reasons
not necessary 10 enter upon, he had
been idle for some time. He was al
most out OF moncy--50 cents IL not
much But he was not out OF hope.
lie was so determind to put his shoulder
10 the wheel that he could not believe
that there would not soon be a wheel
10 shoulder.
Now. on this Saturday afternoon.
with everything at a standstill. he knew
that there would be no use in standing
before closed doors or OF lettering In
empty yards; so he made up his mind
TO have holiday. and all that sweet.
sunny afternoon to pretend 10 him.
self that he had nothing to worry
about.
There was music 10 the park; there
were seats to sit upon.
A man could eat cents worth OF soda
crackers rs well there as elsewhere. In
fact, they made quite neat lunch.
On Sunday he would buy paper.
aud get every item in the columns
headed. Help Wanted-M Males by
heart. but this afternoon his pro-
grammc was the park.
Accordingly. he went home, climbed
10 the top floor OF tenement-house,
where he had hired hall-bedroom of
washerwoman. who did not need all
the rooms at her end OF the fiat, aud
dressed himself ia his Sunday suit.
( The suit was not fine one at best,
and IL was by no means new, but John
was handsome man. and there is a
good deal In that.
He BACKED his boots, turned his
cuffs. thanked fortune he still had a
clean collar. and sat of parkward-he
was just in time for the music.
The sky was blue. the grass was
green, the park was just as much his
rs it was anybody's, aud after the
crowd had dispersed and the musicians
descended from their pavilion, he be-
thought him to walk about awhile. and
took his way toward the reservoir.
There was not soul there. aud he
began TO saunter about the brink. eat
ING his crackers, when his attention
was attracted to the singular conduct
of young girl. who was creeping
along toward toward the reservoir.
looking over her shoulder, as though
she expected TO be followed.
Now and then she lifted to her eyes
n handkerchief that she had crushed up
in one hand. and IL was evident that
she was crying.
What can she be doingP" John
asked himself. In minute more 1t
flashed upon him that she intended TO
drown herself.
He was about TO spring forward to
seize her, when he reflected that until
he was sure that she was actually n
would-be suicide II would hardly do
TO lay hands upon her. and so, con-
coaling himself as best he could, be
waited.
Aud now he observed the girl more
closely She was young, she was
small. aud her features were pretty.
She had that peculiar attenuated look
that comes TO most women with worry
and poverty. but her clothes were not
ragged. aud she had very respecta-
BILE air. She wore one kid glove. he
noticed. At first she stood behind q
stone parapet that guards the edge Of
the reservoir. crying aud looking over.
Then she folded her hands. and put
her face upon them. and John fancied
that she prayed. After this. by dint OF
scrambling she perched upon the
stones and sat there. John drew
nearer.
Az last she arose TO her feet. and
John was there below her. though she
did not dream OF Il.
"Good-by. YOU dear. pretty world. "
he hoard her say. II wonder whore
am going TO. aud she made prcpara-
tons to jump into the water.
Instead OF accomplishing this, she
was lifted landward by two big hands.
snd rs she touched ground she began to
sob
oh. why couldn't you let meP" she
said. Aud now you'll put me Ia