The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-10-03
COMMONPLACE TRAGEDY.

Ten years ago to-day since lost my
bonnie boy And am married wo-
man now and my tiny son Is kicking
and Growing there while / write; but
as ] think OF that day across the
misty years that intervene, there IS n
feeling in my heart like the first faint
odor OF some forgotten spring in my
youth.
II all happened one gracious sum
mer-time, in the Azores Islands when
was happy. light-hearted girl. with
white soul just beginning to feel the
wonder and beauty and promise OF
ma.denhood. and pure lips innocent 81
any lovers kiss. had just passeG my
seventeenth birthday and had left
school whom my mother decided 60
take me 10 the Azores as a quiet trip
before the year OF European travel
which was to precede my coming
out" IL was at the close Of one hot
july day that our ship sailed, and /
saw my standing in the sunset
when first saw him. standing In the
sunset when lost him. just young,
handsome, light-hearted fellow. with
broad shoulders and merry brown eyes
Drumming over with laughter and the
glorious JOY OF living just boy with
all his mans assumption OF knowledge
of the world--but when looked upon
him there came into my heart a strange
little pain that has never left 4, since
and my whole life went out 10 him,
and loved him.
Two months we were together
through the bright breezy mornings
and the long. sleepy afternoons and
the soft tropic evenings. We walked
and talked aud read together on the
ship; we rode and drove and explored
the queer little Azorean towns and the
beautiful hills and valleys together,
and he grew 10 love me-my bonny
boyl Even now, when | close my
eyes. can see him swinging along the
narrow streets of those quaint villages
with his easy. careless stride-hands
thrust into the pockets OF his white
tennis flannels. blue and white striped
cap pushed back on his sunny hair--a
perfect picture OF happy unthinking
youth and strength.
And | lost him in this way. A
party Of us went 10 visit the Capellos
Clihs In san Miguel several days be-
fore / was 10 leave on the English
steamer. My dear boy and / had
wandered apart from the others into n
deep cleft of rock which sloped jag
gedly up and down. black and frown-
ing and cruel-looking. A fresh breeze
was crisping the waves that we could
hear gurgling among the caves below
us; the sun was burning his way in
splendors OF purple and red and gold
through the western sky. and the calm
water near the horizon was all shot
through with it's fiery reflection. The
infinite beauty OF IL all stole over our
hearts and we were standing In 81
lence. when suddenly my dear boy
turned TO me. all the laughter gone out
oi his bonnie brown eyes and placing
his hands on my shoulders and looking
deeply at me, said: II love youl"
DEAREST | whispered low, and my
arms were nb0ut his neck and our lips
touched for one long. happy minute.
Only n mlnute-for | looked up and
saw swiftly rolling toward us large
lava stone. started from the brow Of
The cliff by some mischicvous tourist.
NV boy pushed me into safer place
and was preparing to follow when =
INV blood chills even now with the
horror of that sight-he slipped. lost
his balance and fell. down. down.
down. with helpless arms ouistretched.
on 20 the cruel rocks below. How /
managed 10 never know. but In few
minutes had climbed down. and had
wadcd through the shallow water 10
where he lay all gushcd and bleeding.
with the tiny pitilcss waves tapping at
his feet and the awful peace OF death
upon his face. took him In my arms.
with his clotted hair against my check.
and his poor blood-stained hands hang
ing lifeless over my shoulder, and stag
gored and struggled up the slope and
gently laid him down among the coarse
sea grasses Our party gathered
around us too In awcd silence. but |
knclt there unhecdiag over my dead
boy. and In the awful anguish OF that
hour my heart frozo up and all tho
licht and glory and freshness OF my
H'c ont ant md I rose up. a woman.