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

prison. suppose. TOT pe'nS 700 "n"'PP'
to live"
"rm not policeman" said John.
ooh. thank goodness said the girl.
you'll let me 20. then?"
Not yet" said John. You see.
although I'm not policeman. I'm q
man. and that makes il my duty TO
take care OF women folk whcn they
need IL. You seem to-"
You mean TO be very kind" said
the girl; ''but yon arc not suppose
YOU have no idea what II Is to be all
alone Ia big city. without money and
without work."
Oh said John. ''but have. /
haven't had any work for three weeks.
and that Is my cash In hand"
And he exhibited his half-dollar.
oh" she said. with an air Of great
or confidence. well. yes. you do
know something about it, only you are
not a woman"
mo" said John. ''Of course that
makes II worse for you. But tell me
what drove you TO that cowardly act.
1T was very brave act. said the
girl.
Not bit of it, said John. "It's
brave to live and light as long as you
can--that's my idea
II can't; I've nothing to fight with.
said the girl. ''0h. II you knew"
Tell me- said John.
my father died. said the girl. my
stepmother hated me. She married
again. and her second turned me out
OF the house. Pa had left her all his
money; l had nothing. came to New
York and got sewing TO do. One day
the woman that employed me asked
me IL I'd make her wall-pocket for
her papers. The kind mean is made
out OF old steels from offenders. You
knit worsted over them. you know"
John did not know, but he looked as
wise rs possible.
II was to make it as q favor not
for pay" the girl went on" 'and at
home. evenings. liked doing IL; but
the steels were too long l had TO break
most OF them. and IL gave me felon
on my thumb. can't use il yet to
sew with, and can't do anything but
sew. That woman knew how / got IL.
but she never offered to help me at
all. She dismissed me and took an
other girl in my place. Then couldn't
pay my board and they turned me out.
j went to hospital The doctor said
that my finger wasn't bad enough to
allow them 10 admit me; he said IL
would DO all right In month. Well,
have not even anywhere TO sleep to-
night. I shall have TO starve or beg
! will not beg Now you see that you
had better 60 away and let me finish
what began"
That can't be done, said John.
Every one who knew John called
him queer. If acting differently from
other people under given circumstances
is being queer he certainly was.
As he looked down upon this little
pale pretty, aud assuredly innocent
girl, and knew that il he went away
aud left her she would assuredly jump
into the water, his heart softened to-
ward her as women's do 10 crying
babies. What dear little thing she
was, he thought. What shame that
fate should have used her so. Ii
seemed his duty TO take care of her.
'Oh, hang IL. I'll get job on Mon
day" he said; and everybody tells
me that II is as easy, for two to live as
one. I'll do It,"
Then he turned to the girl and said:
circumstances alter cases. It's
queer kind of courtship. but like you.
/ guess you could like me II you tried.
viii you marry mep I'll get work on
Monday, I'm sure. I've got half
dollar. Come to the minister with
me, and be married, aud I'll take care
OF you after this"
What the girl said was:
"Oh. myi Why. / never heard OF
such thing. What would people
sayp"
people will not know-it's our own
business. think you'll make good
wife, returned John. You need
taking care OF the worst way. Think
about IL.
He left her alone aud walked up aud
down. She looked ut him--and John
was handsome. He looked at her. and
thought again that she was the sweet
est little thing he had ever seen. He
smiled. too. He went back and sat
down beside her.
Guess wen go the ministerp" he
said.
"well. you don't know the least
thing about me-" she said; land can't
see how you can like me enough"
IL don't either" he admitted. But
/ do like You better than | ever liked
any othcf girl"
II feel that way to YOU" she said.
Aud then they walked to the house
OF an old minister. who was willing to
take his fee in thanks aud give them
his blessing into the bargain.
And John and Annie were husband
and wife.
On Monday John Collins went forth
10 search for work. rather more
anxiously than before. and i am sorry
10 say he found none.
He remained away all day aud re-
turned home in very low spirits.
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