The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-07-25

| you this last hour; mother Is full sore
! " vexed abou. your absence" then
looking up. he noticed the young girl
at the window Just ns she withdrew
her blushing face.
He bowed 20 her with courtly grace
and raised his jaunty red cap. and she.
OF course could not but return the
courtesy.
Every morning after this incident
there were two nosegays on the win
dow-sill instead OF one.
In time. the old blacksmith yielded
TO the opportunities OF his wife and her
friends. and agreed 20 look around for
a husband for his daughter.
According TO the customs OF the
time his son-in-law would have 20 be
also blacksmith In order 10 make
sure that Kathia future liege lord was
e master OF his trade. the old man con-
structed an ingenious lock which he
put on the door Of his daughters
chamber.
Whoever had attempted in vain To
open the door. had 10 drive an iron
nail into certain tree but the prize
OF the successful man was TO be the
hand OF fair Kathl
But III none SHOULD succeed in I'M
locking the door. then the maiden was
90 enter convent as soon as the tree
was covered 10 mans height.
Full many a swain whose heart had
been filed with hope. left sorely dis
appointed after an unsuccessful at
tempt and the tree was rapidly being
studded with nails
Kathi was slowly pining away In her
solitary prison. partly because she
could not 60 on. into the green wood
end down by the ripping river. but
mostly, because she loved the hunch-
backs brother whom she saw some
times from her window nj day break
The poor hunchback loved her with
the ardor that hopcfulness alone can
give TO love and he worked day and
night on a key 70 open the intricate
lock; when he saw how rapidly the dry
drew near when Kathi would either
be the bride Of another or 20 into a
nunnery he worked with redoubled
vigor.
After year and day the tree had
been covered 10 mans height and thcre
was only room for one more nall.
SO the dwarf presented himself be-
fore tho blacksmith and asked for per-
mission 10 try his art The request
was granted. though reluctantly and
tho Old man wished ho had extended
the limit by two or three feet because
be saw now no alternative but that OF
having his daughter married TO a de-
formed man on losing her forever.
But he was a man OF his word aud
mover took water
The entire family went in procession
to Ka this door 70 watch tho fateful
trial. Naturally the little hunchback
ielt somewhat nervous. aud his hands
trembled partly from excitement
partly from joyful anticipation. for he
was almost, II not quito sire OF sue
cess.
He inserted the key into the lock
and twisted II slightly; sight snap
OF n spring relaxing answered him. A
second twist. and second snap. and n
third. and a fourth. and then sudden
pull. Tho dwarf took deep and long
breath and paused for moment TAI
wipe the Precipitation of his brow.
Then he turned the knob. II yielded,
and the door opened slowly. The
dwarf FASTENED into the room.
IL was empty.
Suspecting a trick. he turned around
with flashing eyes but the expression
OF genuine surprise and alarm In the
faces OF the Others convinced him that
no deceit had been practiced upon
them.
The blacksmith was the first TO re-
gain his presence OF mind. After hur-
riedly looking about him he espied the
open window; fastened 10 it was IA rope
ladder made OF bits OF bedclothes. The
old man looked out. At first he could
not discern trace OF the fugitive.
After some minutes he could distin-
guish his own spotted horse galloping
at full speed toward the distant woods.
On its back was the fair Kathi and
| the hunchbacks brother
Need II be told that the father for
gave them. only too delighted To regain
his daughter without seeing her mar
ried to the dwarf? The latter swal-
lowed his disappointment like a man.
and consoled himself with the thought
/ that Kathi remained at least In the
family.
The two young people lived like tur-
tle-doves. and delighted in telling how
''love laughs at lock-smiths. M. de
Lipman.
Lots OF HusIness.
The commerce OF New South Wales.
one OF the Australian provinces. In
/ nronor.tfon IN ffs numhars a. three times