The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1894-03-17
CHAPTER IL

CHAPTER IL
Cullen and his wife had too much
love for each other 10 be made very
unhappy 10y such discrimination. lie,
tall, ruddy, robust, open-faced, was
much handsomer than his brother,
who, though OF good size and figure,
was OF palish complexion and habitual-
ly wore n cheerless, suspecting face.
The wlnsome girlishness OF Hannah
continued after her marriage. She
had taken Cullen mainly because lie
had won her affections Yet She was
very sensible OF the advantage of con
nection with a moneyed family, and
her heart, though not too eagerly, had
been set upon living In town. II cut
her painfully when she was made
aware OF Niley's hostility and the in
fuence cxerted by 1t upon his father,
and, without conilding IL entirely TO
Cullen, she resolved TO conciliate them,
IL such thing could be done. Not
artful by nature, she had will and per-
severance, and a moderate degree OF
reticence. Cullen's feeling was to act
deiinntly; but she persuaded him TO
accept without complaint the proffered
farm. Tie mansion, n rather pretty
story-and-a-half, newly painted, oven
TO the chimneys, in white, was situ-
ntcd on an cminence in grove Of rcd
oaks. The land, though containing
the most rolling portions OF tho big
tract from which IL had been set off,
was productive. and, with the work OF
half dozen not very likely negroes
thrown I'm with IL, Cullen, now indus
trious and reasonably thrifty, made
good crops, while Hannah, brought up
In economical habits, contributed her
full share TO their decent, comfortable
living.
Wiley, In this as in others OF his
plans moved with the discretion that
he had been studying all his life. He
commenced visiting on a scale not too
limited To cause very much talk among
the neighbors. lie seldom came out
10 the plantation beyond, which had
been turned over 20 him by his father,
without calling on the return and hay
ing brief chat with Cullen and Han
nah, or with Hannah alone, when Gull
len might be In one Of his fields; and
the visitor would not hear 10 the pro-
posal To blow tho horn for him. On
such occasions Hannah more than
made mp for Cullcn's coolness by her
own cordinlity. Whenever the father
came there, she set nice dinner, had
his chair pnt exactly where and how
he wanted It, and, when the meal was
over, got out again her sewing, piled
Il with dextcI.ty, and talked about
domestic business with a heartiness
that led him gradually 10 think that
after all, Cullen, la spite OF Wiley's
talk. had done better. good deal bet
ter, than he had been fearing. Ono
afternoon on Cullen's return from
work earlier than usual, Hannah had
just put Oft some of her incest things
with which she had adorned herself
ard was resuming her usual working
guise.
"IIi, TIannahl" he asked. surprised,
what have you been SO fixed up for2
Trying TO see how the new ribbons be-
come you2 As II everything didn't
look becoming when put on youl"
brother has just gone, Cullen" she
answered. "a saw him as he turned IN
from tho road, and ] thought Id show
him that appreciated his visit. ] was
about 10 have the horn blown for you,
but he said not, as he had just called
by for few minutes TO see II oil was
we'll"
~ wouldn't have done that, certain, /"
he said, with no pctulancs, but In the
straightforward manner which he al
ways prncticcd.
Cullen she replied, a trine flushed,
u know what I'm doing. ] won't say,
although have rather lot yop think
otherwise that have not been deeply
panied by your fathers and your
brothers treatment Of you since our
marriage. and ! want 20 show them
that wish, as your wife, 10 pay oil
the respect owe them. My object Is
~ reconcile them 10 me, II ID can be