The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1894-08-11
A LOST RING.
Tho Old Story Of Woman's Love
and Mans jealousy.


Dear Jack, l couldn't possibly love you
any more than did before, but l do
love you, oh, 50 muchi"
The little bit OF love-malxing took
place under the frost-bound apple
trees of the Back Orchard, where
Esther Elmford was standing, with
white wooden hood wrapped tightly
over her curls and clx-and-scarlet
plaid shawl EMBEDDING her. mummy
fashion. She was tall, rosy-cheelxed
girl, with a complexion born of noun
tain-breezes and eyes that shonc with
rudy health--no ideal fsylph, but
rather a rosy, wholesome, dimpled
human girl like Wordsworth's her
DINE
mot too sweet nor good
For human natures daily food"
And as she looked at the tiny, glitter
ing stone. the sparlSles under her eye
lashes were n dead match for IL.
but you must not wear II every day,
Essie, you know" said John jefferson.
"Why not?" Her countenance fell.
"You wanted our engagement kept
n secret, you know"
$50 did. Anything but the gossip
cried Esther, with moue Of distaste.
"Wcll, anyhow, / can put black
velvet ribbon through it and hang 1t
around my neckr'
"But you haven't paid me for IL yet"
"Paid you, you mercenary fellow"
"One kiss. Essiei don't often get a
chance TO claim it, you know"
She poised herself on tiptoe 10 accord
the demanded royalty, and then ran,
laughing. away toward her home.
"How generous he isl' she kept re-
peating to herself. "A real diamondV'
When she got back TO the kite hen of
the roomy old farmhouse, where Mrs.
Elmford was frying crullers in an
atmosphere of fragrant blue smoke,
that lady cast discontinued glance
at her.
Seems TO me you've been long
time getting that spotted calf into the
barnyard," said she.
was l long. mother? But he got
clear down the lane, and the orchard
gate was open," equivocated Miss
Esther.
"The Striker gals stopped here for
you. They was goin' up To the Maple
Sugar camp with a lot o. fresh baked
bread and pies for Tom and Leonidas,
and they waited for you till they was
clear out o. patience" added Mrs. Elm
ford, fishing another tin skinner full
of crisp brown beauties out of the
bubbling mass of fat and landing
them In the blue stone jar, afterwarc
TO be literally sprinkled with white
sugar.
'Oh, mother, can go?" said Esther
eagerly. "Pm sure / could overtak'
them In five minutes"
'I've no objection" said Mrs. Elm
ford. "And you might take n baslSe
of these ere crulls TO your Uncle
Peter. He's dreadful partial to frie'
cakes. and he thinks there amt nom
like them l make arter Mother Elm
ford's receipt"
Esther was right In less than tn
specified FIVE minutes she had manage
TO overtake Alice and Jessamin
Striker, with their basket OF fresh pre-
visions to the jewellers in Maple Suga
camp. on Giant Hill, where the 81
preme process of "sugaring off" wa
lust then In full blast But in the tw
minutes during which she put on he
fur-bordered hood and ficece-lined mi
tens upstairs, she had slyly slipped Tn
diamond ring on the first finger OF he
left hand.
~ shall be wearing it," she said
herself, "and no one will be any I'll
wiser"
The Striker girls welcomed her 10.
ously.
.Itr SO nice to have YOU" sa
Alice. "Jessamine declared you woul
not go, but"
"Why shouldn't I goo" said Esthe
Don't go up every year when the
are sugaring Off"
Jessamine Striker began TO giggle.
Eyes" said she, but our Leonid'
has never been there until this seaso
and Mr.. jefferson has never been
particular I'm his attentions 10 you b
fore"
Esther crimsoned to the roots of h
hair.
"what ridiculous nonsense" sa
she.
"Oh, IN Il, thought" retorted jess
mine. "When all the world knoN
that Jack jefferson Ia an jealous
Othello." :.
Esther walked on, with silent al
nity. In her secret heart she was I
winning TO regret that she had put h'
self out 10 accompany these silly CIR
Don't mind Jess, dear" said GOO
hundred Alice Striker, slipping b
hand through Esthcr's arm. "She
Riggle Mt everything her natul
Isn't this n charming morning.
heard biucbird I'm the swamp do'
bv tho river, and there's a lot OF yell'
ionquils In bloom In Anne Rebecc
window box The snow Is thawing
the sunshine, but the walking Is go
vet, and Leon says the maple TIRE
hive never given better yield
Up at the sugar camp all was
and animation. Blue threads OF smo
,youud inward 10 the sky from