The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1894-08-11

two young Strikers extended a hospita-
BILE invitation to their meal, even now
in process Of preparation.
Leon shot the turkey yesterday by
Lone Lake." said Tom. And it's
prime one, you bet. Rather nicer
than the salt Goldfish we had reckoned
on"
But Esther declined 20 stay.
I'm just take look at the sugar
kettles said she, land then hurry
back TO mother. We're going 20 have
the parsons folks to tea, and there's
deal 10 do"
Leonidas Striker escorted her TO the
largest kettle of all, ordinarily called
"Big Ben" and gave her the monster
stick to stir the bubbling waves of
sweetness,
There" said he, you can say
you've helped TO sugar OFF this year
Isn't il splendid yield? And maple
sugars going TO be high this season!
Oh, you'd better stay, Esther, there's a
lot of young folks coming up this
afternoon, and Darby Jones is to be
here with his fiddle"
''Oh, couldn't, possiblyr said Esther.
In truth and In fact she had not been
quite at her ease since Jessamine's un-
lucky allusion 70 Othello in conjunc-
ton with Mr. jefferson; and she did
not breathe freely again until she had
reached home, where her mother was
just clearing away the dinner dishes.
elias anyone been here?" said she.
"Who should be here?" counter
questioned Mrs. Elmford. II don't ex-
pect Elder Morris folks until four
o'clock"
AS Esther took off her things in the
little chamber upstairs, where the shin
| gled roof sloped down 10 the caves, she
glanced down at the engagement fin
ger. Terror of terrors, the sparkling
little ring was gonel
1t was past four o'clock. Mrs. Nor
ris was droning away in the sitting
room about the last missionary box
which had been sent out 10 the
Hougara Indian reservation; Miss
Adelgitha Morris was admiring her
hostess most recent crazy patchwork;
the two little Morrises were playing
checkers, and the good elder himself
was laying down tones of theological
law to Farmer Elmford; while Esther,
with tear-swollen eyes, was mixing a
batch OF biscuits for tea in the kitchen.
All of n sudden she caught sight of
John jefferson riding past on his gray
pony, with averted face. In an in
slant she caught down the shawl that
hung on the peg back of the buttery
door, and muflling IL around her head
and shoulders, darted across the snowy
backyard where she could intercept
her lover at the curve of the road.
Jack JaclSl" she cried piteously
"I've lost i'll Your ringl oh, Jack, dc
say something 20 comfort mel am SC
unhappy"
YES" said he. calmly; 81 knew yo,
had lost IL. know hon you lost IL.
know TO whom you have given it."
Essie stood dumb before the crue
emphasis of his words.
II was at the sugar camp an houl
ago" said he. "Some one told me yoi
had gone there, and was going u
bring you home. And saw your rims
, on Leonidas Strikers watch-guard
| Wasn't that rather soon TO transfe
, your last lovers gift to your old swain
: Would IL not have been better taste o
him TO display your pledge little les
; publicly"
| Jack, Jaclxr' pleaded Essic, holding
1 up her hands, as il every word were
). blow.
r 81 need detain you no longer" h
+ said, as he bowed frigidly and touches
9 the neck of his horse with his WHIP
n lash, and the next minute he was gone
r Tea was over at last, but Esther Elm
y ford did not know whether she ha
q eaten hot biscuit or cold, hasty put
r ding. She had listened, with vague
unmeaning smile, 20 Mrs. Morris pro
n longed account OF little Tommys las
. siege OF diphtheria and Miss AIDE
githa's proposed visit TO New Yorl
;. IL was almost as IL brain and nerv
were benumbed, when Jessamin
4 Strikers clear, sweet voice struc
a across the current OF her hopeless
apathy and she found herself in a col
, fidentinl corner OF the best bedroo
. upstairs, with Jessamine eagerl
haranguing her.
1.-THE strangest thing" cried Jess'
~ mine. "Iie found IL in the mapl
n. sugar kettle. Alice had made son
20 flannel cakes, and he dipped out di
G. perful OF the hot strip for MS TO e.
with IL, and Leon came within one
err swallowing the ring. Whose is II
said he. why, Essie Elmford's,
ia course, said l. Didn't | see Il
sparkle OF 10 when she took off h
n mitten 20 unfasten the lid Of the ba
VS. ket that held Uncle Peters cruller
AS And Il must have slipped of h
finger, said he, when she went TO 81
o. the sugar in the kettle So he hun
a. Il on his watch-chain for safekeepir
r. until we came home, and here IL is.
Is. Esther murmured word or two
d. thanks.