The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1894-03-10

a
pionaee OF the local postmaster or his
ordinary servants. he intrusted them 70
one OF Miss sally's own henchmen' TO
be posted az the next Office, NJ Bitter
Creek station, ten miles distant
Unfortunately. this duty accom-
plishcd, the reaction consequent on his
still weak physical condition threw
him back upon hinself-and his memo
ryl lie had rcsolutely refused 70 think
Of Miss Sally; he had been able TO with
stand the suggestions OF her IN the
presence OF her handmnid-supposed TO
be potent in nursing and herb-iore-
whom she had detached TO wait upon
him. and he had returned politely for
NAL Acknowledgement 10 her inquiries.
lie had determined 10 continue this
personal avoidance, as far as possible,
until he was relieved, on the ground OF
that business expcdiency which these
events had made necessary. she would
see that nc was only accepting the argu-
ments with which she had met his
previous advances. Briefly, he had re-
course 10 that hopeless logic by which
man proves 20 himself that he has no
reason for loving certain woman and
Is as incontestably convinced by the
same process that he has. And In the
midst Of IL he weakly fell asleep, and
dreamed that he and Miss Sally we're
walking In the cemetery; that hide
ous snake concealed among some
lilies. over which the young girl was
bending, had uplifted its triangular
head 20 strife. That he seized IL by the
neck. struggled with IL until he was
nearly exhausted, when IL suddenly
collapsed and shranl. leaving in his
palm the limp. crushed and dehcately-
perfumed little thread glove, which he
remembered 10 have once slipped from
her hand.
When nc awoke that perfume seemed
10 be still in the air, distinct from the
fresh but homelier scents Of the garden
which stole through the window. A
sense OF delicious GOODNESS came with
the afternoon breeze that family trillcd
the slanting Stats OF the blind with n
slumberous humming as OF bees. The
golden glory of sinking southern sun
was penciling the cheap paper on the
wall with lcafy tracery and glowing
arabcsques. BA, more than that, the
calm OF some potent influence--or some
unseen prcsence--was upon him, which
he feared movement might dispcl.
The chair at the foot OF his bed was
empty. Sophy had gone out. He did
not turn his head TO look further; his
languid eyes falling aimlcssly upon the
carpet at his bedside suddenly dilated,
for they fell also on the smallest foot
5 In the state"
| a. hto al hIii soft
hand was laid gently yet firmly upor
y his shoulder, and with faint rustic OF
muslin skirts Miss Sally rose from ar
unseen chair at the head Of his bed anc
! stood beside him
q Don't stir, connie, didn't sit where
e could look In yo'r face for feal
, OF waking yo'. But I'll change scat
r now" She moved to the chair tina
r Sophy had vacated, drew II slightly
i nearer the bed. and sat down
at was very kind of you 20 come,
G said CORTLAND, hesitatingly, as, with I
a strong effort. he drew his eyes ava.
from the fascinating vision, and re
7 gained a certain cold composurc, but
S am afraid my illness has been great,
e magnined | really am quite wei
. enough TO be mp and about my busi
Is ness, II the doctor would permit IL. Bu
c shall certainly manage TO attend I
9 my duty tomorrow, and hope to be a
Y your service"
q "BIcaning that yo' don't care 20 SO
me NOE, connie" she said. lightly. wit
a faint twinkle in her wise, sweet eyes
= thought % that. but as my bushes
y wouldn't wait. ! brought Il % You.
~ She took from the folds OF her gown
!, letter To his utter amazcmcnt II wa
=, the one he had given his oversccr
post to the commandment that morning
. To his greater Indignation the seal wa
broken.
= "Who has darcdr' he demanded, ha
o rising.
- Her little hand was thrust out ha
.. deprecatingly. mo one yo' can fight
IN connie; only me- ] don't general
is open other folks letters, and wouldn
!, have done It for myself; ] did for yo'."
"FoT me?"
''For yo'. reckoncd what yo' mfg]
do, and told Sam TO bring me the LEI
ters first. I didn't mind what yo
wrote 20 the company-for they'll TAX
~ care Of yo' and their own eggs are a
"A I'm the same basket. ! didn't open ht
~ one. But did iris when ! saw the &C
:. dress. II was as expected, and you
:, given yo'self away For II yo' haS
~ those soldiers down here, go'll have
M row, surel Don't move, connie, yc
- may not care for that--it's In your lin
20 But folks will say that the soldier
weren't sent 20 prevent rioting, b'
"A that Connie CORTLAND was using h
r.. old comrades 20 keep order on h
M property at gov'mcnt expense. Ho
Va oni Ilol' onl connie" said tho lit
figure, rising and waving It's prctI
,r. arms with mischicvous stimulation
ou terrified depreciation. Don't shoe
NJ OF course yo' didn't mean that b'
% that's about the way that so'th'n md