The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1894-10-13

| tain. always be obliged 10 be nice To
each other" said the young lady.
mockingly.
How dreadful"
However there would be an eItire-
ly new theme for tea-table gossip.
That would be at least one advantage
of the new matrimonial method. MIR.
and Mrs. So-and-So's lease will shortly
expire wonder II they intend 10 re-
new? Neither OF them has said n word
yet How are they behaving?
Evidently there were elements of
strongmindedness in Miss Mulgrove's
character. Bot she possessed beauty
and grace of behavior 20 neutralize
these. She passed rs an "odd girl"
among her female friends-none OF
them ever said worse than this. With
men she was distinctly popular. Her
personal charms no doubt partly ac-
counted for the fact; still IL was,
think, chiefly due TO her ready com
prehension of the masculine tempera-
ment. AS her own brother said-he
was naval officer and Walton's in
innate friend Marina makes fun
enough OF AS poor wretches; but at
the same time we are not such blind
puzzle TO her as To most girls. She
seems TO understand by instinct what
a mans notions are like, and to ac-
commodate herself TO them in what
she says
IL must not be supposed, however,
that Miss Mulgrove was in the habit
OF conversing with all her male ae-
quaintances with just as much free
dom as she did with Richard Walton.
Him she had known for many years
lie and the brother referred TO began
their naval career together. When on
shore, they, as lads were in the habit
OF spending part of their holidays to-
gether. And although now both of
them licutenants, and serving on diff
ferent ships, IL was an understood
thing that friendship with their re-
spcctive friends should be maintained.
On the present occasion Lieut.. Wal
toms visit had been somewhat longer
than usual; for unfortunately, he had
been invalided home from the Gold
coast.
But his months stay at the parson-
age Marina's father was rector of
small parish in remote part Of Essex,
near the Laidon hills-hs months
holiday was just coming 10 an end.
In another three days he would have
TO report himself to the admiralty.
And yet am afraid he had only re-
covered from one malady TO become
the victim of another. Gold coast
fever had been succeeded by the fever
OF love. Readers who are skilled in
the diagnosis Of the complaint VIII al
ready have discovered in his talk
about love and marriage indications
OF his true state, a state Of mild de-
lirium, when the tongue is charged
with bitterness for that and for those
commonly held most dear.
Another confrnatory symptom, as
It seems to me, was that the young
man still chung to the theme which his
companion had SO oddly started; for
after another interval of silence he re-
marked, rather soberly:
81 cannot help thinking after all the
lifelong arrangement is the best one.
The true difficulty lies in finding a
satisfactory method Of courtship.n
| "Can you suggest any rules and regu-
lations?" inquired Marina, still in
that calm and slightly sarcastic tone
which gave no clew TO her real senti.
ments
mo, sailors are provcrbially unslSill-
full in navigating the ocean OF love"
Very prettily said, Mr.. Walton.
You certainly must be the ships poet
when at sea.
The young officer blushed. lie had
occasionally ventured into verse, and
was wondering whether that wretched
4 brother OF hers had ever played the
false friend by revealing the fact
Possibly Miss Mulgroye observed his
confusion, and sought to make atone
ment for causing il by being merciful
to his ignorance about courtship, FOR
she said, with gracious smile:
II will tell you what seems 20 me
absolutely the best method OF making
love, on one condition.
"What Is the condition?n
"Why that both of us-as soon MS /
have enlightened you keep absolute
ly silent until Tommy's boat is fin-
ishcd. You promised 10 have il ready
for him by eleven, and it is now a
quarter past ten"
agreed Your condition Is harsh
but practical, said Walton, applying
himself with fresh energy TO his task
of rigging mainmast for the said ves-
sci
"Well, ] got my ideal Of love making
through Mrs Simpson.
"Who is Mrs. -"
',Hushl you are not to speak. re-
member. Mrs. Simpson is the Frocer's
wife down in the village; she used To
be our nurse years ago before dear
mamma died, aud she and ! have al
ways been great friends. One day in
a frolicsome mood / inquired II Mr..
Simpsop was very, very nervous when
he asked her 10 marry him-he Is a
dreadfully tiInid man, may say. She
laughed and said:
81 don't think he ever did ask me
TO marry him, Miss Marina. ~ isn't
our way. lie used 20 tease me and /