The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1895-12-28


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BoARDrso ny JOHN wHrrroRn
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and, Notwithstanding its rude exterior,
when once you were inside, surprised
you with It's homelilse simple comfort.
On this mild September evening Mrs.
Whitford was busy preparing supper,
while her husband sat smoking his pipe
jovial and pleasant featured, with the
bloom of the Derbyshire hills still on
her cheelxs--he, silent and thoughtful.
with his honest face corrugated with
the wrinkles of care.
John" the wife said. turning from
her work, and speaking in broad native
accents, which no change of country
had ameliorated, ~ Gamma abide to see
thee SO down ith' mouth. Heart up,
now, may happen we shall get word
across the sea from Jacob, an, IL the
worst betide us, Capt. Wixon may gio
thee chance 70 work the new gang
next week."
Don't go on hoping against hope,
Bessie. Your brother-in-lawi Is n scoun-
drel--nothing but broken promises md
bad faith from hiin-and as for Wixon
why, he's IN American edition of
Jacob In rougher biuding. It's a bad
lookout, an winter just coming on"
"Well. mon, Oh told thee how II nd
be. Thou'st made n heap o. money
sim We come to this ughsoIno spot, bu.
thy daft head couldna keep IL In thy
poke. Speculation allus spccilatin'
and allus on the wrong side of the
fence TO run"
"Yes," replied John bitterly, shit n
man when he's down. That's just like
woman"
"oi didn n mean TO do so, mon," quoth
the repentant dame, brushing away the
tears with tho back of her hand. "Only
there's nowt left, now them Keweenaw
shares be worthless, but the sticks o.
house-gear, and the buds we wear"
Nothing" was the doleful reply.
"No' dodgers but the schulemeaster
an the two lads, an God lSnaws OF
Gamma keep things together wi their
havings."
Then John, ruminnting, changed the
subject by asking his wife:
"Where's Elsie2"
''In yon. wi the schulemeaster, was
the reply, as the dame pointed TO a door
on the inner side Of the room.
~ don't quite know" John said, very
slowly, as II he were propounding diff
hcult theory, ''if II Is right to let the
lass spend so much time alone with that
young man. She's getting up in years
now, and"
He stopped, for tho surprise and In
dignation depicted on his wifes coun-
tenance were enough 20 check the most
loqpacious.
John Whitford," she demanded,
furiously, has trouble added thy
brain? A chit o. child, rs has ma left
of short froclSs, an young mon as
has lived under thy roof welly n
twclvemonth. an never So much by
word OF deed as showed he wasna a
perfcc' gentleman Who put that silly
craze 4 thy soft pate2 Frank Holbrools,
I'll tel my Bible oath ont"
1T wasn't"
"Who were II then? For mono such
nonsense entered on its own account"
well, then, Il was tho captain"
what captain?"
"Wixon."
"Bahl" said the woman. "a she burst
into supcrcilious laugh. "0i thowt
thee was ne'er such gowl as TO molnd
that mischief-malxin' tylse. Here.
how'd the heft o. this griddle, an OH
sec for mysen what they be doin Of. !"
With this, she crossed the kitchen,
opened door very quietly, trnversed q
Short passage and abruptly opened a
second door at the end Of Il.
Other persons than the malicious cap
tain might have seen something indis-
Greet In the scene that met the view Of
the worthy Mrs. Whitford.
The room was small chamber with