The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1895-04-20

kuuno nc "a paint H. salu rue
calmly.
Old Mrs Rice bridied. "well, II his
own mother and his fust wife couldn't
make him do it,"
His second wife will, :" Prue finished,
firmly. IL guess-this house will be
painted"
In the week that followed Prue had
chance OF seeing for herself the truth
OF Mrs. Rice's assertions in regard To
her sons character
James Rice was an unusually clever
man. aud his respect for anyone who
could get ahead" of him was UNI
bounded. Lucy's weak nature had
bowed naturally before her husbands
dominant will. He had ruled her in
the same way that ne had ruled his
mother, merely because she had meek
ly submitted, without protest, to his
| tyranny. But Prue was different. She
seemed 10 have brought away with her
some OF the spice and strength of her
own pine woods and Jim was often
surprised 10 find AT the end of an argu-
ment that he had nnconsciously yielded
20 her wishes.
In an unframed way, Prue was nat
ural musician. and the harsh, tuneless
notes OF the thirty-year-old melodeon
grated on her sensitive ear. Jim was very
fond of listening 10 her fresh young
voice, and after supper, while he
smoked his evening pipe by the open
window, he always asked for his favor
lite old-time songs.
But Prue objected TO the discordant
accompaniment which the melodeon
furnished.
Jim, you'd ought TO git me n new
pinnner," she said, persuasively, one
evening. TITS real sin TO sing 'Blae-
Eyed Mary 10 an accompaniment with
Ave keys off the notes ia the bass and
two notes In the treble that don't
sound at ALL"
Jim knocked the bowl OF his pipe
against the window-sill and watched
the ashes fall on the grass outside be-
fore he answered.:
"The melodeon's well enough, IL
you'll just remember about not strikin'
them notes. "Tain't the instrument i.
want TO hear, anyway; it's your voice.
Lucy understood how 10 make IL 70.
She used 20 play the music soft and
sing loud
I'm afraid / shan't be able to re-
member that" said Pruc, innocently,
and she began TO sing THE Minstrel
Boy"
Never before had the Minstrel Boy
departed TO the war under such provo
cation. Prue's sweet voice could
scarcely be heard above the rasping
chords and Jim moved uncasily until
the song was finished. Then she tried
esquire Jones Darter," but with no
better success. The FIVE bad notes in
the bass made themselves unpleasant
ly prominent, and the two silent treble
keys left an irritating blank on the
listeners ear. And as it was that
evening, so II was every night for the
next week, until at last Jim realized
the pleasure he was losing. and sur
prised Prue one day with the gift OF
new square piano. That night for the
first time in seven days lac smoked his
evening pipe in dreamy pleasure with
a contentcd smile on his face. while
Prue sang the quaint old songs with
the accompaniment of mclodious
chords.
Old Mrs. Rice came over the next
day 20 inspect the new instrument.
II declare 90 goodnessl" she ex-
claimed, rubbing her forefinger across
the polished surface. "You could have
knocked me down with a feather when
/ heard that James Rice had actually
been and paid out money for new pr
amer can't git over IL. How do
wish Lucy could see itl'
"Want TO hear it?" Prue suggested,
with proud little smile.
I'D like 20, fir-st-ratc, but / can't
stop now. just run In for minute
on my way TO Mis- Deacon Gibbs, and
see by the kitchen clock I'm late al
ready. I'd no idea IL was so late"
"'Tain't" said Prue, CHANGING up at
the tall timepiece. Its only half-past
ten"
''Oh, but you amt allowin' for that
clocks losin' time, Prue. Don't you
know it's allus as much as half an hour
slow? It's been that way for years.
ever since II was moved here out OF
Grandma Shields house"
"It's been fixed" said Jim's wife dry
ly.
''Of all things! How'd he ever come
TO do Il? Lucy"
Gle did it," Prue interrupted "bc-
cause he didn't like his meals half an
hour behindhand every day
"Why, but Lucy alluz figgercd for
that" the elder mhtron gasped.
"Did! Well, couldn't seem TO quite
remember" said prue. with such an
ingenious look In her brown eyes that
her mother-in-law shook her head
obviously and went away To report TO
Mrs. Deacon Gibbs these startling de-
velopments.
II can't make her out one mite" she
ended. whether she's as inherent
as kitten or as deep as jacobs well,
can't for the life OF me tell But the
way she gifts round Jim Is somethin'
wonderful. Jim-walL you know how
tight he Is with his money, and now
he's just a-payin' Il ont right and left