The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-09-26

That's where Jim is better than you.
Now, sit still, gooseyl-even il don't
like him as much. o, know what
you're always thinlSing-you're think
I ing we're both exaggerated and the
atrical-ain't you? Don't you think
it's a heap better 10 be exaggerated
and theatrical about things that are
just sentimental and romantic than TO
be so awfully possessed and overcome
about things that are only real?
There, you needn't stare at me so. It's
true! You've had your fill Of grandeur
and propriety, and-here you are!
And" she added, with little chuclde,
as she tucked up her feet and leaned
little closer TO him, "here's met"
He did not speak, but his arm quite.
unconsciously passed around her small
waist. "You see, Clarence" she went
on, with equal Inconsistencies OF the
act, you ought never 20 have let me
go-neverl You ought 20 have kept me
here, or run away with me. And you
oughtn't 10 have tried 10 make me
proper And you oughtn't to have
driven me 20 hirt with that horrid
Spaniard, and you oughtn't to have
been so horribly cold and severe when
did And you oughtn't TO have made me
take up with Jim, who was the only one
who thought me his equal. / might
have been very silly and capricious; l
might have been very vain, but my van
ity isn't bit worse than your pride
my love of praise and applause in the
theater isn't bit more horrid than
your fears OF what people might think
of you or me. That's gospel truth, isn't
it, Clarence? Tell me! Don't look that
way and this-loolI ut me! / amt
poisonous, Clarence. Why, one OF your
cheeks is redder than the other. Clar-
ence-that's the one that's turned from
me. Come" she went on, taking the
lapels OF his coat between her hands,
and half shaking him, half drawing
him nearer her bright face. Tell me
isn't il true?"
II was thinking OF you just now when
fell asleep, Susy," he said. lie did
not know why he said it; he had not
intended TO tell her--he had only meant
to- avoid direct answer TO her qucs-
ton, yet even now he went on. And
thought OF you when / was out there
in the rose garden waiting TO come in
here"
You dido she said. drawing in her
breath. A wave OF delicate pink color
came up TO her very eyes--it seemed
10 him as quickly and rs innocently as
when she was a girl. And what did
you think, Klarus'-she half whs-
pered-"tell mel"
lie did not speak, bat answered her
blue eyes, and then her lips, as her arms
slipped quite naturally around his neck.
The dawn was breaking as Clarence
and Jim Hooker emerged together from.
the gate of the casa. Mr.. Hooker looked
sleepy. He had found. after his return
from Fair Plains, that his host had an
early engagement in Santa Inez, and he
had insisted upon rising 10 see him on.
1t was with difficulty, indeed that Clar-
ence could prevent his accompanying
him. Clarence had not revealed TO Susy
the night before the real object OF his
journey, nor did Hooker evidently sus-
peat il, yet when he had mounted his
horse, he hesitated for an instant--but
without extending his hand.
IF / should happen TO be detained"
he began with half smile.
But i'm was struggling with yawn.
"Tha's all righ'-don't mind u.s." he
said. stretching his arms. Clarence's
hesitating hand dropped 10 his side,
and with light. reckless laugh and
I.l Of. 4 a saf 81
lopcd away.
What happened Immediately there
after, during his solitary ride 10 Santa
Inez. looking back upon il in after
years, seemed but confused rccollec-
ton, more like a dream. The long
stretches OF vague distance gradually
opening clearer with the rising sun
in an unclouded sky, the meeting with
few early or belated travellers and
his unconscious avoidance of them, as
IL they might know of his object, the
black shadows of foreshortened cattle
rising before him on the plain and
arousing the same uneasy sensation Of
their being waylaying men; the won
dering recognition OF houses and land
marks he had long been familiar with,
his purposcless attempts 20 recall the
circumstances in which he had known
them all these were like dream. So.
too, were the recollections OF the
night before, the episode with Susy,
already mingled and blended with the
memory of their previous past, his fu-
tile attempts 10 look forward to tho
future, always, however. abandoned
with relief at the thought that the
next few hours might make them UNI
necessary. So, also, was the sudden
realization that Santa Incz was before
him, when he had thought he was not
yet half way there, and as he dismount-
ed before the courthouse his singular
feeling followed. however. by no fear
OF distress-that he had come so early
20 the rendezvous that he was not yet
nnff. r,r.r.,,aI -.