The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-02-29
CHAPTER xnL-CoNrrxurD

tt1Ak~lE AllL--LONLlNULD
Weeks passed. Elsie was still with
Mrs. Wilders. The pleasant harmony
of the pretty home had brought the
color back to her cheeks and elasticity
to her steps, but Mile was In trouble
about her young friend for all that.
The fact was she was mystihed, and us
she could not read the puzzle jumped
like woman TO wrong conclusion.
Elsie Whitford was receiving letters
letters from distance, which she read
In her chamber and never discussed
even with her bosom friend; ergo, this
young woman argued, she Is correspond
ing surreptitiously with some man,
and who could that man be but Frank
Grey? And thegood little creature was
considerably harassed by the dis
covcry.
Yet that very night Elsie spoke.
"Millie, she said, II want to tell you
n secret"
Mrs. wilders' eyes flashed suspicion
at once.
"A secret, Elsie?r she asked, coldly.
Yes, dear; and / want you 70 prom
ise that you'll never breathe 1t TO a liv-
ing soul"
'Well--er-that sounds very mystic
rious."
"Will you promise2"
mol"
what! / cannot understand you
rightly" Elsic's big eyes looked won
dcringly as though she could not have
caught the meaning Of the emphatic
monosyllable.
snow, Elsie, may ask you qucs-
tion?" Mrs. Wilders gravely asked.
"Why certainly-of course"
You were great friends with Mr..
0rey?"
"Ah, yes, indeed, but those happy
days are passed"
'You thought great deal of him9"
"How could / help it9 So good. so
generous, so self-denying. Mile, l
owe him more than words can tell. He
found me crude, ignorant girl, with
no appreciation OF the good and beauti-
full, no taste for books. no care for self
improvement, no ambition. He left
me-"
Head over heels In love with him, f"
laughed Mile. That's the worst of
handsome young men with taste for
literature"
Elsie's head dropped and a crimson
blush suffused her cheeks.
1T think l did love him." she sighed.
"Didi"
''well, then, do love him-to me he
Is king, prince. a demigod."
MY gracious goodncssl Whata piece
Of inflammable tow the child Is"
"And what is your question, Miller"
sis very simple one. Have You
heard from Mr.. Grey since he left Ore
town."
II heard from himl No, indeed, he
has long ago forgotten me. What
could such n man MS he see In girl
like me TO keep me In his memory,
lmuch less TO trouble himself 10 write
IF he were not as stupid as an owl
he would have seen one OF the sweet
est girls that mans eyes ever rested on.
So you have never heard from him9"
mot word"
'sThen, dearest Elsie, the clouds are
cleared away, and ] can keep your secret
that Is, II may share IL with Jack"
THAT Is of course. DO you think,
you stupid, that / ever fanciedyou could
keep secret from JaclS?"
''Well, now for the mystery dc
like mysteries.
ssDo YOU remember. Mile. the two
ladies who stayed n week at our house
year ago-the strangers from New
York, who owned so many shares In the
Buffalo mine?"
'oh, yes; they captivated Jack. and
he gave them n lot of mineral speci'
mems"
well, they took quite fancy tc
me, and, II mother had not made sc
strong an objection, would have taken
me back 70 New York with them then.
"Ah, and you have been correspond
ing with them--I see Il all."
II have. have asked them TO Offer
me temporary home"
Elsie Whitfordl"
What else could ! do? Misunder
stood by father and mother, prosecuted
by scoundrcl with whom they arc In
fatuntcd, what resource have left?"
This Is very serious, Elsie. Have
!, you the means 20 go--but that Is a see
ondary consideration, for, Of course
Jack"
Thanks, dear friend. but have nc
designson jacks generosity. To-day
received from Mrs. Baxter a draft fol
the expense Of the journey and n loving
renewal OF her offers"
Surely. Elsie. this great New York
lady cannot be connivinp at your lcav
ing your home surreptitiously2r
There's the trouble You sec I said
"a my lctt4c that I wna suddenly de