The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-12-05

Il 20 another, but 20 his establishment no
found himself telling IL practically.
calmly, almost cynically TO his old play
mate. depressing the half devotion and
even tenderness that had governed him,
from the time that his wife, disguised as
n mulatto woman. had secretly watched
him in his Office, TO the hour that he had
passed her through the lines. He with
held only the incident of Miss Faulk-
ner's completely and sacrifice.
"And she got away--after having
kicked you out of your place, Kia'uns?"
said Susy when he had ended.
Clarence stiffened beside her. But he
felt he had gone too far TO quarrel with
his confldante. "She went away. i
honestly believe that we shall never
meet again--or should not be telling
you this!"
"Kla'uns, she said lightly, taking his
hand again, .don't you believe i'll She
won't let you go. You're one of those
men that a woman when she once has
hooked on to won't let go of even when
she believes she no longer loves him--or
meets bigger and better men. Ireckon
it's because you're so different from
other men--mnybe-there are so many
different things about you to hook on
to--and you don't slip of as easily as
the others. Now, IL you were like old
Peyton, her first husband, or like poor
Jim, or even my Doompointer. you'd
be all right! No, my boy, all we can do
Is try to keep her from getting at you
here. i reckon she won't trust herself
in Washington again in a hurryl"
"But / cannot stay here-my career
IL in the field"
"Your career is alongside o. me,
honcy--and Boompointer. But nearer
me. Wen fix all that. heard some
thing about your being in disgrace,
but the story was that you were soft
on some secesh girl down there and
neglected your business, Kla'uns. But
Lordyl TO think IL was only your own
wife. Never mind, wen strnighten that
out. We've had worse jobs than that
on. Why, there was that commissary
who was buying up dead horses at one
end of tie field and selling them to the
government for mess beef at the other;
aIA there was that general who
wouldn't make an attack when &C
rained, and the other gcneral--you
know who / mean. Kln'uns-who
wouldn't invade the state where his sis
ter lived--but we Strengthened them out
somehow, and they were a heap worse
than you. Wen get you position in
the war department here, one of the
bureau Offices, where you keep your
rank and your uniform-you don't look
bad in IL, Kla'ms-on better pay. And
you'll come and see me-and we'll talk
over old times"
Brant felt his heart turn sick within
him. But he was at her mercy nowi
lie said with an effort: 'But I've told
you that my career-nay, my life--now
Is in the field"
"Don't you be fool, Kla'uns, and
leave IL there. You have done your
work of flghting-mighty good fight
ing, too, and everybody knows IL.
You've earned n change. Let others
take your place."
he shuddered as he remembered that
hin wife had made the same appeal.
Waa hc fool, then. and these two
women--so totally unlike in vcrything
right in this?
"Comc, Kla'uns," said Susy, relapsing
against his shoulder, 'now talk TO met
You don't say what you think of me, of
my home, my furniture-of my posi-
tion-even OF him Tell mel"
II Aud you well, prosperous, and
happy" he said, with faint smile.
"Is that all? How do / look?'
She turned her still youthful mis-
chievouR face toward him in the moon
light. The witchcry of her blue eyes
was still there as of old, the same frank