The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-11-27


bedtime had long passed. and baby's
eyelids were fast closing. spite OF her
anxious endeayors TO keep "the sand
man" away. and still he came not. Al
last / knew the latter endeayor fruit
less. and so | sadly united the blue rib
bons and laid away the little one
in her crib. My supper was UNLISTED; |
| could not eat. A strange, terrible OPP |
preston was creeping over me. Mid
night had long struck, and still was
alone. Baby had awakened and been
hushed 10 sleep again. could not read,
I could not work, could only pace
YEARLY 10 and fro, and watch and wait.
At last, as the dawn was breaking, the
distant sound OF horses hoofs broke
the stiffness; but when, few moments
later. my husband entered the room, i
started back. SO changed was he l
scarcely could have recognized him. To-
night he uttered no word Of reproach
at finding me waiting, but threw him
self down with groan.
what is it, WHIP" questioned. Tell
me, dear. is not your trouble miner
Then he told me how the money had
ciyen him that morning had been lost
not dollar saved Mayne Perrin had
met him, tempted him as he had been
tempted 20 times before, and as before
he had yielded, playing on and on with
the gamblers vain hope OF redeeming
what he had lost. until nothing was left.
Our nest egg, baby's dover was gone
IcouId not reproach him. could only
soothe and comfort, praying with him
that the lesson might be one he never
would forget.
Spite OF our loss the next few weeks
were happier, for Will was more at
home. and seemed relieved TO have made
full confession. In March we went over
to his fathers, whose farm lay distant
| from ours some seven miles, 10 spend
the anniversary of orr wedding. We
had bright, happy dinner, baby-now
six months old-the honored guest
The next afternoon VIII rode into
town, promising &c return early, MS the
next day we were to start for home. We
waited supper a full hour, then sat
down without him. His mothers anX-
ious questionings his fathers wonder
ment as the evening wore away, drove
me almost wild, and ! was glad to say
goodnight and seek the rest and quiet
OF my room Slowly the long hours
wore away, while / wrestled on my
knees in agony for full well now knew
what this absence meant. Once more
the tempter had been at work. The
sentence ! had once uttered: 81 would
rather see myself in my grave than a
gamblers wife" rang in my ears, and
my heart grew hard and bitter.
"He has been detained" / said as
bravely as | could, when we met al
breakfast. At noon the sky grew
threatening, and a severe snowstorm
] was predicted, and when the first flakes
} were falling one by one, win burst in
upon us.
: care you ready?" was all his greeting
eve will have to hurry TO reach HON,
[ before the storm" In vain they urgeC
r him to wait. 81 am going" he an
j swered. mamie can do as she likes"
b 81 am ready, WILL" replied, and will
r baby in my arms took my place by hi
r side For an hour he was silent tn
y snow falling faster and thicker. Their
, he burst out abruptly:
"You think you are going home. ID,
YOU know that you are homeless, house
less, penniless, and your husband is
thief? Mamie, Mamie, would that
could diel"
The reins fell from his hands. In tn
3 keen, biting air and the clouds OF snow
: his head fell forward on his breast an
a sob after sob rent his frame. For me
> ment was appalled,. Then ii seemed a
a though | had known always this mus
u come, as though all my life had bee
\ looking forward 20 this moment.
! GLOW did it happen, WHIP" / que'
'l toned.
III at was my first loss" he answered
W "that Of your money, that troubled mn
ii and when Mayue met me yesterday an
asked me IL | would not win it bacl
IA something said try Tplayed all nigh
II Mamie, alone with him, and when y
h had won everything from me }
Z laughed IN NY :ace and told me TO te
; my wife that he had made good IA
word; that with him she would at lea'
have had n home"
ought not the house To be IN sight
pr I questioned, reused into action by Il
40 growing cold and darkness. the preser
m cugrossjng the future. Will started
I'M his feet and looked anxiously abou
"a then fell back with groan. Fool thi
:. ami" he muttcred. 81 have lost Il
r. road"
n Colder and darker II grew every IN
n ment. flushed baby's faint cries on n
or breast, though my heart sank with &c
IL ror. Could she survive this exposure
y at Is just as WELL" l said, bitterl
al "sincc we are homeless, that the cr
no should be here, only do not dare kill II
,g baby unless you kill me too"
rs But just then something glimmer'
he IN the darkness. II was the light fro
our own hearthstone, which ere loI
s. we had reached In safety, but when