The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1897-11-13
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
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|POOR OLD DIADAMlE. !
I BY ANGELA Moods. y
Copyright. 1871 Y
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

THE early settlers in the narrow Xii
b,Nk valley in central Ohio wels
.l,lacauainted with the hardships com
montopoueer life. 1t required not lit
tecouragc and perseverance, TO conquer
n, iore,ts and to eNtermiuate the rep
M. and wolyes; but 4 still more for
mdable Toe to these lonely people was
~ migsma that arose from the slow.
muddy creek that wound its way
through the beautiful valley If you
we're toNyalk to-day through the bury
inc GROUND on the East Hill, YOU would
rad the story upon the little white
sab. 50 tLckly set in the green grass.
Il vas q hard climate for little chill
drtu
In those days, when travelling TO q
new country was done by wagons, II
was customary for wagons to Join u
train. whether strangers or not; and
when one or Two on three dropped OUT.
no one thought il strange. or indeed
thought 70. it at all For this reason
no one knew when Diadamie came or
!. where Size lived,
The peoIh, Of the village knew her
only a. peddler Of the berries thar
grew amongst the hills. These berries
were rich and sweet, and were keenly
rt.ished where fruit was almost I'M
know n. The housewives had learned
70 expect Diadamie some time early in
July, and thereafter once, twice or
perhaps three times week.
Diadanie's approach TO the village
was atros> the creek through a covered
bridge. which brought her suddenly Ia
the foot OF the main and only street.
She carried large basket upon her
head. and rs She emerged from the
bridge her clear mellow voice rang out
upon the summer air: "Old Diadamie,
huk.kell-bcrrics. This call was re-
peated from door TO door, until the last
Of the little shining berries were dis
posed of. Then Diadamic would make
some small purchases At the village
store. always including stick or two
Of bright red and white striped candy,
after which She walked out across the
stretch Of level road and disappeared
IL the shadow of the mountain.
Why She called herself odd Diada-
ME" was mystery Her figure was
straight and slim, and she walked with
. quick, firm step which does not be-
long to age. Her eyes were blue, but
Of SO dark shade as to be easily mis-
laken for black Her hair was deep
pack, with strong tendency TO curl
mad 1t not been dashed back with bands
and pins in her effort to subdue it. Her
mouth was large and strong, and when
she laughed she showed that every
Tooth was of amazing whitencss and
perfection. Diadamie wore dress Of
indigo blue calico, with n sunbonnet
OF the same material. She was always
scrupulously clean and neat.
Diadamie's house was little more
than hut. 1t was built of logs and
aad but one room; ii was situated upon
Inc top of the mountain, hemmed in
ana sheltered by the dense forest. But
Diadamie did not live quite alone. No,
she had Tietro-Tietro, who knew her
only as Nanan. Walled in by huge
urifts of snow. the winters were drear
enough to this strange pair. When
summer CAME, and Diadamie was
oohged to spade and plant her garden,
ana later to go on long walks gather
ing berries, and afterwards to tramp to
'ne village to dispose of them, the days
were long and lonely for Tietro. 1t was
tnen in the silence of the mountain
mat little Tietro's brain was full OF
imaginings that caused him to ask
many bewildering questions of Diada-
ME upon her return.
retro sat oil day long just as Dia-
uamie had placed him in the rudely-
chair, which was high
ehough to enable him to look out of the
window. There was rest for the long,
.ain, useless limbs, and cushion for
the misshapen back. For hours Tietro
would sit listening to the wind In the
trees, and watching the patches OF sun
night upon the soft green moss. Now
and then gray squirrel would run up
ana down the trees; but no sound from
the outside would ever reach Tietro's
ears. He had never seen a living being
out Diadamie. Tietro's arms were long
and thin like his lower limbs, but they
were not so limp. He could use his
nands and arms, but he had never
walked step. Diadamie always
otessed him In a long loose GOWN. Rath-