The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-07-03


| Ind something TO live for"
II presume most people have; and In
my own case the uncharitable might soy
something about sour grapes. That
wouldn't be true, though; IL wasn't
until / knew couldn't live that cared
much about il. And there is every rea-
son TO suppose that, with the fear OF
| death removed, life would go back again
10 the same old dreary round and be
more undesirable than ever"
She rose and fastened the bunch of
rhododendrons in her belt. do you
really mean to say that you have no rea-
son for wanting TO liveP Would nobody
be sorry II you died?"
| Thorndylxe killed his opportunity
with one blow. "Yes, there may be
some who would be sorry; perhaps you
would care little. But that is entirely
a different matter; I'm not good enough
to want 10 live TO obiige my friends. nor
bad enough TO want to die to spite them.
Let's go and find the Pocket you were
telling me about"
IT is an open question as to how liter
ally the most sincere person can afford
10 be taken in a conversation which
bears upon his own personality. Doubt
less Philip meant TO say what was in
him at the time; nevertheless, repent
ance came afterward, and with il more
Igood intentions. While Philip the SELF
estimated was as little like Philip the
real as might be, yet there was unde-
niably an accusing conscience which
the self-known Philip sought to muzzlc
with the fiction that the afternoon was
still young. Unfortunately, however,
Opportunities for the saying OF reluctant
things do not grow upon every bush,
even upon a sequestered mountain top,
and Philips conscience was still unap-
peased when, an hour beyond the rhodo-
dendron, they came out upon the rim
of crater-like valley cutting deep
cash in the mountain. 1t was clliptical
in shape, with wooded sides slanting
down from the base of the cliff line TO
small cornfeld in the center; but there
was no sign of a house, nor of any road
leading down from the level of the
plateau. A clear stream gushing from
beneath fiat bowlder at the foot of the
southern slope splashed riotously
through the length of the valley, TO van-
ish again into the mouth of low
browed cave at the base of the northern
cliff.
"The happy valley of Rasselas, with
the inhabitants left out" said Thorn
dyke. "Is this the Pocket?"
"Yes; the Devils Pocket, the noun
taineers call it,
"Why 'devil's'?" asked Philip.
s'I'm sure don't know; father says
it's because some people like TO name
things after their patron saint"
That's quaint idea but the name
fits rather better in this case than IL
usually does. There is always some
thing suggestive of the weird and W.
canny In valley that has no visible out
. let. How docs the man who hoes that
corn ever get down TO itP"
"Oh, there are several ways TO get
down, though not very many people
know them"
II suppose you know some OF them;
can't we explore it?"
81 think we'd better not try; it's get
! ting late. and"
"Who was that?" Interpretations
dyke, pointing toward great bowlder
standing like n sentinel over the corn
! field.
II didn't see anybody" replied Elsie,
looking troubled.
"But I'm sure did; while you were
r speaking caught a glimpse of n man
standing in the shadow of that rock
e Just beyond the stream. He looked like
another Rip Van Wrinkle" Philip
q stopped and sent his memory back over
the last few days in search of something
Y 81 know now" he went on; 81 was sure
4 I'd seen him before. He was in the gar
! den with your father one morning when
c l came downstairs, and he ran away
$ when he saw me. Who is hep"
Q "Ican't tell you; it's his secret and my
? fathers. 1 shouldn't have brought you
here when / might have known you'd
ask questions. win you forgive me and
. promise you won't say anything about
what you've seen2"
"That is very feminine-to ask for
giveness and exact a promise all in one
breath; but I'll overlook IL this time
and promise TO be as dumb as an oyster
!. Only / wish you would tell me nbou
= him; you've aroused my curiosity unit
/ shan't be able to sleep tonight"
Elsie shook her head doubtfully. :"
mustn't tell anybody; / should nevei
forgive myself II any harm came 70 hin
: through me-"
> "But don't understand. hope yo'
don't think that I'd hurt any friend o
: yours. On the contrary, I'd be glad u
y help him, IL he needs help"
"Oh, he does; no needs friends 81
much! He's q poor. lonely old man
= and he's afraid OF everybody; can
even make him understand that Mr.
Protheroe wouldn't hurt him."
Whoever first pointed the sarcasm
a which has resulted in turning proverl
!, upon feminine curiosity knew no
= whereof he spalxo. AS compared will
1. ffrkf or, x.tAtoh Il