The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-07-24
Ebenezer nodded, and


.I'm not prepared To pay tonight
continued William. '',rhis whole at
fair was gotten up on the spur Of the
moment. hadn't expected to do it,
never dreamed of such a thing. I'll drop
in and settle with you tomorrow.
"Ali right" said EDenezer, with ms
good-natured grin. All the people In
the room were smiling. William after
ward said to his wife, in describing the
incident: 81 don't know when I've seen
n lot of people so kind OF happy ana
pleasant lookin'."
Thus the time slipped away In sociai
intercourse and conviviality. Mean
time, out at the farm on the edge OF the
village, Melissa was waiting in growing
ANXIETY and suspense. The clock was
not more punctual and reliable than
William. For 10 years he had gone TO
the Corner every week to do the little
household trading. He started COM
monty at half-past seven, snd could be
seen coming down the road on his way
home as the clock struck eight.
). But tonight eight o'clock went by,
the quarter hour, and still no William.
Melissa stood by the window, gazing
anxiously down the road. AT last she
made up her mind to set her yeast, and
then. IL he did not come, TO walk down
TO the village and see what had become
OF him.
; 1t was just n quarter OF nine when the
gate clicked sharply, and quick, un-
familiar tread sounded on the walk.
, The next moment the door opened and
: William burst in. His manner and APP
pearance startled Melissa even more
? than his absence had done.
For the land sake, William, what's
. happened?'
T William stood on the door-mat, facing
4 his wife. His eyes shone. lie tried in
vain to repress his happy excitement.
At last, with an almost boyish whoop,
Melissa" he said, II want you should
. get me out five-dollar BILL"
\ ''Well, declared" said Melissa.
I She took her hands out of the Hour,
) dried them, and sat down weakly in n
d chair.
G 1.-THE truth is" William continued.
d I've been on n spree, Melissa. A kind
OF debauch, so TO say. I've been treat
l. in the boys down to Hull's. Who2 Let's
d see. There was the Fislte boys and
VIII Connell and Joe, some friends OF
: theirs from the city, and | don't know
who beside half the town was there.
/ give 'em an evenin' they won't forget
in a hurry. And now" he added, pre-
a tending TO draw n long face, I've got 10
d square up, ! s'pose. Never mind; II
is amt often you get a chance to give as
a much pleasure as that. I'd "a done
IS it If I'd had TO mortgage the farm
That's what / said to myself when
n saw them all standn' round so pleasant
E and cheerful and happy. III do IT.,
is SAYS If have to mortgage the farm.
Ic Melissa, with a dazed look on her face
4. took down the old pocketbook and
If counted out five dollars in silence. Viii
liam transferred the sum TO his own
is wallet, and went on describing his adj
ia venture with loquacity that bordcreC
on enthusiasm. Melissa regarded hin
Il, from time to time with anxious side
id long glances; she had gone back to hei
mixing. At last she said, in worried
tone: Don't you think, William, you't
better take a little layender|"
"No," said William, but I'll tell you
what i will do. I'll 60 down and square
up with Ebenezer right now. don
want that debt should stand.
"Land!" remarked Melissa; "its clos
on to ten o'clock"
~ don't care" said William. 81 CUES
he won't be shut up. I'D rather not lie
n the account stand over"
n He took his hat and went out. TIL
truth was, he found Melissa's mood dc
= pressing. When man has made i'm
/, portant sacrifices in the interest of hi
u fellow beings, when he has re
yersed all the habits and in
In stincts of lifetime for the sake o
|lIl giving pleasure to others, and when il
lP believes that his native town is ringin
with the praise of his generous conduc'
IL is hard that his wife should offer hir
lavender.
Nj He reached Hull's just as the prcpr
etor was shutting up shop for tn
his night. lie was greeted with langui
Up hospitality.
"You, Wilhamg' said Ebenczc
e." Lord! you didn't come back to pay fo
that soda water, did you? Why, that
Der no consequence"
ay Eyes, L thought would" William al
ed, swered, little crestfallen. II though
It's / wouldn't let IL go over" He drew OF
his wallet and began to unstrap il SLOW
ly. "IIow much will it beP" said he.
re- "Well," Dbenezer pondered, yqwninl
cir ''let's see. There was the two Fishc
he and Joe and VIII Connell, and the cit
n Teller, and Stu Wilson, and Billy Scot
lly Seven in all. Thatll be 80 cents,
on guess"
William gazed for a moment. opei
at mouthed, bewildered. Then without
be- word he laid down one OF the five bill
err he had brought, received the change an
AT left the store. Once out i'm the stree
he took Oft his hat, mopped his FAT