The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-06-26
VII.

THE LOGIC OF PRoPINQuITY.
When Philip was established in the
| Duncan household he wrote to his
mother. IL was long letter, filled with
testing raillery at the conditions of his
exile, but containing no hint OF what
he believed TO be the beginning of the
end in the matter of his malady. In
closing he spoke of the Duncans:
'"rhey are both characters, In a way, and
/ they would interest you II you could know
| them. Duncan is a typical Scot. upon whom
20 years OF exile have left no American
izing mark. His speech is still OF the
broadcast, and his cautious habit has written
itself in capital letters all over his homely
/ face. Mrs. Duncan is a person In whose
| cheerful smile the blue devils quail ard
| beg for another herd OF swine. Could APP
| preciative eulogy go further? Seriously.
| though, they have made me very COM
| Portable and snug In a painfully neat little
| box OF a room under the caves; their table
| is homelike and wholesome: and Mrs. Dun
| cans hospitality is warm-hearted and COR
| dial without being obtrusive. For the rest.
I have half a county OF wild mountain range
ut my back upon which 10 spend the leisure
/ that overflows the greater number OF my
waking hours, and you may tell DIR. Perevin
that mean to take his outdoor prescrip-
4 ton I'm heroic doses.
SHOW this letter TO Helen. II you please.
and tell her I'll write her before long. oh.
yes: and watch the expression on god
| father Morrissons face when you tell him
| that he can have n few choice suburban lots
| I'm Allacoochee nj $500 front foot--at least
that was the price yesterday, though Il Is
probably more now.
81 suppose / ought 10 write more, but
| shRnt: the spirit moves me TO go and climb
| a mountain. Take good care OF yourself.
/ and write often, addressing me care OF
Mr.. Robert Protheroe. Allacoochee.
PHILIP"
In writing this letter Philip had not
intended to omit the mention of Elsie's
name and standing in the Duncan house
hold, but since the thing was done hes
/ did not correct il.
"It's just as WE'LL" he told himself.
"If say anything at oil, I'll have TO tell
how sweet and loyable she seems to be,
and that might make the mother UNI
easy. I'll wait till I've discovered her
faults"
That was the beginning of weak
ness. When he wrote again, it occurred
TO him that his former silence might be
misconstrued IL he mentioned her now;
nay, more, before he had been week
at the farmhouse he began TO see that
| II he spoke of Elsie in his letters IL must
be in terms OF praise. In his most self
reliant moods he had always been more
or less dependent upon a sympathetic
atmosphere; and under the circum-
stances which made him an inmate Of
the Duncan home, this dependence be-
came morbid craving. And of pity and
sympathy Mrs. Duncan and Elsie gave
him unstintingly, out Of the overlooking
kindness OF good hearts.
For a few days after his removal from
town, Philip spent much time on the
mountain. Then there came a week of
rainy weather, and by the time the
skies cleared he found it singularly easy
TO stay in the house. During the indoor
week he had stumbled upon an occupa-
tion which was both pleasant and dam
gerous. This was The fact, though he
recognized only the pleasure and shut
his eyes TO the danger. Elsie's lessons
had stopped at the end of her fathers
requirements, and she was ambitious
and ager TO 60 on. Thorndyke found
this out, and turned pedagogue with the
idea that he would repay kindness with
kindness. The lessons, begun during
the week of rainy weather, were con-
tinued without interruption, until one
day, when Philip was more languid than
usual, Elsie's conscience awolSe with
start.
"Mr. Thorndyke, you're doing
wrongl" she said, looking up in self
reproachful dismay. you haven't
h.a,, an tba ,,n,,ntatr fo.. tx,y,N x~oalrc 80
"It's much pleasanter here" Philip
replied.
"But that isn't IL. Didn't your doctor
say you must stay out of doors?-and
here I've been keeping you in the house
when every hour of sunshine Is pre-
cious."
Don't blame yourself; stay in be-
cause like IL better. It's WEAKNESS
10 the flesh TO go tramping about
alone"
Elsie put her book away and took up
her sewing. "I'm not going to encour-
age you 10 stay in, anyway" she said,
with n pretty affectation OF infiexibil-
ity; "and you ought to be ashamed 10
call my mountain tiresome. used TO
almost envy your long walks"
"Why do you call IL your mountain2"
because it's been my playmate ever
since / can remember. When I was n
little girl / used TO sit on that big rock
behind the garden and read dear old
Sir Walter till 1 imagined could hear
tho galloping of the dragons In the
lower valley, and the slSirling Of the
pipes up by the Pocket. And I've never
quite lost the hope that some day shall
meet bonnie chieftain with his tail
Of clansmen picking his way down
over the stones in tho gulch."
"And you the daughter Of Low
lander. I'm Shocked Why, the very
first thing vich Ian vohr would do
would be TO harry your fathers farml
But IL you know the mountain so well.
what's TO prevent your showing me how
20 become interested In a.? WHY can't