The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-09-03
Breaking the News.
HDo YOU think he'll take it very
~ badly, Nora?"


ders-
my dear Betty, you ought to know
more about Mr. Markham's powers OF
endurance than l."
"But what do you think he'll do?
What do you suppose"
"Why waste our time in suppositionp
He'll be here most likely this after
noon, and you will be able 10 judge for
yourself"
Betty Oakhurst sprang TO her feet.
"'red is coming here this afternoon?
Why on earth didn't you tell me be-
fore?" And she fdgeted neryously
with her hat before the glass as she
spoke.
But you knew Betty, whore are
YOU going?"
Anywhere out OF this" cried the
girl, laughing nervously as she stopped
10 kiss her friend,
Nora. however, caught her arm.
Nonsense Betty You'd much better
tell him straight out now and get it
over. II will be ever so much more
awkward for you II the news reaches
him from outside"
II don't see that at all, returned Bet
ty, quietly, as she drew away from her
companion. II am sure that tiff
you"
She paused tentatively,
You don't mean 10 say that you ex-
pect me TO tell Ted Markham that
you've Tilted hm?"
81 certainly don't expect you to put
IL in that way" replied Miss Oakhurst,
with little laugh; but | am quite
certain that you would explain it to
the poor fellow much better than any
one else"
"Explain!" exclaimed Nora, impa-
tiently. 81 don't know that there's
anything TO explain, except that you've
lous position"
Moral"
II wish I'd never had any thing TO do
with IL. 1 never felt so uncomfortable
in my life as | have done since you
dragged me into this precious scheme
of yours"
Poor old Moral" murmured Betty,
alphabetically while she east furtiye
glances AZ the clock.
"You came here and shed any mum.
Der of tears; declared that you adored
Ted Markham; that your father
wouldn't hear Of an engagement, but
that IL you only had little time be.
fore you, you were sure everything
would come right"
80 ii has" remarked BETTY, soto
voce "It's only a question Of point OF
view"
Nora flashed an indignant look at
her.
IL think you might be serious now,
and at least pretend that you're
ashamed of yourself. You begged me
10 help you TO get my aunt TO ask him
here. TO act as screen in fact, so that
your people might imagine IL was all
over and that you had both changed
Your minds, and now-now--
The sound OF a bell broke In upon
Miss Helmslcy's cloquence, and Betty
caught up her gloves.
''rm awfully sorry, Nora. Abuse me
as much as you like. Good-byl'
And before Nora couldistop her she
had darted through the door and was
on her way downstairs. She let her go.
After all, il was never any use TO argue
with Betty; she was one OF those de-
lightfully irresponsible creatures who
always manage 10 shift the blame of
their shortcomings on to other peo-
pies shoulders, and whom no onc-no
man, Mt any rate--ever dreams OF
Judging by ordinary standards. Nora
wondered, as she stood there idly look
ing into the street, how she could ever
have been foolish enough 10 take Bet
tvs love troubles seriously.
Meantime that same folly OF hers
was going 10 bear some very unpalat-
able fruit. In less than ten minutes
Young Markham would be there. lie
had arranged 10 call for Miss Helmsley
and her aunt, Lady Hewitt, TO escort
them to an afternoon concert. The
elder lady had declared at luncheon
that the weather was far too depress-
ing for it not 20 be madness to risk
the probability OF a further fall in
ones moral barometer by couple OF
hours of orchestral music, and that
Nora must give him some tea and her
excuses.
Nora was conscious that this was
neat pretext for giving the young man
the chance OF n tete-a-tete with her"
self Lady Hewitt was too indolent.
naturally. not TO be heartily weary OF
her duties as chaperon TO her niece. An
attractive hciress was n responsibility
Y little TO her taste, and the girl felt
that. ineligible MS most mothers and
responsible people would have termed