The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-01-29


Florence must catch up with me IL she
intended TO ride TO her home from Sid
ington.
The resolve TO stick TO my promise
was growing weaker since Sarah's com
ment upon it. A word from Florence,
knew, would cause me TO break IL, and
/ really was impatient for that word.
Soon the sound of approaching hoofs
beating the hard road reached me.
Nearer ii came and nearer. until finally
caught a glimpse, out of the corner
Of my eye, OF n swaying petticoat.
She pulled in her horse to walk,
and then turned my head and glanced
Mt her. My heart was in my throat
when looked, but the smile that greet
ed me dispclled my fears like mist be-
fore the morning sun.
But the smile was not all that told
me of her emotion at again meeting me.
The deep brown eyes were suffused
with tears. With my own heart leapipg
for joy. reineo my horse to n stand
still. In an instant / was at her side.
She extended her hand, and with my
assistance sprang lightly to the ground.
took her horses bride over my arm
and. with the disengaged hand, helped
her climb into the buggy.
''Tie the horse to the back axle, then
come here beside me-" were the first
words she said. lost no time in obey
ing.
Imagine, il you please, the over
whelming joy 10 be seated once more
beside her who held my whole heart In
her keeping.
could not trust myself to speak, and
IL was she who began.
"Are you not pleased to see me once
more, Mr.. Conway? Because IL you are
not, certainly will not tell you how
happy | am in again meeting an old
friend"
The soft, sweet tones of her voice,
which / loved so TO hear, had now
trcmblc 10 them. j glanced at her, and
well, Florence was still my true heart,
as she had been throughout, notwith-
standing my doubt and fear.
1.-THE past year has been an eternity
to me-" finally said.
"And who is to blame for that, I won
der? And. too. when was the mystery
cleared up, since you are now speaking
to me?" she said, with joyous laugh.
which told me az plainly as words
could how she had missed me.
ut is not cleared up; sometimes
think Il never will be. / could not have
found fault with you had you forgotten
me. Will you forgive me when con-
fess was fearful you had?"
"No. / do not think / can quite for
give that. What reason had you for
mistrusting me?" she earnestly asked.
"you passed me this morning. you
know. without bowling"
81 was so startled, and we had gone
by before / realized that IL was you
who were standing there. That was
n slight cause for mistrusting me. sir"
1T was and am very sorry. Indeed.
/ have been fool right through the
whole affair. l see IL now. had no
right 10 make such promise"
well, do not think you were n
fool. But, forgive me, that promise was
foolish one. and-and just trifle un-
kind" The tears again started In her
eyes. and her voice took on the tremble
which went so appcalingly 10 my heart.
"Nevcr again will / be so foolishl" l
exclaimed. 81 will see your father and
tell him have broken my promise. that
Il was impossible TO keep IL, and that IL
IN simply absurd 10 subject us 20 the
misery OF n longer separation. May I
tell him that? May speak for both of
us 2"
She hung her head. while the red
flush spread over her face. Then she
murmurcd: "Yes, speak for both Of
us. Why not, since Il is true2 Perhops
you'll End father has changed his views
! n trifle."
J mot In his opinion of my innocence.