The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1900-07-07

rounded in his ears--the dead mans
stark face and glazing orbs seemed
photographed on his brain.
i've killed mani" he tried to
enunciate the words, but his tongue
seemed TO have swollen in his mouth
Suddenly that happened which at that
moment he would have died TO obyi-
ate. He saw the yellow pony-cart
from Carnleigh, and its sole occupant
was Evelyn Hasbrooke. lie stopped
In the middle of the road and stood
staring at her as one paralyzed. See
ing him, she started, her fine features
become suffused with soft pink
glow; she smiled and bowed, then, as
che remarked the fierce stare of his
eyes, and the white helplessness Of his
face, she caught her breath.
"What has happened?" her eyes fall
ing on his revolver.
With his disengaged hand he lifted
his hat.
IL think you had better not go
that way" he said, haltingly.
"But wny?" her glance shifted from
his revolver to his rigid face.
He hcsitated, and then ii occurred
to him that he might as well tell her
all. 1t might be better for her TO hear
1t from his own lips than to get dis
tcrted report from others.
II have had trouble with sgd Hart"
lie wondered ut the strange calmness
that had suddenly come over him In
her presence. 1T took place just
there, round the bend; you'd better
turn your pony the other way"
Her face was MS full of agony as her
shrill voice when she said:
"You don't mean that you have-?"
He nodded. "They are removing the
body now. Please be calm; don't be
afraid OF me! had TO do IL; he would
have killed me. Perhaps ID would have
been better il he had. l have always
thought I'd rather die than kill man,
even in defense of my own life, but in
the heat of the fight did not look at
1t that way. All wanted was to hit
him--to hit him in the heart before he
could kill me-"
Every muscle in her body seemed to
lend an ear to what he was saying.
The reins fell from her inert fingers.
"Oh Ronald" (she had never called
the name aloud before, and it,thrilled
him to the center of his benumbed
being), "for Gods sake. tell me II Is
not true-there must be some mis-
take"
"Ncnc whatever" was his reply, as
his desperate eyes Toasted on her
sweet, lovc-filled face. Evelyn, dar-
ling" a gentle glow showed in his
face like the flame of his inward, spir-
itual fire, "there was never the slight
est hope for our love, but had there
been, this would have killed IL. tYou
nave uUcn vnry uoPcIcss urcos-- A.
me. / have been unworthy of even
your faith in me; this is the end;
my struggles were great enough be-
fore, my burden is now too heavy to
bear. Without CLEAN Of hope / can
not novel haven't that"
She gazed at him steadily, her glance
continually softening.
II shall be true to you always" she
said. II love you more than l do my
life. This will make me suffer as
much as you. Remember that. shall
not have one moments peace. Already
feel. like an old woman. Where are
you going, Ronald?"
He told her calmly enough.
az guess that is best-if anything
can be best" she said, bitterly. II
know where the sheriff lives. Get in
the cart with me; ! shall drive there;
it is only mile"
"That will never do" he drew back;
"your father"
She shrugged shoulder, and took
up the reins in pair of suddenly firm
hands.
"As IL could think Of my father
when you are in such distress. Ishould
be ashamed of myself II / lost one min
ute with you between now and"
But" he broke in, 81 have never felt
that / had the right to-even your
friendship-~it would be unheard Of, IL
would-ohl you see il would be unman-
ly of me, Mt such time, particularly,
TO allow n young girl TO compromise"
1T would be unmanly of you TO re-
fuse to let me see you as long as pos
sible, when your calamity is killing me.
oh, do comel"
Her melting eyes seemed to draw him
outside of himself. AS he took his seat
beside her n sweet sense of her sym
pathy took possession Of him and
him through and through. A
feeling of elation bounded
and thumped in his breast ms the little
bay pony started back along the road
at brisk trot. She was first TO speak.
"Why have you never told me before
that you loved me2"
BECAUSE" he made answer, 81 have
hardly felt that had the right 10 tell |
myself so. have been lighting II ever
since first saw you that day in the
"You are different from me, Ronald"
He read vast truth in her deep, despair
ing eyes. 81 have never for one instant
fought my love for you. have gloried
In rs growth. I'D rather 90 TO prison |