The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1900-03-03

the estate was MADE according 10 the
death certificate, which was dated De-
cember s; but ,he physician has &C
knowledged that he was wrong. and, as
you know from those last words my
uncle did not die until after IL o'clock.
1t was upon the 9th. If am married
before midnight tonight, shall carry
out my uncle's wishes"
"But the wife, Robert?" the good
doctor said. lowering his head TO look
over the top Of his glasses. as was his
won't In moments OF emergency.
"She II waiting in the ladies' cabin.
We have been searching for you all the
evening"" Stanton replied.
"A good wife Is better than riches,
but a poor wife turns heaven into hell.
am sure your uncle would not have
the property preserved at the risk Of n
sacrifice" the doctor said, little
doubtfully.
"She is very much too good for me, in
any case," Stanton said, taking out his
watch--a legal trick which rarely fails
10 distract the attention. lnvolun-
tarily DIR. Borden looked ut his own
watch. and his thoughts turned upon
the time.
1T is 11:25, Robert" he said. "Too
close to the last moment. Too much
like n death-bed repentance. But we
| can make IL by taking a carriage direct
~ to the house. Have you the papers
ready?"
Stanton handed him the Brooklyn
permit. He glanced at it and said:
esther Thorndike, Brooklyn. It's n
good name, Stanton. Whatever there is
in a name / don't know, hut there's
something; and that is a good one. But
l don't seem TO remember it. Where
does she live?"
"She attends DR.. Atwood's church."
Stanton replied, with some hesitation.
lie was not an expert at answering
questions, especially when he had some
thing to conceal, and from the doctors
tone IL was evident that il he knew the
facts his assistance would be doubt
fui.
"Yes, but her home 2" DIR. Borden said.
There was n wild cry forward. Some
one was overheard; and it was not sur
prising that Stanton's first thought was
OF Esther 1nOrnulke.
Instantly leaving the doctor, he
pushed his way frantically through the
ladies' cabin till he found her. and,
laying trembling hand upon her shout
der, said:
THANK heaven! was afrNd that it
was you, and that had driven you 10
il. I've been blind to every interest but
my own. i want you to ask whatever 1t
is that you are 10 ask me, and will do
il, and a great deal more, IL can, and
we will let this miserable business drop
right here"
II am not troubled, SIR" she replied,
quietly. UNLESS you are afraid to
trust me, the end that you wish to ac-
compIish is worth more than any sac-
rifice which l am making, and ought
not to be abandoned
Afraid to trust her-to trust Esther
Thorndike? In his present condition
that idea struck him as so unjust TO
the woman before him that IL instantly
threw the other thought from his mind,
and he exclaimed: ''0f course ! trust
YOU"
"Then we will carry out your plan"
she said; and as the excitement forward
became intense, they turned their at
tention toward, IL, and for time Meth
er spoke.
Some poor creature had gone into
that icy water in search of the friend
ly hand of Death; but he was dragged
out again at last and carried in triumph
into the opposite cabin, to be forced
again into the miseries whence he had
tried to fly.
"a life saved. A grand omen for
those about 10 marry" DR.. Borden ex-
claimed, coming upon the two. And
this is the lady? i thought so. I've
great instinct. 1 congratulate you
heartily upon your husband. I've
known him from baby. He's OF the
salt of the earth. I've congratulated
him already, for Esther Thorndike is
grand good name. When l know you
better / shall congratulate him again.
But, Stanton, l must have word with
you"
Don't hesitate, doctor. Miss Thorn
dixie understands the predicament,"
Stanton replied, quickly, touching his
companions arm to prevent her turn
ing away; and for the instant he re-
allied u thrill of pride and satisfaction
in the thought that she was there ard
that she understood. lie felt safer than
when he was alone with DIR. Borden.
lie remembered II afterwards.
Its only about the worldly side of
this matter, Robert" the doctor said.
hurriedly. "a good wife is more than
a thousand fortunes. You will be am
ply the gamer; but I'm afraid you will
have TO let the fortune 60. You see,
we ran with the tide after the drown
ing man, and have drifted against the
New York piers, well up the river. II
will be some minutes before we get
out, for we're wedged behind long
tow. II is now only II minutes before
H."
Stanton put his hand TO his forehead