The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1900-03-31


n struggle TO dislodge them. I'm glad
il you see n change, for you knew me
at my worst, and I'm heartily ashamed
of II. Any change at all must be for
the better"
"Oh, Mr.. Stanton, what an ideal" she
exclaimed. "0f course knew you at
your worst, but, truly, that worst was
so much better than the best / ever
knew of hosts of people who think
themselves very good, that have al
ways considered you n remarkably
model man. Papa says it's all because
you're an Olmstead and couldn't be
anything else. And don't you think
we're all Of us little ashamed every
time we look back? / am. If weren't
/ shouldn't think I was making any
progress"
you're comforting to say the least"
Stanton replied, and was going on TO
press the opportunity, when Miss Brad
don interrupted:
1--WE saw by the paper that you werc
soon to leave for home. What lion
they will make of you'll"
"Of meY
Certainly"
"Why?"
Because you deserve IL, OF course"
deserve what?"
ITO be lionized."
"For what?"
"Now, Mr.. Stanton, IL / didn't know
you / should think all sorts of things;
but instead I'll begin and tell you all
about what you know just as well as the
rest of us, only you don't see il in the
same light. Didn't you make n great
hero Of yourself when your steamer was
captured by pirates in the Gulf Of
Stamp"
Indeed / did not, Miss Braddon,"
Stanton exclaimed, and his cheeks
flushed. 81 swung n rusty sword in the
face OF few Chinese towards, and they
ran without a scratch. That was hero.
ism indeed"
"Of course don't know all the par.
ticulars, but I'm sure the king of Siam
thought so, or he wouldn't have dec
grated you with an order. The New
York papers thought so, or they'd not
have printed so much about IL. The
British government thought so, or II
would not have remembered il till you
reached London, two months ago and
presented you with n medal. But how
was IL about your being almost killed
by n tiger, in India, while saving the
life OF little native girl? There was
story printed about that, too"
81 was hardly hurt at all" Stanton re.
piled, thoroughly confused. II simply
wanted the tigers skin as n memento,
and have it,"
With n merry laugh Miss Braddon
replied: GLOW fortunate for the little
girl that that was just the tiger whose
skin YOU wanted, aud that you wanted
II AT that very moment when IL was
about TO kill hcrl But what papa
thought most OF was your address be-
fore the Historical society OF London,
when you gave them an old Dabylonish
brick lie said he couldn't see how q
lawyer could possibly know so much
about antiquity"
Nainly Stanton endeavored TO take
another step toward the end he had In
view. Before the evening was past Miss
Braddon had invited him TO drive with
them TO Vesuvius the next day, and 70
sit in their box at the opera tie next
evening.
The second day was failure, like the
first, so far as the message was con-
cerned; while with every atom of man
hood in him Stanton struggled TO hold
himself back from what he knew would
be fatal plunge into that bewildering
pool.
Why should she fascinnte him till his
heart AMI brain reeled7 No woman had
so much Us attracted him before: and
now, Of all times, when II must not bel
us IL because she knows that I am
married and thinks herself safe7" he
asked himself. ~ hope she Is snfe. II
not. surely am not worthy OF Esther
Thorndike's love. / don't know. Some
times when che looks at me that way,
as though. she were ready 20 put her
arms round my neck. feel as II could
throw away everything to run to her.
II would be throwing away everything.
and I will not do H."
ITO mn cosTrruEpl