The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1900-03-17
CHAPTER Vu.-CoSrrSurp.

Miss Brsddon was not little sur
prised, herself, and not especially well
satisfied. 1t had been a rather dcsper-
ate leap with her eyes shut. The gal
lantry, intelligence and tincture of the
west about the man pleased her. The
rest was a sacrifice for her father.
To Braddon it was thoroughly disa-
greeable surprise. He could read men
too well to be deceived, though he tried
hard to convince himself that IL was
only prejudice.
"It's all an old mans Jealousy" he
frequently said to himself. IF Esther
loves him, what right have to stand in
her way with any of my whims?"
lie knew better than TO hint at this
distrust TO Esther, and silently sacri-
feed his own wishes TO hers.
All three would have been doubly
surprised had the reality of each heart
been readable.
In the secret OF his closet Braddon be-
rated himself mercilessly that the right
man had not been introduced.
Its all my fault, yes, all of it," he
muttered; for he and John Olmstead
had instantly renewed their boyhood
friendship. They were like school
chums again for awhile, and only they
two knew why it was that after Robert
returned from college Braddon never
entered Olmstead's house again till he
came TO the funeral.
"I couldn't stand il, Jack. I'd make
a fool of myself IL met him. He's the
very picture of his mother" Braddon
said, and 0lmstead understood. The
result was that Stanton knew Thaddeus
Braddon only as everyone else knew
the brilliant, white-haired financier, as
"Braddon of Braddon &c Burridge," and
had never spoken to him.
The old man knew the young lawyer
through and through, however. He
had sacrificed n lifetime TO his love
for the boys mother, and the boy was
as like her as two drops of water from
The same spring. His interest in him
was something phenomenal, and when
Stanton began his rapid strides to-
wards fame there was no mortal half so
proud of him as Braddon of Braddon d
Burridgc.
When alone with Esther he sometimes
dropped a word about John Olmstead's
nephew, and for long she knew him by
no other name. He did ii with studied
carelessness, but in woman's eyes there
Is microscopic lens for mental aud
sentimental work passing all under
standing.
Before Braddon considered that his
daughter had heard of the young man
often enough even 10 have his existence
impressed upon her, she had come TO
the conclusion that behind John Ohm
steads nephew lay the secret why her
father had never married.
Once Esther thought TO please her
father by suggesting that he bring the
young lawyer home TO dinner, but 1t
was received with such unexpected OPP
position that il was never repeated.
Frequently and intensely Braddon
regretted that opposition. IL was q
fool. She took me by surprise" he
would say TO himself He said IL most
vigorously after Richard Raymond
came into prominence. He ever. tried
to bring il about that Esther should
repeat the suggestion. She was never
before so slow of comprehension, but,
hint as he would, she never repeated IL.
On the evening of the 5th of Decem-
Der, 1892, Braddon was late and hurry
ing home TO dinner. One of the trustees
of the Olmstead estate, in passing him,
briefly reported that the nephew had
forfeited his rights and that another
heir had filed his claim. 1t was merely
an item of news that might interest the
banker, as n good portion OF John Ohm
stcad's millions was held by Braddon &
Burridge
The two parted az once, and each
went his way, but the bankers checks
were flushed and his eyes flashed under
his white brows. His blood boiled in
spite of the years that should have
cooled IL.
"It's a regular 0lmsiead trick" he
muttered. "Ile's fool. No, he's not.
Confound him, respect him for II. /
believe his mother thought insultcd
her by throwing a fortune in her face
and asking her 10 change her mind.
She said SO by marrying poor farmer.
II I'd stayed poor believe she would
have had me; but never saw II in that
- = 4. II -.