The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1901-05-11


pose we may talk about me, may we
not?"
II know that you are q friend OF
DR.. Brodnar, and what he has told me.
You are stranger in Richmond and
a gentleman. But would have known
that you are gentleman anyway"
THANK you, Miss Frances; that was
nicely said"
| "Frances!v
"Miss Frances!" he insisted.
~ am sorry" said the girl, after q
moments silence, "but IL you wish, let
il remain that way"
"But l am curious 10 know how IL
was that you so quickly decided in
my favor the question of gentility."
"My mother told me, when was lit
tie, that any man in whose presence
girl or child feels at ease is gentle
man at heart, and somehow trusted in
you from the moment you spoke. But
DIR. Brodnar told me"
"Well?"
"Told me such beautiful things
stories Of your life; / seemed to feel,
sir, that had known you always"
"And what has Brodnar been saying
OF mel can blush unseen"
'He told me you were brave"
Most men are. And at times all
animals"
THAT you loved flowers, birds, horses,
children and old people"
"Objects that can't get away from
me. Go on"
THAT you are generous to fault"
Especially my own--or his"
"And that no woman on Gods green
earth, those were his words, ever APP
pealed to you for help in vain. He told
me once he saw you get out of your car
riage in Paris in your evening suit,
pick up drunken old woman who had
fallen, and carry her TO house of ref
you said the noblest, the most sacred
image on earth 10 a man should be a
woman's form, the form like unto that
OF his mother-too sacred for the
laughter and jeers of city's idlers-"
Endorse the sentiment, whosesoever
II is. But what sad gossip Brodnar
isl"
"But you did do this, didn't your"
would it please you to think that
/ did,"
"WouId I'll Why, sir, il was that that
made me trust you'll"
"Trust me? You were cryingl"
se-because-this is a most
strange position for you to find me in,
Mr.. Somers. / thought that / wouldn't
care; and / did not, until you came.
But did then. And that is why cried.
Somehow, felt that in spite of all at
stake, it ought not TO have happened
this way"
81 understand. But in my estimation,
my child, you have sacrificed nothing"
you did not think so-but-but-"
He took up the thought.
"But you are grieved because you
are saying: Now here is a gentleman
who, l have suddenly discovered,
wish to respect me for myself. and as
refined, modest girl; and what must
he think OF one who is willing to be
locked up here in room with him all
night THE girl caught her breath
and half rose from her chair" and for
what2 / cannot even tell him. am
bound not 10 tell him. / must sit by
and see him sacrifice himself to friend
shipi'"
"Oh, 6.f, do you think" She bent
forward suddenly and. hiding her face
in her hands, rested them upon his
knees. He placed his own hand lightly
upon her head and wondered II it were
treason TO have discovered that her
hair was a mass of curls and clustering
ringlets.
THAT is only what you were saying
10 yourself, not what / am thinking.
When called you child absolved you
from all the crimes of womanhood.
There are many actions that flow nat
urally from childish hearts which carry
not the slightest flavor Of immodesty;
and yet woman may not copy them.
So in this, my young friend"
"Ah, you do not say my child nowl"
mo, you have passed into woman
hood with the consciousness of this
error. I say error, because it Is a sit
uation that you should not have been
placed in-no, not TO save human life
not even TO save your own; for the
unsecured whiteness OF woman's soul
is the priceless pearl Of eternity, and
not to be staked on earth. But the
thought behind II all was not your own.
You yielded under the pressure OF
fear and advice. Your objections were
overcome, and you obeyed an elder per-
son in whom you had implicit conf
dence. That is all, and | understand"
"Then they did not tell you about
mel" she whispered, breathlessly.
"No; you have told me all that know
OF you, here in the dark. You are ten
der, modest, true and pure; and were
you my wife in truth, would not be
ashamed to tell this story to the world
myself and own you as such after"
The words fell from his lips so tender
ly, 30 kindly. she took his hand in both
Of hers, and laid her face upon II, cry
ing silently.
The blame of IL all Is on our friend.
the DOCTOR" he continued, deeply
touched, and his voice little unsteady.