The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1901-06-22


here" he said TO William. When.
few minutes later. Mrs. Broolxin came
iato the room he failed 10 hear her.
What is IL. Raymond" she asked,
he reused himself and spoke rapidly.
Frances got her wounded soldier a
pass through our lines, and 70 please
her ! carried him TO the front. After
he left me i found these papers in the
buggy where he had dropped them.
The fellows captain Is Richard
Somers."
Richard Somersl"
And now. madam. read the note
from Frances 20 him and let me con-
gratulete you upon"
She read IL rapidly. and when her
amazed face was lifted he added:
"Your son-in-law."
"I do not underestimate What does
IL mean?"
Answer that question for me. moth
err; my head has ceased 20 be of any
assistance. Undoubtedly, however, the
woman who you lead me 10 believe gave
you her promise 10 marry me some day
is already in point of law Richard
Somers wife and has forfeited her
right to any part Of her fathers es-
tate. Madam, fortune favors the bold;
/ congratulate you!" His manner be-
trayed an intense excitement and Bit
terness.
wait, waitl" said the woman, quiz
city her eyes riveted upon the letter.
1T seems that he was her husband
that night Was not that night prior
10 the signing Of the WHIP"
Eyes the night before" The son,
looking upon his mothers face. could
find no evidence Of satisfaction there,
It was CHASTITY Why, what is it
now?"
a stronger will and a clearer head
than we imagined has been al war with
us. do not know the law, but they
were trying 10 defeat the will in adj
vance. II does defeat il in some way
or our enemies would not have taken
the risk. If Frances were really mar
ried before the will was signed, she
cannot comply with its requirements
and the law will not demand an impos-
sibility."
"Welln He bent forward. his voice
reduced TO whisper.
"We have lost, you and l. Except
for my pittance. we shall be beggars
upon the day that Frances comes OF
age; and that day Is near at hand"
A long silence followed, and then the
eyes Of mother and son met.
DO you not share alike if the viii
fails?"
mo. The intention Of my husband
will be operative; only the condition
fails. There is no hope that way" His
mother looked from him and spoke
slowly.
as there no remedy2" he asked.
ayes. If Richard Somers is not iv-
ing when Frances comes OF age, or
should Frances"
Mother mother, take care!" The
words burst in sudden energy from the
wretched man. Lift hand 20 harm
but one hair Of her head, and. by the
Mother of Cod"
"Hushl Hushl" she said, quietly
"You love her; that is enough. She is
safe"
Swear it."
"Read the other letter." she said,
disregarding him. 1T is likely that a
man would mention his wife in his last
letter TO his mother" Raymond
stripped off the envelope and shook
two letters 10 the table. One, unsealed,
was addressed 10 Mrs. Martha Somers.
"NothiSg but gush," he said, running
his eye hurriedly over the lines. Mrs.
Brookin had picked up the other, which
was addressed 10 DR.. Brodnar.
1--WE are getting 70 the heart Of the
mystery" she said. Read this one
Raymond read in silence first, and
then, leaning forward, eXcitedly read
aloud:
$50 to the girl 7 married az your request
| and say death has dissolved the bond
Break the news TO her as gently as pos
slble, for I have been vain enough 10 be
iieve that the child loves me. You pre-
| pared the way by your Partially, and her
loneliness and excess of gratitude accom-
! pished the rest. Let me confess that
! have been foolish enough 10 love her anu
10 dream that some day you would permit
me 20 return and openly seek her out. But
this cursed war has killed my dream, Brod'
mar, and II this letter reaches you. IL will
be after IL has killed your friend alsol &C
I
| ard Somers has loved her as a man loves
| but once"
There were other lines dealing with
the friendship between the two mer
while in Paris and containing a tender
farewell.
at is now plain TO me-" he said. THE
meddlesome scoundrel Brodnar is tn,
author of the whole plotl" Mrs. Brook
in folded the letters into their places
Her hands were without tremor.
Let them keep their secret To in
form them is 20 arm them. We viii
continue TO be-their dupes. Richard
Somers may not be living when Fran.
ces reaches twenty-one; who can tell.
The man who lost those letters has,
suppose, ere this made full report"
THE man who lost the letters, moth
err, has reported elsewhere with bui
let through his heart"
raymond"
what does IL matter? We are kill
ing them In front OF our lines everS