The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1901-10-26

any Of her old friends. not the friends
Of her childhood. such as that young
sailor man. nor the girls OF the place."
II care not for them SO that | may
comfort her poor mother with that
promise. AS for myself. who am
that should lntrude upon her? Let
me die happy in the knowledge that
she Is happy"
''She will be as happy as the day Is
long. captain"
Il doubt II not AS for Jack Pente-
crosse. an old playfellow, he is like me.
lie loves her as II she was his sister,
but he desires nothing but the knowl-
edge OF the girls happiness"
II accept your assurance. captain,
that he viii not endeavor to seek her
or TO visit her"
"He will not. My lord"-the captain
became very serious-"I can promise
you well conditioned. ylrtuous. mod
est. obedient and dutiful wife She will
ask for nothing but continuance OF
your lordship's affection and consider
alton. I'm return for which she will be
your willing servant as well as your
WIFE"
again. captain. doubt 1t not. else |
should not be here"
And when the day comes-when you
pass the word my lord-the bells shall
ring, and the music shall play. and all
the town shall make holiday. and we
will have such feast and merrymak-
ing that all the country round shall
ring with It. My lord, am so happy
"But. captain. have not yet received
the consent OF the lady"
"Be assured that you will have II.
But the girl Is shy and hesltates. being.
10 say the truth. dazzled by the rank to
which she Is to be raised A young
maids modesty viii perhaps hinder
such freedom OF speech as you would
naturally desire"
II hope. sir. that | am able 10 appre-
ciate and value the virtue Of modesty.
All ask OF the young lady Is her con
sent"
"Of that you may be assured before
hand"
Then. captain, as this Is an occasion
OF some awkwardness and one which IL
Is well TO get through as quickly as
possible"-did one ever hear Of such a
lover well. 10 get through as quickly
as possible bis f,st interview with
his mistress-"you Will perhaps bring
Miss Molly 10 me or take me 10 her"
Molly meanwhile was in her bedroom
IN strange agitation, her color COM
Ing and going-now pale, now blushing
for the first time In her life trembling
aud inclined TO swoon Even for girl
who loves a man II Is an event of the
greatest Importance and one never TO
be forgotten when she consents to
make him happy. But when she is In
grlevous doubt, torn 10y the conscious
ness that size does not love the man,
that she Is afraid OF him, that she does
not desire the change Of rank which he
offers and that she would far rather
remain among her own people-ln such
case. say, her trouble is great In
deed However, TO do honor TO the oc-
casion, she, like the captain, had as
sumed her Sunday attire. Her frock,
to be sure, was not SO fine as that In
which she graced the assembly, but II
was passable. To my mind she looked
more beautiful than In that splendid
dress.
AT her guardians summons she slow
ly descended the stairs. The kitchen
door was open She looked In as she
passed. Her mother, instead OF being
busy over her housewifery, was sitting
In her chair, her hands clasped, her
eyes closed, her lips moving. She was
Ipraylng for her daughter. Molly step
ped hi and kissed her. Mother" she
said, pray that it may turn out well.
must accept him. Yet | doubt. oh,
pray for mc1'
Because" her mother murmured in
reply, "the captain cannot help, and
Jack cannot help, and there is none
other that helpeth us but only thou, .
Godv'
Then Molly turned the handle OF the
parlor door and entered.
Miss Mollyr Her gallant lover,
splendid with his star and his fine
clothes, took her hand, bowed low and
kissed her fingers
"You would speak with me, my lord"
yesterday | sent a message to your
guardian. | told him by my messen-
ger that | was entirely overcome by
the beauty and the charms and the
virtues of his fair ward, and / offered,
unworthy as l am, my hand and all
that goes with Tiny rank and title,
my possessions and myself"
THE captain told me Of the message"
II have today received an answer
from him. But, although he is your
guardian, would not presume 20 con-
slider that answer as final must have
your answer as well"
"My lord, am but humble and a
homely person"
"Nay, but lovely as Venus herself"
81 know not, since all the company
have come to Lynn. how homely and
humble am I'm the eyes OF gentlefoik."
You will no longer be either homely
or humble when you are n countess"
IL fear that your friends among the