The diamond drill., 1902-11-01
said. Good Alght. Waldo. dear"
But whepu9he went In she sat long
alone In IN prk.
.cHAPrER ~.


start. Waldo looked up and was sur
, prised 10 see Ems yellow head peep
( ing In at his door Ii was many a
4 month since she had been there. She
! said she had made him sandwiches for
4 his Journey, and she staid awhile 10
/ help him put his goods into the saddle
bags.
"You can leave the old things lying
about" she said II will lock the room
and keep IL waiilng for you to come
back some day"
To come back some day! Would the
bird ever return 10 its cagei But be
thanked her. When she went away, he
stood on the doorstep holding the can
die till she had almost reached the
! house. But En- was that evening In
no hurry To enter and. Instead OF going
In at the back door. walked with lag
ging footsteps round the low brick
wall that ran before the house. oppo-
site the open window OF the parlor She
stopped. The little room, kept careful
ly closed In Tant' Sannie's time, was
well lighted by paratiin lamp; books
and work lay strewn about II, and II
wore a bright. habitabe aspect. Be
side the lamp AT the table In the corner
sat Lyndall. the open letters and pa
pers OF the days post lying scattered
before her. while she perused the col
umns Of a newspaper At the center
table. with his arms folded on an open
paper. which there was not light
enough 70 read. sat Gregory. He was
looking at he.'. The light from the
open window fol on Ems face under
It's white "eapje" as she looked In. but
no one glanced that way.
"Go and fetch me "A glass OF water"
Lyndall said at last.
Gregory went out to find IL. When he
put Il down at her side. she merely
moved her head IN recognition, and be
went back 10 his seat and his old occu-
patton. Then Elm moved slowly away
from the window, and through IL came
Ia spotted hard winged insects. 20 play
round the lamp. till. one by one, they
stuck 10 IT'S glass and fell 10 the foot
dead
Ten o'clock struck Then Lyndall
rose. gathered up her papers and let
ters and wished Gregory good night.
Some time after En- entered. She had
been sitting all the while on the loft
ladder and had drawn her "kapje'
down very much over her face.
Gregory was piecing together the bits
Of an envelope when she came in.
II thought you were never coming"
he said, turning round quickly and
throwing the fragments on 10 the floor.
you know have been shearing all
day, and il is 10 o'clock already"
I'm sorry. did not think you
would be going so soon she said in
low voice.
Il can't hear what you say What
makes you humble SO? Well, good
night. Em"
lie stopped down hastily to kiss her
IL want TO talk to you. Gregory.
"Well, make haste" he said pettish-
ly. Tin awfully tired. I've been
sitting here all the evening. Why
couldn't YOU come and talk beforeT
II will not keep YOU long" she an
swered very steadily now. II think
Gregory, II would be better II you and
were never 10 be married
Good heavens Elm. what do you
mean? thought you were so fond OF
me? You always professed TO be-
What on earth have you taken into
your head nowY'
II think IL would be better" she said,
folding her hands over each other, very
much as though she were praying.
Better, Eml What do you mean?
| n o..fe al all
about nothing. You must have some
reason for 1t, and I'm sure I've done
nothing 10 offend you. | wrote only to-
lay to my sister 10 tell her 10 come up
aeXt month to our wedding. and I've
cen as nffectionate and happy as pos
.ible. Come. what's the matterT
Ho put his arm half round her shoul-
,er very loosely
Il think II would be i she an
wcred slowly.
"Oh. we'll" he said, drawing himself
lup. III YOU won't enter into explana-
ions you won't, and I'm not the man
% beg and pray not to any woman.
md YOU know that If you don't want
10 marry me can't oblige you to. OF
curse"
shr stood quite still before him.
You women never do know your
Wn minds two days together. and OF
oer4e you know the state OF your
wn feelings best. but it's very strange.
Rave you really made up your mind.
-mf"
Yes"
"Well, I'm very sorry. I'm sure I've
iot been ia anything TO blame. A man
ant always be billing and cooling;
. but. as you say II your feeling for me
aa changed. it's much better you
Eouldn't marry me. There's nothing
| IS foolish as TO marry some one you
iont love. aud | only wish for your
lrgDplness. I'm sure. dare say you'll
lili some one can make you much hap
Scr than | could. The first person we