The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1902-12-13
Svvv%vvvvvvvvvvvSvvv%vvvvy


the utdu Oh tie nay VI II uHuNs Oht
hundred and sixty years ago il was
an Experimentation of the dcbatablc
ground between the French and Eng
1ish powers in North America. To-
day it is famed for its harvests of
rich grass, for the wild fowl that
flock in with the high tides OF spring
and autumn, and for the storms
which rake IL from end TO end. One
used 10 hear also by times the tale OF
the House the Uplands, though the
place has fallen to ruins now. 1t was
my fortune to witness the denoue-
ment OF that strange story.
was riding my wheel along the
road skirtng the wide marsh which
stretched away on the left until it
merged in a line of rolling hills.
For some distance past | had been
vaguely conscious of a house that
seemed to dominate the highway just
at this point. When ! reached the top
! OF the rise my indolent consciousness
became sNspnger, and j glanced
quickly at Me house. II was big,
square building, painted dead white,
and standing ON a knoll back from the
road. Several huge elms were scat
tered about. A garden lay in front,
bright with flowers, and through this
short path led to the door. This
much l took in M a glance; second
served TO produce another impress
sion-there was something unpleas-
ant about the place.
---,As / drew abreast of the garden a
figure rose from among the tall flow
.ers and hailed me. | dismounted and
approached the gate, where an old
man was standing. He spoke in n
singulary gentle voice.
sir" said he, "have you passed
anyone lately, coming in this direc-
tion? A tall man, it would have been,
on horseback"
"No,' / answered, "the road seemed
deserted this afternoon"
The old man looked at me wistful-
ly, signing as if much disappointed.
"Whom are you eXpecting?" | ven
tured-a little touched, l must adj
init, by his aspect
Its my brother" he replied. my
brother James. I've been looking for
him these many years, but this sum
mer | know he's coming back, and
wen go off to England togcther-to
England homeland again he shot
that wistful glance at my face.
"To England" exclaimed. That's
n far cry from Tantrcmar. But am
hot and thirsty. Can you give me a
drink of water2 Then, if you will,
you can tell me about your brother.
am going to the village, and perhaps
may see him there"
The old mans face lighted up
eagerly. lie opened the gate, which
sagged heavily back on crealting
hinges.
81 take this right kind of you, sill"
he said. "Comc up TO my house and
accept my hospitality"
The old man turned TO me when we
reached the house.
IL am afraid" said he, that James
horse may shy at that machine of
yours IL he comes up To the house
and passes II. hope you won't mind
putting IL to one side"
Certainly not" ! replied. "Tll
put IL here around the corner"
Within the house the rooms were
large, and as we entered one of them
from the wide hallway smell of
musty age came TO my nostrils. My
host threw open some heavy shutters
and the sunlight poured i'm, revealing
an old-fashioned paTlor with furni-
ture in the fashion OF n generation
massive, dark and rich. All
was on far grnnder scale than that
of the farmhouses round about.
, / sat down, but no sooner had the
old man left the room than ! started
up again, with the peculiar sensation
that some one was watching me. 4
glanced hastily around. The light
flooded every corner, and no hiding
place was visible. unless IL should he
behind the heavy window curtains.
Half ashamed Of myself, ! went over
and pulled them aside. Then / turned
back. and instantly my attention was
seized by portrait which hung above
che mantlepiccc. 1t was the mourn
Ful face Of n man, with eyes that fol
lowed ones every movement. This
explained any uneasiness II had un-
consciously caught their gaze fixed
upon me.
At this moment, However, my host
retwned with the water. AZ ! drank
NE pointed 60 the picture, saying:
"'That Is my brother, before he left.
"A many years ago, sirl a many years
ngol But III Tel, you about him."
ITS 40 years since came out from
England. And I'm not an old man
yet. though my gray hairs make me
look so. for I've had much trouble In
the past. But it's near over now, and
when James comes Wen pack up the
things and go home again.
"Jnmcs and i came out together;
we were always together together
at school. Ind we should have gone
10 the university together. but that