The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1902-05-31

"sNi!l ye no come back again?
VIII ye no come back againY
Better loed ye Gamma be.
VIII ye no come back againT
"a strange terror seized us. Instinc-
lively the men closed up in front of the
body and stood ia silence. Nearer and
nearer came the clear. sweet voice.
ringing like silver bell up the steep:
sweet the lav'rock's note and lang.
Litin wildly up the glen.
But ny tae me he sings ae sang.
VIII We no come back againY
Before the verse was finished Old
Ricketts, had dropped on his knees,
sobbing out brokenly. 90 God. o God,
have pity, have pity, have pity! and
every man took OF his hat And still
the voice came nearer, singing so
brightly the refrain:
WIN ye no come back again?
at became unbearable. Old Ricketts,
sprang suddenly to his feet and, grip
ping me by the arm, said piteously:
"Oh. go TO her. For heavens sake.
go to herr
Il next remember standing In her
path and seeing her holding out her
hands full Of red lilies. crying out:
"'Are they not lovely. Lewis is so
fond of themp
with the promise OF much finer ones
| turned her down path toward the
river, talking | know not what folly
till her great eyes grew grave, then
anxious, and my tongue stammered
and became silent Then, laying her
hand upon my arm. she said, with gen
lie sweetness:
TELL me your trouble, Mr.. Craig
and knew my agony had come, and /
burst OUT
"Oh, If II were only mine"
"She turned quite white. and. with
her deep eyes-you've noticed her eyes
drawing the truth OUT u mine, she
said:
lis it mine. Mr. Craig, and my ba.
by'sT
81 waited. thinking with what words
to begin. She put one hand to her
heart and with the other caught little
poplar tree that shivered under her
grasp and said, with white lips, but
even more gently:
"'Tell me-.
~ wondered at my voice being so
steady as | said:
".AIrs. Mavor, God will help you and
your baby There has been an acct
dent, and IL rs all over
"She was a miners wife, and there
was no need for more. | could see the
pattern Of the sunlight falling through
the trees upon the grass. could hear
the nmrmur of the river and the cry OF
the catbird In the bushes. but we seem
ed TO be In strange and unreal world.
Suddenly she stretched out her hands
to me and with little moan said:
"'Take me TO him.
sit down for n moment or two I
entreated.
"'No. no; am quite ready. See she
added quietly; i am quite strong
Il set of by a short cut lending to
her home, hoping the men would be
there ahead OF us; but, passing me, size
walked swiftly through the trees. and
followed In fear rs we came near
the main path ! heard the sound Of
feet and tried TO stop her. but she,
too. had beard and knew
"'Oh, let me gor she said piteously.
You need not fear
"And had hot the heart 20 stop her
In little opening among the pines We
met the bearers When the men saw
her. they laid their burden gently down
upon the carpet Of yellow pine needles,
and then, for they had the hearts of
true men IN them. they went away into
the bushes and left her alone with the
dead She went swiftly TO his side
making no cry: but kneeling beside
him. she stroked his face and hands
and touched his curls with her fingers
murmuring all the time soft words Of
love.
"'Oh. my darling. my bonny bonny
darling. speak 10 me! VIII you not
speak to me just one little word? oh
my love, my love. my hearts love
listen, my darling'
"And she put her lips 10 his ear
whispering. and then the awful still.
ness. Suddenly she lifted her head
and scanned his face, and then. glanc
ing round with a wild surprise in hei
eyes. she cried.
"He will not speak to mel oh. he
will not speak 10 me!
81 signed 10 the men, and ms they
came forward I went to her and took
her hands.
"'Oh. she said. with a wall I'm her
voice. he VIII not speak TO mer
"The men were sobbing aloud. She
looked at them with wide open eyes
OF wonder.
"'Why are they weeping7 Will h'
never speak 10 me again? Tell me,
she insisted gently.
"The words were running through
my head.
There's land that Is fairer than day.
and said them over 10 her. holdini
her hands firmly I'm mine. She gazet
at me as II I'm a dream, and the ligh
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