The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1903-01-10

present circumstances.
II am quite at your service" she
answered. Little Michael Is in bed
and asleep. and have nothing to do"
"It Is about him l wish To speak"
he said. As he sat down. 'He is al
most well again now"
''He is very delicate still," she said,
quickly. ~He needs great deal OF
care he could not stand much"
Could he mean that they wanted her
no longer? she asked herself with a
thrill of fear.
AS you say, he needs great deal
OF care he answered, slowly ''He
also needs more comfort and diff
ferent surroundings TO what | can
give him. i have wondered--I have
Wondered" he repeated. If you
would like to take him with you when
you gc?"
Like to take him?" she echoed,
her face lighting up with joy. Need
you ask me?"
mo, perhaps not. have thought
that you seemed attached TO him."
"Attached?" she repeated again
with a laugh. ~ love him with all
my heart. couldn't bear to be part
ed from him now. But don't you
mind?" looking at him with inward
resentment at his Indifference.
won't you Ice very lonely without
him?"
'Is will be best for. the child to be
with you for a time at least, | think,
as you are willing to have him. AS
you say, he is not strong enough to
stand any shock, and he would miss
you. i suppose your engagements
will necessitate your returning to
town soon?"
"Yes, ought to have gone before"
flushing ct his evident anxiety TO get
rid of her. "We will go as soon as
the doctor says he can travel" Then
as he was leaving the room, II
should like to thank you very much
for trusting me-for letting me have
him."
"There is no need. i have been
thinking il over and il seems best
for the boy" he answered, as he
closed the door.
"0f course there would be no
thought of me in it," she said to her
self, bitterly. 81 wonder why he
hates me so much now? Once upon
time" the rose color in her checks
growing deeper, 81 am sure he cared
for me more than n little in his curl
Gus restrained way"
1t was still early when she went
upstairs TO bed, but she was tired Of
her own company. As she III the
candles the boy opened his eyes-he
slept in little bed in her room now
and called TO her.
I'm not bit sleepy. Come and
talk to me, mother" he said. She
sat down in the low chair and laid
her head on his pillow as he liked 20
have her.
"I'ye got something to tell you,
sweetheart" she said, tucking one Of
his hands under her cheek. "What
do you think has happened? You are
TO come with me to mothers home.
How will you like that?"
go away with you and see all the
beautiful things you have told me
about? Do you really mean it.,
mother? How lovelyl" springing up
in bed with shining eyes. "And is
father coming, too?"
Father does not want 60 come,
darling" The childish face grew
grave.
ut will be dull for father all alone
here" he said, seriously. "You ask
him TO come, mother; he'll come for
you"
"Not for me, for me perhaps least
OF ALL" she murmured, forgetting
that she was talking to child; but
little Michael was wiser chan his
years.
go, now, mother" he said, coax
ingly. Try. Wait, I'll tell you a Sc
cret; IL can't be wrong to tell you.
Father keeps picture of you locked
up; saw him looking at il one night,
and-and," in an awed whisper, 'he
kissed it before he put it away. Peo-
pie must love n person very much to
kiss their picture, mustn't they,
MOTHER" Kisses had been rare lux
uries in his life.
kissed my picture? Are you sure,
little Michael?" The child nodded,
watching her intently. Denise
thought of how she was going to
make the desolate home more DESC
late, and the tears rushed to her
eyes.
I'll try my sonny-I'll try for your
sake" she cried, and she went from
the room. Her heart was beating
fast with fear and excitement as she
hurried down the stairs before her
courage failed her. What If he
should be angry; what IL he should
repulse her? She shiyered at the
thought.
She softly opened the library door,
where he was in the habit of sitting
at night. A lamp was burning dimly
on the table i'm the center OF the
room, and it's light fell on the bowed