The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1903-05-23


h. lid from the expression Of her
gray eyes, the fire or the picture OF
life she saw in it was not TO her lik-
ing.
And yet, that SO very pretty wo-
man, among accessories which indi-
Gated a large command of the good
things OF this world, its pomps and
beauties, including capable French
maid, just then engaged in putting
few finishing touches TO the evening
gown she expected to wear at the
last carnival ball of the season
should look as if everything was
delusion and a snare even some glo-
rious American beauties in "A bowl on
the table-was unnatural, ridiculous
and incomprhensible, to say the least.
a smile, half-amused, half-bitter,
fitted over her face, or was il the
flicker of flames shooting upward
which gave so dreamy and pathetic
a look TO the curve Of her red lips
and tho droop OF long lids, half. shad-
ing eyes Of exceptional beauty.
Laying a flimsy, glittcring gown
with extreme care ON diyan, after
having ascertained that its laees and
shimmering satin were as they
should be, her maid drew up tabour-
cite and deftly and silently prepared
the cup that cheers
But still Beatrice pondered per-
plcxedly and disconsolately over her
problem.
The hall door down stairs opened
al nd a
voice was family heard, then n peal
OF merry girlish laughter, which
sounds must have in some distressful
way affected Beatrice's moody rev
erie, for n hot flush spread over her
face. Leaning back she took mp n
pretty Sevres cup by her side and be-
gan to sip her tea in n nonchalant
manner and the careless grace of
thoroughly trained woman of the
world.
The gay voice, which was rich and
resonant. seemed to be answering
some one as it's owner came running
mp the stairs, pausing occasionally to
hear what the deeper masculine tones
were saying in the hall below.
Evidently something OF interest,
for again o peal of laughter came,
unmufiled but distinct, through the
heavy hangings and closed doors of
the luxurious room where Beatrice
loungcd before the fire.
Again the hall door closed heavily,
and that of the room opened quickly,
and lifting the PORTER, young girl
in a dark riding habit, well held up,
which showed two small patent
leather boots and suspicion of
bucllskin trousers, paused, then came
rapidly forward
''Bea, darling, il was perfectly de
lightfull just cold enough to make
n good gallop glorious. We picked
these ferns for you, or, rather, when
/ saw them growing on the edge OF
the road going down into the pref
test rayine you ever saw, ] said how
much you loved ferns, and he jumped
down and picked them. He carried
them all the way home. We had TO
race almost to get here in time for
dinner. Give me cup, too, Marie;
I'm dying for something TO eat or
drink. How nice and comfortable
you look, Bca."
Julie Shelbourne Called Jules),
Beatrice's sister, who had always
been her pet and special care, threw
herself down on the white bearskin
rug before the fire, after tossing her
small beaver, gloves and whip on a
chair, and leaned her braids Of shin
ing golden hair against Beatrice's
knees and prepared to sip her tea
and gossip comfortably.
"You don't mean 10 say you went
- IIarby's gap2" Beatrice said, pass
id loving hand over jules braids.
"lcs, indeed II was awfully far,
ut he had SO much TO talk about
: -sSssp "a didn't mind the distance"
'hsnlANfs said laughingly, glancing up at
the beautiful face above her.
But the gray eyes remained i'm
scrutable; only the jewels on Bea-
tricc's hand scintillatcd and flashed
I'm the freight, as IL some unsteady
movement shook them
There was pause, interrupted by
the soft rustling TO and fro Of Marie,
the French maid, as she set things
in order with deft precision, while
CHANGING sharply from two snappy
and Qbservant black eyes at the two
sistcY one much older than the
other, but both possessors of rare
beauty.
With Beatrice there was the charm
and grace Of thoroughly developed
womanhood. Jules had the frank
gayety of careless, immature youth,
and much promise for the years TO
come.
GLOW old are you Jules" Beatrice
asked, when Marie, going out, closed
the door softly.
"Why. don't you know, sis? I'm
IL. OF course. Almost grown up"
Beatrice laughed n peculiar little
laugh, half gay, half sad