The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1903-05-16

absence on Saturday night. ana APP
peared at church on sunday morning
with young and very pretty bride.
Taken thus unawares. the women
friends OF the late Mrs. Milligan re-
scented the act as an outrage on the
names of their valued srieDll, es-
pecialIy as the newcomer was said 10
be younger than the youngest daugh-
ter Of her predecessor. But curiosity
soon got the better Of Indignation.
and all the friends of the deceased, in
best bib and tucker, trooped 20 call
on and criticise the new-madc wife.
IL was averrcd that IL Mr.. Milligan
had not been handsome and rich, and
candidate for political honors, his
gir-bridc would not have looked at
him, which was only TO say that she
had chosen him on his merits, and
that his future was the only part Of
his career which she concerned her
self.
As acquaintance with the new Mrs.
Milligan grew more intimate il was
decided Ia social councils that she
would do Her toilettes were sur
l
fashions. She was gay and good-na-
tured. and seemed more than willing
10 add 10 the gaity OF nations. She
proved herself good church-worker,
! too, and entered heartily into every
scheme TO promote the welfare and
pleasure 81 the community in which
she was TO play her part. She spent
i 10, II. ttAffh "A ~
hand, recalling the fact that the late
Mrs. Milligan was little near
1 Moreover She won the hearts OF the
younger women by sharing with them
all her newest fads in fashion, and
when a beyy Of young maidens from
her native town trooped over and
filled the lately opened mansion with
laughter, song and merriment, the
young men Hooked TO Mrs. Milligan's
standard in body and, as in duty
bound, their elders followed.
Mr.. Milligan was good deaf bewild-
cred by this sudden influx of youth
and iolity. lie had not counted on
resurrection of his dead youth
| when he allied his autumn days 90
those of budding spring. He had
been so long the idol Of his wife's
worship, the one object of her unre-
Taxing attention, that he felt himself
dethroned, and stood around little
awkwardly, throwing out tendrils OF
endcavor 10 catch on to the whirling
spirit Of gaiety that surrounded him.
lie somewhat resented the patron
ling airs of the younger men, who
reminded him of the decades he had
passed, by offers of assistance which
he deemed superhuous. He even put
on his glasses with the feeling-that
he was Haunting signal that Eccle-
siastes had included in n record Of
old age. But he was "a sensible man,
who had, perhaps. done n foolish
thing, and the conuubial habit being
a complacent one. readily adjusts
itself 60 the inevitable.
One rainy evening as MIR. Milligan
was homeward bound after busy
day. feeling depressed and dis
appointed. for wheat had fallen a
point or two, and rumors from his
congress district discouraged his
prospects for n nomination, he sud.
denly remembered, as he caught the
glow of caterers window, that his
wife lad enjoined him to order some
iced cream for the coming evening"
entertainment. Some details ac-
companied the order which he ran
sacked his memory to recall, and
failing i'm this he recollected that the
late Mrs. Milligan had always pre-
ferred lemon and vanilla, so retrac
ing his weary steps he left the fa
millar order and made his way
homeward.
As he entered the brightly Lighted
hall the vision of beautiful young
woman in gay evening dress descend
ed the stairway, and. at first, amid
the ribbons and laces and flowers oi
her elaborate toilette, he did mo-
recognize his young wife. But wher
he did, feeling that il was a fine
thing TO be the possessor of sc
charming young creature, an'
thrilling at the sight, he forgot his
WEAKNESS and encouragement anC
advanced towards her with out
stretched arms.
, mo, no." cried thu vision in swit
retreat, don't touch me; you arr
dripping with rain and | cannot have
my fresh laccs and ribbons crushed
Hang up your wet things and g.
right ina and dress. You haven't |
poment 10 lose. Mary has laid on
your dress suit. No, ! didn't put il
your shirt studs What with plan
ming and practising and dressing w
bad too much on my mind"
She vanished through the door o
the dining room across the hall and
with her girlish voice in his ears giy
ing orders for the arrangement o
the table, Mr.. MiIlignn entered tn
, library at the opposite side an,
! passed into his bedroom beyond
for he was old-fashioned enough &
insist on sleeping down stairs.
r The gas had not been lighted, bu
= a coal fire i'm the CRATE made pleas
, ant glow in the room that painte
the dusk and winked from the POI