The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1904-04-09

practical tone OF voice. what do you
| want me TO talk about"
She shot a swift. troubled glance at
him, concluded herself mistaken and
said:
Tell me about what you do up here
your llfe--all about H."
We'll" replied Thorpe formally, 1--WE
| haven't much to interest a girl like
you. II is a question OF saw logs with
u.s." And he went on in his dryest.
most technical manner to detail the
process of manufacture. 1t might as
well have been bricks.
The girl did not understand. She
was hurt AS surely as the sun tan
gled In the distant pine frond. she had
seen in his eyes a great passion. Now
II was coldly withdrawn.
what has happened to your she
asked finally out of her great sincerity.
"Me? Nothing" replied Thorpe.
A forced silence fell upon him. Hilda
seemed gradually TO lose herself In rev.
erie. After time she said softly:
Don't you love this woods"
"It's an excellent bunch OF pine" re-
piled Thorpe bluntly. It'll cut 5000
900 at least"
"Ohw she cried, drawing back, her
hands pressed against the log either
side of her, her eyes wide.
After moment she caught her breath
convulsively, and Thorpe became con-
scious that she was studying him fur
lively with a quickening doubt
After that, by the mercy OF God,
there was no more talk between them.
Unconsciously the first strain OF oppo-
sition and OF hurt surprise relaxed.
Each thought vaguely his thoughts.
Then in the depths OF the forest, per-
haps near at hand. perhaps far away, a
single hermit thrush began to sing. His
song was of three solemn, deep, liquid
notes. followed by slight rhetorical
pause as OF contemplation, and then de-
liberately three notes more on differ
ent key. II IL the most dignihed, the
most spiritual, the hottest Of woods ut
terances. Combined with the evening
shadows and the warm soft air II Of
| fered to the heart an almost irresistible
appeal. The mans artificial antago-
nism modified, the woman's olsen
chantment began to seem unreal.
Then subtly over and through the
bird song another sound became audi
BILE. At first II merely repeated the
three notes family like an echo, but
with n rich. sad undertone that brought
| tears. Then timidly and still softly II
elaborated the theme, weaving In and
out through the original three the gilt
ter and simmer OF splendid web OF
sound. spreading before the awakened
imagination a broad river OF woods i'm
aginary that reflected on Its surface all
the subtler moods OF the forest.
With the first sigh of the wonder mu-
sic the girl had started and caught her
breath at the exquisite pleasure OF It.
AS 1t went on they both forgot every
"Ah, beautifulr' she murmured.
what is it," he whispered, marvel.
ing.
"a violin-played by a master"
The bird suddenly hushed, and at
once the strain abandoned the woods
note and took another motif At first
1t played softly In the higher notes, a
tinkling, lightsome little melody that
stirred kindly surface smile over q
full heart. Then suddenly, without
transition, II dropped to the lower reg
lister and began TO sob and wall in the
full vibrating power of great pas
sion.
And the theme IL treated was love.
At last the poignant ecstasy seemed
slowly, slowly to die. Fainter and
fainter ebbed the music. Through II as
through a mist the solemn aloof forest
began TO show TO the consciousness OF
the two. They sought each others eyes
gently smiling. The music was very
soft and dim and sad. They leaned &c
each other, with sob; their lips met
the music ceased.
And over behind the trees. out OF the
light and the love and the beauty, lit
tie Phil huddled, his great shaggy head
bowed in his arms. Beside him lay his
violin and beside that his bow, broken
He had snapped IL across his knee
That day he had heard at last the
heart song OF the violin and, uttering
IL, had bestowed love- But he had that
day lost what he cared for most in al
the world-hls friend.
Little Phil disappeared utterly, TAX
ing with him his violin. but leaving his
broken bow. Thorpe has 1t even &c
this day. The lumherman car=@-