The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1906-12-01
TO REIGN suPREME

going 20 give In. and I'm sure it's just
as hard for one Of ms as IL Is for the
other. and II you and Al want 70 go
home so very badly well, go! But
am quite content TO stay and Intend
to-
realized as well as either Of them
our position was anything hut one TO
laugh az as gazed around the little
bare room ANA compared il with our
own luxurious ones az home, but give
ia = never! For II weakened they
surely would
Mother had died when | was quite
small and left lis three girls. nearly all
the same age. and pa" as we were
wont 10 call him, had watched and
cared for us until we had reached wo-
manhood, and all went well until
yes, until Miss Tabitha Jenkins. spin
ster or uncertain age, made her APP
pearnnce.
We never really loved her from the
first. She was so-er-prim and plain,
as / said 90 AL. and our love increased
very little when We learned that she
had the audacity 90 hint to pa she
thought his girls needed some one
older, with a more advanced knowl-
edge OF the world. etc. TO guard. adj
wise and direct them.
Pa began 10 consider her very SEN
sibie woman--in fact. too much So
and TO think that perhaps after all he
was doing his daughters an injustice
by not placing Just such person at
the head OF his family, to say Nothing
Of his own loneliness, but we girls
seemed 20 take a different view OF the
afrair, and thereby hangs tale"
We were sitting chatting quietly one
day when he dropped upon u.s. and
informed us OF his intention OF bring
ing home TO us n mother. We knew
without his telling "who" the object OF
his affection was. was first inclined
TO laugh. but controlled myself in time
and said:
"Oh, you do. do you? Pray, whol
We have done without one all along.
and I think we hardly need one now.
We do not care 10 have you burden us
with any stepmother, and But I
had gone too far. Fathers eyes flash
Cd. saw that had angered him. for
he has a quick temper.
80 you. you. mere child, dare die
tate 10 meme. your father? What do
you mean? II you don't like my plans.
you know what you can do-not only
you, but the whole three OF you. The
way Is clear. came 10 ask your opin-
ion, but now-now / am determined
determined, | say-to marry, and mar
~ whom and when please"
Here he turned and left us In a state
OF deep bewlderment and astonish-
ment.
We looked from one to the other.
Never had we seen such display OF
his temper. Poor All Shall ever for
get her face7 She was on the verge OF
crying. and Cert was thunderstruck.
but managed 10 gasp out. what are
We 20 dor Each looked to me for
reply.
"Do7" / said. Get out Come on.
Take what we need. I'm golngl"
They stared at me I'm horror.
~But. Peggy, where are you going
to7"
Going? oh, never mind. We can
find a place"
We proceeded TO pack up what we
needed most, and IN n short time we
were alone alone In the cold, cold
world. with just S147S scraped up
pin money and a firm resolution never
TO return until pa sought Us and
brought us back TO reign supreme as
we had heretofore done.
SO that's how we sat that night II
was just 1--WE days Our purse was
very slim, and we were starting 10
wonder and worry" Al and Cert had
been out all day seeking employment,
and kept house. They were relating
their fruitless adventures when Cert,
poor Cert, tired and discouraged, In
formed me Il was no romance.
Nov, you know, Cert, IN we give I'm
pa Will marry Lady Tabithn.' and that
would be no romance. Just imagine
her chaperoning usl Tia, hal I'd do
all In my power TO shock her, for you
know like her az much as n hen does
water. Oh, yes, OF course we could
love her, and II we don't pa will come
after us, SO don't give in"
That night my thoughts were far
away. | was thinking OF home-home
and father, for we loved him. He had
been such a good father to us. even
though he did have temper, and we
had left him
could keep up no longer. laid my
hcnd on my pillow and cried. How
long was there DO not know. but I
fell asleep. and was awakened by
~ voice or my landlady saying:
ell I'm sure don't know whether
Dung ladies are In or not They
rc always very quiet. I shall knock.
thorgh."
Then | heard dear, dear familiar
voice saying. "oh. my girls. my poor,
dear girls" Ny heart jumped. open
s..If A