The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1906-09-08
MARRIAGE A FAILURE


! his arms. A cool breeze fluttered up.
/ The little one opened It's eyes and
\ smiled al It's father. Daddy" II cooed,
then Il nestled lbs head under the cob
bler's arm and slept
Nichol was very tired. His eyes
stCug with sleep and his arm grew
numb. Yet he sat there that the sick
child might catch some stray breeze de
MED TO the suffocating city.
Poor little kid" he whispered. He'd
have died In that hole OF bedroom to-
night"
The sky above the city grew dark,
and across IL opened vague fan Of re
nected light The river, too, turned black
aud oily and the lights no longer quiv-
cred IN II, but lay motlonless along the
banks. straight fringe. glossy as
threads Of colored silk Stlll the man
sat there with the baby breathing
peacefully in his arms.
After hls work was done big NichoI
drew chair ont OF doors and sat down
TO read his paper AZ this time Of day
the street was a common living room.
Hundreds Of children swarmcd ana
sprawlcd on the hot pavement. while
the women sat on the steps. tanning
themselves with their aprons and Cos
siplng languldly Now aud then pun
OF GOODNESS drlfted up from the river
with an audible murmur OF thankful
ness in It's wake
Mrs Helm came out OF the house
and stood beside her husband
''Ts your hand much sore tonightY
she inquired anxiously as she caught
frown of pain on the mans face
4 day or 50 before Nichol had driven
an awl through the thumb u his right
hand. and now It was tied up ia wad
of rag. rather dirty aud blood stained
1T hurts worse tonight than IL ever
done IL jumps like devil was
pounding away under H." Nichol Helm
answered, for his thumb was neces
sary 20 his trade, and his trade was
necessary to his own and ten other
lives.
Tomorrow you mus 20 u the doc
tor. papa"
go 70 the Doctor" snaried Nlchol
savagely. when | can't even put by
cent for coal. an winter comm nearer
every day.
at amt here yet" laughed the won.
an, looking up TO where the moon hung
In the hot twilight, white as bubble
OF milk. AN you mus go. the 6rst
thing tomorrow
"I'll see myself dead trstr' growled
the man. But he went. and she went
with him
The doctor looked at the poor hand,
all puffed and crimson.
The thumb will have 10. come OF.
It's Juse like you people To, wait until
It's too late. then come here and ex-
pect me 10 cure youl You will be.
lucky II you don't lose your arm"
NichoI Helm staggered back with a
gasp, The sorrows or the poor come
badly, with nothing 10 soften their an.
nouncement, for between them and the.
facts OF life there Is no buffet OF gold
and silver TO turn the cruelest truth,
TO mercy
In moment his wife. was at his.
side
lie shan't do lt! I can cure it,
Don't let him touch your
Send the woman out said the doe
tor.
The cobblor sank into chair, his
big body limp ns baby's
But doctor. my trade TIL starver'
Well n You would rather die"
You shant die, You shnn't starvei
I'll help YOU" broke is the wife. throw
ing her arms about her husband ana
drawing his hrad down on her breast.
Poor papa" she whispered. strol,ine
his hair with her knotted. freckled
hands 'lt'll be- all right
An hour later they sat together Ia the
old horse car His arm was In a sling
and a club shaped bandage took the
| place OF his right hand It was redolent
OF iodoform. and the people moved
away from them II made Nichol him
self little sick He was very white
under his grizzled beard but his lips
were firm. She still sobhed and her
face was blotched and swollen from
her tears. Now and then big Nchol
patted her shoulder There, there,
wife" he repeated automatically. 1T
don't hurt now"
The trees outside the cobbler's shop
were shaking their yellow leaves ON
the pavement. Here and there among
them nuttered yellow moth This
was the meaning OF the caterpillars.
From the open door came the familiar
tap, tap OF the hammer, and even
across the street one could smell the
odor OF leather
Bur NlchOl Helm was not there. his
work wedged between HIS knees and
his thin needle stabblng increasingly In
aud out. In his place woman bent
over the broad sboe soles. The sun
shine Hooded the little room, fusing her
faded hair TO bronze and showing
through her dying hands A room was
open behind the shop. and one could
see big NicoI standing by the stove.
the baby tucked under his malmed
arm. He was stirring something In a
kettle. and his face was anxious.
II bet she's got them pegs in slant