The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1906-10-27
THE WOMAN IN GRAY

are not loved, hated or hOnored for the
time place or name under which they
live. Neither do men cease with their
time or place, but extinctus aInabter
idem' &c"
IL have seen three generations OF
men In manhood. the first In 81. Louis
years ago aud the latter two la an
eastern city where my home T.. Ia that
eastern city / learned the story am
about 60 relate 60 YOU.
1T was not many years ago that |
knew them the persons whom uD
story concerns They We're three M
central figure Ia that trio was beau
tiful young girl. about twenty years old
when she came into the story | am
about To tell. She was richly endowed
with womanly grace ana worldly
wealth She was not from 81 Louis
but she traced her ancestry Ia the
founders OF the city ana was bound by
ties of blood Co families stlll represent
eel here and honore,l for their lineage
"She lived In an eastern city. There
she knew aud loved an artist. The ten.
der passion WAS returned. and but for
one thing all was well and proptions
with their love. The artist was gen.
ius, his devotion to his art being second
only TO his devotion To The young wo.
man whom he loved His work was
much sought after. There was pc
cullar sameness about all his pictures.
however lie had hobby In art al
ways affecting the somber In tints. The
gray of November landscapes was n
passion with him. lie carried this taste
into pet name for his fancee. for
when he pctted her he called her bis
little gray mouse she liked the PET
name. FOR she was but tlmld. ciurng
child 81 love.
"'The one thing that disturbed the
happiness 81 these two was the foolish
jealousy OF the artist lover The OBJ
ject OF this jealousy was Young
man or fortune and leisure who was 4
friend OF the pair. He knew OF their
love and sacredly regarded IL, but be
ala love the young woman. lie con-
cealed his love. always conducting him
self as a friend OF the two and moth.
Ing more. He did not know that he
was the innocent cause OF frequent
Outbursts OF Jealous accusations by
the ardent artist against his sweetheart.
The girl always passlonately avowed
her love for the artist aud declared the
other man 10 be but friend
The artist aud his fiancee were ac-
customed O. frequently visit art ex-
hibits together One gray afternoon
they went 20 a large art museum She
was clad In gray. For hours they lOi.
tered before the pictures. AZ last the
young woman complained Of wearineas
aud wanted TO SIT down To rest
Come into the next department.
aud you can rest while I look IT The
pictures there, he suggested
No. | attn going TO rest right here
she said. just a bit pettishly. ~ shen
found an easy chair. aud she would nod
go with him. He left her, saying that
he would Ice back soon.
He had scarcely gone before the
mutual friend or the pair happened
along aud stopped for moAlent TO
chat with the woman whom he loved
but TO whom, for honor's sake. he
would not declare hls love. He soon
passed on aud left her 10 wait for the
artist whom he envied aud whom ehe
loved devotedly
The artist never came The young
woman waited until the dusk had fall
en-. AS the moments wore on her heart
began 10 smte her. And then came
sense OF sckening fear and then now
"A IN.
lie was not there Suddenly a look of
horror came into her eyes aud with II
the inward questons Did he come
back Did he see Vernon speaking
with me, aud did he 20 away forever
AZ last the gallery closed The won
an On gray was driven TO her home.
hoping yet that he would come 10 her.
The evening passed. ana the artist
did not come. The next morning the
young woman was In raging fever.
deliriouS, constantly calling for her alb
sent lover At last she recovered, hut
was never the same woman. The art
ist never returned AZ frequently hap.
pens In great cities. he had disappear
eel as though the earth had swallowed
him up
The woman, now grown almost To
middle age. still searches for bin
quietly aud mysteriously The habit
" visiting large gatherings. especially
ART exhibitions. has grown upon her
until II has become mania SHE goes
10 these places always clad IL gray
She glides about as though possessed
Of the spirit Of mystery. Ia her eyes
there Is always that look OF nn awak
enlng question powerful mud awful e.
pelling ali questions from those who
would be- curlogessDid he See Vernon
speaking with me aud did he 20 away
forsycfr This woman IN gray has a
why's been a mystery wherever she has
gone, but mono has ever learned he
story from her lips Her lips are
closed, bat her henrt speaks
no, don't ask me fot names or date.
for her secret is sacred. aud IL would
be- sacriicre Go reveal g." said the
DID man. when death shall come and
rtoroity shall bring light 20 her cloudcd r
brain she may learn tho mystery or