The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1907-07-20
THE UNKNOWN

would IKE 10 correspond with q young
| lady Of the west. Address X. O.. Water
| town. Mass.
Grace King Strengthened herself up
read the lines again. laughed, blushed
and said softly: III only dared: IL
would be such fun. But" with little
| frown. mother wouldn't like H.
II can stop whenever I like" she
| continued. Besides, shall never see
him. and really must break this ter
rible monotony. &c." with half
ashamed glance toward the little no
tice, II believe III do H."
Half an hour later dainty little
| missive bearing the address TX. O.,
WATERFOWL. Mass" was sent on its
Journey. As pretty Miss Grace laid
her head on her pillow that night II
would have been hard TO analyze the
half guilty. half pleasant excitement
that pervaded her mind.
She was visiting her aunt IN that
lady's rustic home In Oregon, recu-
perating after long illness.
Health returned but slowly in her
own mountainous home. so the reluc-
tant young lady sought this mild. Sc
cluded valley In the depth OF mo
where" as she herself expressed IL.
destined 20 no company except a gen
tie old lady. who let her have her own
way and abandoned her to her own re-
sources. But this mode OF life suited
the sociable. fun loving Grace not NJ
all Yet she knew that health was re-
turning and that stay she must.
A week, rendered quite enjoyable by
anticipation passed. There came
letter from mother bringing news OF
Brother Franks return home after his
graduation from Harvard university.
She was six years his junior and was
only a child when he went east.
"I suppose Wen hardly recognize
each other" she remarked 10 her aunt,
and the old lady nodded pleasantly, AZ
she always did.
When she recovered from the excite
ment OF her mothers letter, she began
20 await impatiently that other mis-
sive. Al last II came, and after a
careful thought OF what mother would
say" and half formed decision 20 tear
II up she broke the seal.
what queer writingw was her first
thought as the compact backhand script
appeared But soon all else was for
gotten In her reading. why, what
beautiful description she cried al
last. "Oh, how nice he must be! I'm
30 glad wrotel II only mother doesn't
find me outl That was happy thought
to become Miss Bertha FrazerY
The Ice once broken. II was easier 10
write. Grace answered promptly and
waited eagerly for the replies. The
young unknown" wrote so fascinat-
ingly, yet through all his letters ran
certain vein OF fun and amusement
which puzzled Grace not little.
But one day when nearly three
months had passed rather startling
letter from her unknown" came. He
was coming west Immediately. In fact,
his home was there, and be would call
on her when be arrived In her locality
Grace turned quite pale at the thought
Why, what should she dor Should she
allow him 70 Gomez Even Aunt Jane
might object 20 Der receiving strange
gentleman. "Oh, dearF' For the first
time she repented her little romance,
and wild desire seized her 10 run
away from home And yet she would
yes, she would like 10 meet him.
Perhaps she had better stay and make
the best of t. Then she would go
But ! do hope" she thought, that he
gets here before Frank" That boy
would surely find II all out
Cbn f1,nI harooIf In an fayar ~
element, waiting. but still he did not
come. Days heightened into weeks,
and az last she decided that she might
safely return home There was some
mistake.
II was on the eve OF Grace's depar
ture. Aunt Jane had gone 10 neigh.
boring town and left her niece pack
ing her trunk Suddenly a footstep
sounded on the stair. and Hannah, the
cook. burst In upon her
"oh. Miss Gracel' the old woman
cried. who do you SUPPOSED Your
brother Frank and But Grace
waited for no more. She brushed past
Hannah. and was down the stairs into
the sitting room and in her brothers
arms In a second.
"0h. Frank" she cried. IL am so
glad 10 see youl When did you come?
And have you been home yet? But
of course you have and
"Ah. but ! haven't" interrupted the
young man. his eyes twinkling merrily
81 stopped of here 10 call on Miss
Bertha Frazer"
Grace looked up In amazement
How did he know Then she cried
penltents: "oh, dearl only did II for
fun. I was so lonesome. But did you
meet himi who Is hep
Franks stern face relaxed, aud.
laughing merrily, he bowed low and
answered. "Your humble servant"
1T wasn't you. Frank
Haven't ! said SOP
"But how did you know II was ~
"Ah. little sister, your writing be
trayed you from the first. | was more
cautious. you know" he replied.
tits too bad" she pouted. cot
course you'ii tell mother"
"Will your
Grace laughed. She began 10 see
both sides OF the case. Certainly she