The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1908-03-14


without meaning
Into this quiet tide a sudden. excit-
Ing element had fallen IN the shape
OF gay young girl from neighbpr-
Ing city.
IIer name was Jenaie Mordant and
she claimed cousInship with Farmer
Morlants brown faced aad rather
bashful sons In n daring. coaxing way
that was new and delightful 10 them
and Jared. the eldest. grew more de
monstrativo toward others
There was a little girl living up mt
Low Hill pass whose name had often
been spoken In connection with Jared's
and II was guessed that they mutually
felt shy fondness for ench other.
Jared only called her by her formal
Christian name. Katherine. az rare In
tervals and then with n sense OF IA
miliarity that made him hais ashamed.
But after Jennie MordaiN had tied
his necktie and brushed the threads OF
his coat he escaped from her bright
eyes and merry ways and walked 10
Low Hill with n light step. AS he
nearod the house he saw Katherine re-
turning home "cross lots" from Widow
Sangster's, where she had been 10 take
the old lady some buttermilk. With
one leap he scaled the wall. and. hurry
! Ing TO the narrow footpath. he said
softly:
Don't walk so fast. Kittie."
The girl stood still. trembling AMI
blushing, and then she asked I'm voice
scarcely audible.
what made you call me thatr'
MAY call you 50 againY
yes" she answered simply, and he
did not know how quick her heart was
beating. And so they went In silence
\ through the gathering dew and dark
\ ness up 10 the door.
When II was time for Jared 10 leave
he sidled up 10 the kitchen window,
I and, reaching In, with one arm on the
sill. nc dropped spray Of lilac as II
by accident ana said, Good night.
! Kittie"
4 So the summer passed with new
! glory, aud when the evenings grew
long and cool in the autumn a dancing
school was talked OF I'm the village 50
\ the season opened far more gayly than
j usual Then there was TO he husk-
Ing az Farmer Mordant's In the long
new barn Long before dark the great
| piles OF corn filed the barn floor, and
\ the fiddlers walked about. with their
! pet violins tucked away In green bags.
while the kitchen was overlooking with
food and row of cider barrels lay
tapped I'm the yard.
Katherine Hubbell came down early
with her brothers.
The candles were lighted in the sit
ting room. and there was Jared, her
Jared, actually rompine with Miss Jen-
ME She was standing on her toes to
reach his head, pulling his hair and
bothering him. when suddenly he turn
ed, and, taking the two little hands I'm
his big brown palms. he held her so
firmly that she<could not get away,
though she struggled and laughed for
a minute and then stood stil!, listening
lntently.
When he let her go she patted his
face, smiled brightly and ran away,
and Katherine could see that Jared
was blushing like n girl.
She did not go into the sitting room
as though nothing had happened.
She was not actress enough for that
She went slowly round 10 the kitchen
door and found the girls. and I'm their
merry chatter they did not notice her
silence. But that Jennie-how could
she ever speak TO her again?
She could not firt aud laugh and
pretend not 10 care. as some girls could
Her eyes flashed with anger as she
thought OF Jared leading Jennie Nor
dant out before them ALL and. creep
ing away TO Grandma Mordant's room.
she huddled herself down by the fire
I'm forlorn little heap. The old lady
was not there, but she soon came IN.
and with her was that Jennie" talk
ing low and earnestly.
"She IS always In my way" thought
Katherine bitterly, but she held her
breath TO listen as Jennie said:
Jared says he never has chance to
see her minute alone. and the house
Is so full OF company that I'm sure
there won't be- another quiet spot but
this room. I'll manage 90 smuggle him
In while she is here. and then do YOU
make nm excuse 10 go out and leave
them there's dear, good grandma
She X really sweet little girl. and
jared Is so fond OF her. DO sou know
he calls her KittieY"
The old lady chucklcd pleasantly 70
herself ne she went ont after a candle.
and when she returned with Il lighted
the room was empty But later the
harvest moon dropped lower from the
deep sky. and all the radiant stars
came near 20 listen to the new mean
ing that echoed IN Jarcds voice as be
said. Good night. Kittie."
Last night an old man lay dying I'm
, handsome home. His gentle. silver
haired wife stood beside him. holding
his hand. IT'S growing dark. Come
nearer. Good night, Kittie." And his
votce had hushed forever.