The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1908-10-31

Ing against the stone OF the tower
waiting her pleasure 10 remove from
the scene OF contest. But her line OF
thought held her fast. or perhaps the
beauty OF the Belgian landscape would
not release her. At oil events. she did
not move, and he waited. Finally he
ventured TO suggest. wont your Aunt
Laura be tired Of waitingr'
She turned her eyes from the brown
Scheldt flowing below as she answered
carelessly: "Aunt Laura? Oh. she
doesn't mind. she preferred to LEI us
come up without her. She adores the
cathedral. and Il isn't time 70 be hun
cry"
Ben Ripley had been In Antwerp four
hours. three OF which he had spent
with Frances Deere. and for at least
an hour the two had been on the cathe.
dral tower engaged In the argument
already mentioned. Ben had asked
where Frances meant TO spend the
winter. II was natural question. for
they had been neighbors and friends
at home In America. Even when ne
was at college there were vacations.
and she continued to be a very warm
friend. So did he, except in the inter
walls when. having become too warm
he was obliged to undergo a cooling
process. *-----------~A'afS5L
Her winter, she said, would be one
OF hard study. Aunt Laura would Sc
lect masters for her. and she would
work at art, music. languages--any-
thing TO keep busy. Then he began
to argue that she was all wrong. She
ought to 60 home to her mother and
not waste her youth (she laughed
scornfully) and her beauty (she smiled
proudly. Then she asked him why he
lived on Banbury road and studied
mathematics at oxford instead OF go
ing into business with his father In
New York He answered that he
wasn't worth considering. that she was
the only person In the world worth
talking about and the climax OF his
whole argument was that she should
go back 10 America engaged 10 him
and wait for the glorious life they
would begin together next year, when
he had taken his doctors degree.
But she was relentless and wouldn't
even attempt 10 answer his questions
whether she cared for him nc all. She
grew little impatient and said he
ought 20 see that she couldn't think
about such things; she was interested
IN carrying on her studies and In moth
ing else. Finally he said he supposed
.ho cxraoto1 hin, 20 ofart hock FOR Nv
ford that highland wanted TO be con-
tradicted. But she agreed that II
would be the most sensible thing 70 do.
SO II had all ended. and she had be-
come absorbed I'm the landscape and
forgetful OF him until he mentioned
Aunt Laura. and they started down the
tower. Ben was three or four steps
ahead two-thirds of the way down when
he heard stumble. Frances had
caught her foot in her dress and fallen.
He had just time 10 brace himself with
an arm against either wall when she
slid down upon nims
Get your footing quick and don't
faint" he said.
"I'n not going TO faint" she answer
ed, 'and am quite myself except that
my hat is crooked-not that Il matters
in the dark"
Slowly he dropped his arms, and she
passed on before him. \As they came
out into the light he motioned TO a
carriage crossing the narrow court.
There isn't n moment TO lose." he
explained. III am going 10 get my
boat. You are sure you are not hurtT
Perfectly sound. Did I frighten
your
''Well, yes; It didn't seem exactly
safe for either OF US TO have you come
tumbling down on top OF me. BU
must go. I shall see you again some
day, Frances"
Somehow he got the cathedral door
open for her, handed her an umbrella.
took or his hat. pressed her hand and
entered the carriage. She couldn't fol.
low his movement: she orly felt his
eye resting orr her as II they could
not turn away TIL the narrow side
door closed behind her
After a few minutes Frances found
her aunt and they left the cathedral
Where is Benz Aunt Laura asked.
Gone TO England 10 do his work as
boy should. and we are going TO Brus-
sells tonight"
Aunt Laura gave little sigh. II Is
hard 10 be patient with youths per-
vcrsity IN bringing trouble upon itself
; The next day the two sat at table
IN small patisserie near the top OF
the Montagn de la Tour waiting for
chocolate. Frances was struggling
with the Rotterdam daily paper. II
was hard work TO make any sense OF
the queer language. but suddenly she
stopped. appalled,. at sentence she
fancied she understood, An accident TO
the Antwerp Harwich boat and some
: thing too Dutch for comprehension
had happened to the passengers.
Aunt Laura. order the cakes. dear.
and Ill be back soon I'm going TO