The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1909-07-24

lnl, EOluen uulfNN llti4f islllllfu sly
sometimes petulantly But then Mao
mi Is thirty, and II Is years that bring
the phi.osophlc mind"
Eighteen years ago. when Naomi
was twelve. she had received baby
Lnllard. her newborn stepsister. as a
legacy from the hands Of a dying
mother mild"
When. ten years later. their father.
gay. debonalr Ernest Romer, LATEST
and most charming of men and artists.
had followed his wife leaving her two
children utterly unprovided FOR, Naomi
had quietly and naturally slipped into
the position OF breadwlnner and house
provider Then had come a lover. too
poor TO provide for both Naomi and
Lnliard. Then he had gone away to
make fortune Ia distant lands. and
FOR eight years Naomi had never heard
Of him.
There comes ring al the doorbell,
and little Alice Sparrow, Naomfs maid
Of IN work, puts In her head 70 say,
"a gentleman FOR you. please. miss"
Naomi rises in surprise as a tall.
well built man, with a sunburned com
plexion and n head OF tawny hair, en-
tiers and. striding 70 her side, takes
/ her hand
"Naomi. have you forgotten me-
\ Martin ColquhounY
! For a moment the room swims round
! Naomi but the next she has recovered
herself and is saying quite calmly
how It astonlshes her to hear her own
voice:
"How DO you do? did not know
/ you were IN Washington"
~ only came yesterday" he says
eagerly so you see ] have not lost
much time / found out your address
in the directory. What a grand insti-
tuition IL isl Naomi. you are not
changed Am 70
She smiles little. II would know
you. but You are changed"
II shall tell You an by ana by he
says, ana az that moment Lnlard
PUSHES IN
k "Alare Is out Il Il not a shameY
Then She pauses blushing, and Naomi
introduces the two
y
Colquboun. smiling y remember you
as tiny girl IN short dresses, who al
ways searched In my pockets for choc
olates. Are you as fond OF them YETI"
II believe am" says billiard laugh
ing Then she sits down, and SO doe,
Martin Colquhoun and they spend
pleasant. even gay, evening together
.ffl . 10 4
lie has passed IN the search for FOR
tune which, It seems, he has found
Martin Colquhoun calls again ant
again He comes IN the evenings wher
Naomi plays and he and Lilliard SIT II
the window together He calls Ia TIT
afternoon and takes them driving Il
the park and to Mount Vernon, and b.
and LHliard generally SIT together ano
do most Of the talking And occasion
ally he takes them 10 concert or TIT
opera. And every day Naomi feels tina
the trial OF her life Is ORA wing near
But why should she grudge ~ Sh'
loves Lilllard She loves alas Mar
tin. She desires the happiness OF both
AZ for her, Il only means that her SIX
will grow little grayer, her nfe a III
tie emptier, but at thirty she tells her
self. one does not feel the pain y
keenly as az twenty.
One evening be calls Lllllard II on
and Naomi alone. He looks strangel,
nervous
II have called to tell you shal
have to say goodby," be said abruptly
; 'T am going away on Monday
"Going away" Naomi echoes family
Eyes. for four years My busin<xs
requires me. And have come tnnigh
10 say something that means a grea
deal 10 me--that all my future haVpi
ness depends on-Miss Romer."
Naomfs heart is still. The blow I
coming, then.
II think ! can guess what Il Ii" sh'
says. wondering II her voice sounds
I strange and unnatural. Mr.. Coiqu
: houn. will do the most ! can. de
sire your happiness as much as-ai
Lilliard's.'
He seIzes her hands.
!. "Then YOU are willlngf You have
have thought OF III" he asks littl'
! uasteadlly
: ~ have no right to be anything
I else" she answers smllingly III LII
Hard is willing, that Is all you require
! 'Iiliardl do not understand you
Naomi. What has Lilliard TO do will
~ Don't you understand, dear, tina
l love you more-yes, Thousand
fold more-than ever. Naomi n WIZ
not my fault that l have been al
lcnt oil these years. My letter-th
last one was returned. MARKED 'bert-
no address But have never cease,
thinking OF you and now ! want yo'
+ as my VIM. Naomi NsomA aftcs wah
Ing oil these years. am 7 TO pe dfsap
: pointed at the INSTR
"Oh stopr Nnomi cries, little Wild
". ~ thought 10 was Lilliard yet
cared for not me-"
'Illlhrdy' lie grows holder theI
F? and. drawing her within his arms, lay
- A. l. -. 80