The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1910-01-08
LOVED FOR Herself

and the preparations for the wedding
had already begun. but one mornng
the thuuderbolt fell.
Her father had speculated heavily
and lost. Hoping to retrieve his losses.
be had become an embezzler and a
forger. and his sin had found him qsk
He was hunted criminal.
The dainty. spoiled child I luxury
was forsaken by her butterfly friends
and sneered down as the beggared
daughter OF neeing criminal.
II am 50 glad Charles Is rich she
thought And for the first time since
she knew him she thought or him with
something like affection and yearned
for his coming The steamer came In
this morning. and In few hours more
he will be here TO comfort and protect
me-"
But before he came she had another
guest
Looking from a window or the grand
mansion that IN another week would
be he's home no longer. she saw Alaric
Leigh coming up the marble steps.
Miss Stanley" he began gravely. n
have come on a most disagreeable ".
rand. / am commissioned TO infqfm
you that your unhappy father has re
turned to the city and means 70 give
himself up 10 Justice"
lie must notv' she gaspcd
HE has no means TO do otherwise
answered the young man graveiy. HE
sent me 20 tell you that IL you could
dispose OF your diamonds he might by
the proceeds not only reach Europe In
safety. but also establish some sort
OF business there by which he might
some time regain an honorable naiqe
and place among his fellow men,"
Here they are" she said hurrledlg.
placing a heavy Ncasket In his hands.
ooh. Alaric. go quickly and tell him ,t
he loves his suffering daughter never
10 give himself up 10 felon's punish
ment"
In her trouble she never thought To
inquire how Alaric Leigh had become
the conddant of her broken and dis
graced parent
AS she spoke the bell rang loudly.
ut Is Charleyw she said gladly.
zone word more, Aurora. befure
CO." said Alaric. III you ever feel
that you need my friendship do not
hesitate TO send for me-"
The girl did not hear him. She only
seemed TO hear the firm. light f,ot-
steps on the threshold OF the parlor
door, and Aiaric. passing out Of door
opposite. looked back for second and
saw her spring into the embrace Of
Charles Buckingham.
''Oh. Charley. | am so glad you have 4
Gomez am IN such trouble" said Aus(
rora, clinging to bis arm as size de,x4
him TO seat "
Indeed. my little goddessr' drawfed
the exquisite. "What sort OF troubleT
be asked
"oh. Charley, have you not heard of
our terrible misforfuney size asked.
II thought the whole city would bah
BILE Il TO you before you saw me" she
continued.
Il have heard nothing" he returned.
growing anxious.
And so she told him all. never heed.
Ing as she talked on with feyerlsh ra-
pidity that the face OF the mnn who
had pllghted 10 her eternal love aud
constancy was assuming u smile OF
lofty and naughty Indifference that
betrayed his true character
And so the wedding can't bef" he
observed IN "A tone that cut through
her heart like thrust OF frosty steel.
"Is that what you want to Suggest.
Miss Stanley? Well. you are quite
right. Most girls under such clrcum-
stances would have held n poor fellow
20 his contrnct. But you are as wise
as you are unselfish. and honor you
for IL, Rory-pon my soul do"
Aurora sprang to her feet. amazed
aud indignant at this unparalleled act
OF hypocrisy and his offensive famll-
iarity.
Thank God. never loved your she
cried. and. tearing the betrothal ring
from her finger. she flung II az his
feet. Go. aud leave me alone! In all
the world have not friend mot
one"
I'm all the world ! have not a friend \
mot one" was the burden OF Aurora's n
sorrow for many a weary day.
One day Aunt Hetty In her faded
brown silk and ancient bonnet came
for the unhappy girl.
"You must go home with me. Rory.
II is poor sort Of place for One
lady. but II Is better than nothing.
grille"
So Aurara went. and when the SUM-
mer came again Alaric Leigh came
with IT, II he still loved Aurora ne
never betrayed the fact by any sign
whatever. and perhaps that was why.
with the inconsistency OF girlhood. she
began 70 think him a paragon among
men. But he did love her stiIl. and
after long. long time be told her the
truth.
IAN affection like mine. Aurora" be
said. IN his grave. straightforwar,lu.
way. never changes. | can give y