The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1919-11-01


ytossed II abruptly from him SO one
ssheet fell upon his bed and the others
'spon the floor; and at the faint noise
3sf their falling Isabel came. and, kneel-
Sing. began to gather them up.
did you read II, dearT"
Georges face was pale no longer.
,lbut pink with fury. "Yes, l did"
"An OF III" she asked gently, as she
hose.
Certainly
She did not look at him, but kept her
eyes downcast upon the letter In her
hands, TREMENDOUSLY rearranging the
sheets in order az she spoke-and
though she smiled. her smile was as
tremulous as her hands Nervousness
gnnd an Irresistible tlmidity possessed
jher. I'll wanted to say. George" she
efaltered. II felt that Tiff some day
= II should happen-I mean, II you came
10 feel differently about 1t, and Eu-
gene and THAT is II we found that 1t
sseemed the most sensible thing to do
Il was afraid you might think II would
he little queer about-Lucy. l mean
Tiff she were your step-slster. or
course. shed not be even legally re-
lated 20 you, and IL you-if you cared
for her"
Thus Tar she got stumblingly with
what she wanted TO say. while George
watched her with a gaEe that grew
harder and hotter; but here he cut her
on. 81 have already given up all Idea
OF Lucy" he said. Naturally, /
couldn't have treated her father as l
deliberately did treat hlm--I could
hardly have done that and expected his
daughter ever TO speak 10 me again"
Isabel gave a quick cry OF compass
siop, but he allowed her no opportunity
90 speak "You needn't think I'm
making any particular sacrifice" he
raid sharply, though | would quickly
enough, IL i thought II necessary in a
matter OF honor like this. was inter
ested In her, and | could even say
did care for her but she proved pretty
satisfactorily that she cared little
enough about me The truth liz. we're
not congenial and we'd found that
much out, at least, before she left. We
should never have been happy; she
was superior all the time, and critical
OF me-not very pleasant, that!
don't think she has the very deepest
nature in the world, and"
But Isabel put her hand timldly on
this arm. George. dear. this Is only n
quarrel; all young people have them
before they get adjusted, and you
mustn't let"
III you pleasei" he said emphatical-
ly. moving back from her. This isn't
that kind, It's all over. and don't
care TO speak of II again. It's settled.
Don't you underestimate
But. dear
mo. I want TO talk TO you about
this letter OF her fathers"
Eyes, dear. that's why"
ITS simply tlE, most offensive piece
OF writing that I've ever held in my
hands I"
She stepped back from him, startled.
But, dear, l thought"
II can't understand your even show
ing me such thing r. he cried. "How
did you happen to bring 1t to mel"
"Your uncle thought I'd better. He
thought II was the simplest thing to
No. and he said that he'd suggested II TO
Eugene. end Eugene had agreed. They
thought"
''Yesr George said bitterly. II
should like TO hear what they thought T.
"They thought IL would be the most
straightforward thing"
George drew a long breath. "well,
what do you think. motherf'
II thought II would be the simplest
and most straightforward thing;
thought they were right"
"yery welll Wen agree II was sim
pie and straightforward, Now. what
do you think Of that letter itselfT
She hesltated. looking away. 'I-of
course don't agree with him In the
way he speaks OF you. dear--except
about the angel don't agree with
some OF the things he implies You've
always been unselfish-nobody knows
that better than your mother.
And yet" George broke in, you
see what he implies about me. Don't
you think, really. that this was a pref
ty insulting letter for that man to be
asking you to hand your sonf'
"Oh, nor she cried. "You see how
fair he means to be. and he didn't ask
for me TO give II TO you. Il was brother
George who"
Never mind that, now You say
he tries to be fair and yet do you sup
pose II ever occurs TO him that I'm
doing my simple duty7 That I'm doing
what my father would do N he we're
hlivcf That I'm doIng what my father
would ask me TO do II he could speak
from his grave out yonder7 DO you
suppose IL ever occurs to that man for
one minute that I'm protecting my
motherr George raised his voice ad.
gancfna unOu the helDleas lady Gerca.