The diamond drill., 1920-04-24
LOVE FICTION

There was always pleasant. inter-
ested smile on the face of Drury Law.
renee whenever his fellow clerks
chatted about home. wives. sweet
hearts or love. He was quiet, unas-
suming young man, and Eric Dawes.
his one close friend. had often noticed
the sympathetic glow in his honest.
earnest eyes. and wondered why IL
grew so Intense. on the occasions
noted.
Drury was closing his desk late one
afternoon and he and Eric were the
only occupants OF the room. A bright
hearted young fellow, q new clerk, had
just left after showing an engagement
ring to Drury he intended presenting
to his fiancee. Drury listened to his
eulogies OF Its intended recipient with
pleased attention.
"You must be 4 happy man In your
own love affairs TO be so ready TO ap-
preciate that of Others" suggested
Eric.
A peculiar expression crossed the
face of Drury. IL was serious. yet
tender and expressive. A dreamy. far
away look came into his eyes as he
said:
There has been only one so-called
love AFFAIR Ia my life. Eric. and there
will never be another. Do you know
who that is?" and he produced n pho
tograph from drawer In the desk.
why, IL is Miss Ina Vermont" ex-
claimed Eric in unmitigated surprise.
"You don't mean TO say that you are
interested In that dIrection?"
"Eminently So" replied Drury, and
his tones were fairly reverential. 81
have loved her devotedly for over two
years. You are my only confidant, so
respect my secret, SeeW and he pro-
duced a packet of letters tied with a
bit of ribbon. Each month / have
written TO her, unfolding my heart, he
ginning with Dear Miss Vernon and
uow addressing her as My Souls
Treasure
Eric was fairly astounded. This
quiet, unpretentious friend had out
stripped them all Miss Ina Vernon,
the daughter of the wealthy manufac-
turer Ia correspondence with her
for two yaars-she, the proud beauty
of leading family The souls only
treasure" Of a plain, humble Office
clerk.
"Then-then you are engagedY In
sinuated Eric.
"In my letters" replied Drury in
puzzling accents of sadness; "in let
ters never sent. / have carried on a
love fiction for my own hopeless con-
ISOLATION only Miss Vernon unknow-
ingly took possession OF my heart.
realized my warnings were as those
OF rushllght craving for the star. /
was content TO love her IN secret.
have never spoken 10 her. She has
never read line OF my letters"
And you are never going 10 tell
her" spoke Eric, with genuine feel
ing; "you. man worthy OF the consid.
Grafton Of any woman"
''It would be presumptuous. have
no right to aspire, 10 hope" replied
Drury sorrowfully. LET my dream
Ing suffice she Is OF another world
than mlne."
Drury reclted how, when Miss Yer
non had lost a pet spaniel, he had re-
stored Il through the home servants.
refusing TO accept the reward ten
dered or 10 disclose his identity.
Again, Il was he who had been near
at hand when Mr.. Vernon. at variance
with some of his mill employees, was
assalled by mob. Drury saved the
magnate from n shower OF dangerous
missiles and then vanished
Then. too in seeking an office friend
who was OF on n spell Of dissipation.
I'm shielding him from a group Of gam
blers. Drury had as well run across
Manfred Vernon. the brother OF Ina.
His efforts and warnings had signally
turned the footsteps OF both the young
men from the downward path.
II was about two months after the
disclosure TO Eric that the latter was
startled by reading In the morning
paper that a young man named Drury
Lawrence, passing the mansion OF
John Vernon, had sprung upon lurk-
ing intruder about 10 place a lighted
bomb within the vestibule. had flung II
away from the house, but It's explosion
had reached him. laceratlng and half
binding him. He had been removed
10 n hospital, and tire article commend
ed his herolsm and spoke OF the grati-
tude OF the Vernon family over this
great net OF self-sacrlnce.
Eric FASTENED 10 the hospital 10 find
Drury suffering hut radiant He had
saved Ina and her family II was
enough The surgeon said he would
recover both sight and strength In
time. Eric left the hospital with a
firm resolution In his mind. That
afternoon he called upon Miss Ina
Vernon. True-souled friend that he
was, he told her all and placed in her