The diamond drill., 1921-07-16

Lucina, on a biooded horse his father
owned
Jerome worked harder. Occasions
multiplied during which he and
Lucina met. AT first she wondered at
him obviously with dIlating blue eyes.
then she began to blush softly.
Jerome's looks at her could have
but one meaning.
| In the meantime, Elmira Edwards
had her own little romance with Law
renee Prescott, but II promised TO be
an unhappy one. Lawrence was
threatened with disinherltance, and
Elmira dismissed him. Then she fell
III. and that night was In high fever
Lawrence came and she did not know
him. Lawrence went home and had n
scene with his father.
AS under the circumstances Pres
colt could not be employed. a doctor
from Westbrook was sent for. Elmira
was Ill several weeks. Lawrence and
his mother were assiduous In care and
attention.
Her illness cost so much that
Jerome had not been able TO make
good the deficit caused by a loan TO
Ozias Lamb. to prevent a foreclosure
Of a mortgage on his little home. The
loan had postponed his mill. Some
times Jerome reflected with bitter
amusement upon the bet made In the
village store few years ago. Egged
on by some village wags, Doctor Pres
colt and Simon Basset had signed be-
fore Lawyer Means document where
by they promised to pay for the bene-
fit Of the poor. ten thousand apiece. II
Jerome Edwards should ever have
twenty-five thousand and give IL all
away. II. --.-.-,.---%-
Jerome thought It the safest bHsl.
ness deal IN all creation. Meanwhile
he worked so hard he seldom saw
Lucina. He had not the time to call
upon her. He was sure that they un.
derstood each other although no for
NAL engagement had been made. He
was sure that Lucina understood that
be could not call because he was work
Ing so hard for her sake. But Lucina
did not understand. She grew thin
and pale. and her parents fearing a de-
cline, sent her West for change.
But he was not sure when she re-
turned from the West looking bloom
ing and sent him little note, inform
Ing him sweetly but firmly that they
would be friends but nothing more.
Even then Jerome did not believe
His faith In the girl was almost SUBJ
line.
The mill was built, and work began
Jerome set himself certain sum to
be earned before he went TO see
Lucina.
One day the village was startled by
the news that Col. Jack Lamson had
come into a fortune of sixty-five thou
sand dollars from some old mining
stock, and had gone TO Boston with
Lawyer Means upon business connect
ed with it
Shortly after that the village had
another shock. Abel Edwards came
home. He had been oil the time on a
farm fifty miles away and had brought
home all his earnings In a tin box.
Jerome was prospering. when one
night there came a rain that was al
most a cloudbprst, the brook ran In
flood, and the next morning the mill
was carried away.
Jerome for the first time gave up
hope. when Colonel Lamson suddenly
died, and left twenty-five thousand
dollars 10 him, twenty thousand TO
Lucina, FIVE thousand to Eben Mer-
ritt, ten thousand TO John Jennings,
Ave thousand 10 Lawyer Means.
People at once remembered the old
bet In the store. Would Jerome give
away the money! He soon set doubts
AT rest. He gave the money 10 the
poor of the village, and factory was
to be set up. using the money as cap
ltal stock.
The bet was not binding legally.
Prescott knew, but did not fail 10
abide by HIS word. Simon Basset hung
himself before he knew he need not
pay dollar unless he chose.
Squire Merritt's wife took n hand.
She offered Jerome the five thousand
dollars which her husband had inner
tied, to build new mill, but Jerome
refused. although he knew that II
meant giving UP Luclna.
Mrs. Merritt said that she inferred
that he did not wish TO marry Luclna.
Jerome burst out with mad vows OF
his love for Luclna.
| Mrs. Merritt returned that he loved
his pride more. Finally Jerome yield
ed. They were standing outside under
a tree talking and In the parlor were
Elmira and Lawrence Prescott talking.
Everything was settled happily for
them. Doctor Prescott had given his
1 consent.
When Jerome met Lucina in the
parlor she clung TO him and wept at
first. then she drew him TO a little
damask sofa. and took letter from
her pocket They read II together.