The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-02-27
7oung prince. I wish you had seen him

"H'm, replied Miss Gale, meditatively
st would have been more to the purpose
had he put good edge on my carver.
don't like the looks Of it at all, Molly
In effect it proved hopelessly dull, as
did also everything else submitted to the
gentlemanly grinder. OF course Molly
had to endure some teasing upon the
subject. t.t
She bore it with a good grace; and as
weeks passed by the subject was forgot
cen, or, if remembered at all, only by
herself.
The spring was advancing, It proved
an early one. Violets starred garden
beds by the first of April; hawthorn
hedges blossomed into smiles to greet in
coming May; the early roses crowded on
their buttoned-up buds and flushed with
bloom. It was impossible to resist the
sudden summcr-tide Of all things. No.
body prated Of rheumatism or preached
prudence. Old and young alike fl ng
caution to the winds, and, as if intoxica-
ted by the fragrant air, ignored dews, sat
on fresh grass, and committed all other
impudences. BY the middle Of June a
picnic had been proposed and organized
Such parties were not unusual even in
quiet Woodbury., but the oldest inhabi-
tant could not recollect one 50 early in the
season. ...4-r
Ofcourse Molly was to go. What could
a picnic in Woodbury. be without her?
Her sweet temper, pretty, merry face and
deft fingers made her universal favorite
No one knew the wild, beautiful forest
hooks SO we'll no one comprehended so
perfectly the due admixture of salad and
lemonade, or had such a trick of decking
an impromptu table tastefully with ferns
and flowers. Of course Molly must 60
And it was while in in the very midst of
some dainty outdoor housewifery that a
stranger was brought up for introduction,
and "Miss Gale" had to look up from her
oak wreaths and frosted cakes to courtesy
to "Mr. Conrad A pair of dark eyes
met hers, with sudden, amused, glad
recognition, which perplexed and mysti-
fed her.
"Where have I seen him before?" she
thought, again and again, as the day wore
on with its lively alterations Of luncheon,
laughter, and Irritation. But no answer
occurred, and the new arrival followed
her movements with devotion which
caused some teasing from the CHER girls,
and not few jealous pangs among the
young mea. at is case of see and con-
quer," whispered her friends among
themselves, but neither with surprise or
envy; for Molly was belle in her little
set, and none disputed her pretty SUI
premacy.
Mr. Conrad had come to Woodbury.
!" on business" it seemed. He did not
specify its nature, and no one could
guess it; it evidently absorbed little of
his time; but week after week he linger-
ed in the village, and, as <'business' was
by no means the specially ofthe place, his
errand was subject great speculation
among the gossips. Young, good-looking
and much of a gentleman, he was univer-
sally accepted and liked. Molly met him
here, there, and everywhere, and their in
timacy grew with great strides. Before
a month was over she felt. that she had
known him always-a fact which puzzled
her not little whenever she took time to
think about it.
Still the resemblance which had struc k
her at first pursued and haunted her. It
was not his face only-voice and form
were also familiar ;all suggested somebody
for her life she could not tell who.
Twenty times she was on the point of
speaking of it, and twenty times retained.
" 1t is so qidiculous,'' she said to herself.
at last explanation came.
It CHANGED on picnic Woodbury.
was famous for its picnics. This was
held in the same beautiful grove where
she and Mr.. Conrad had first met in early
June The day was hot and brilliant
Golden rod and purple aster fii"ged the
paths; the August sky blazed through the
tree-tops; summer, gathering her last
blossoms in her lap, seemed Fastening to
be gone. Dinner was over; people were
lying under trees, or wandering about in
groups; Molly and MIR. Conrad found
themselves alone in secluded nook.
"Do you know she said, breaking a
long pause. ''1ve been so puzzled all this
time to find out who it is you remind me
Of? I saw it the moment you were intro
duced to me; and, if it hadn't been en-
possible, should certainly have declared
that we had met before. Isn't it funny?'
"Well," replied Mr.. Conrad, slowly,
not so--funny--perhaps--a as you think.
I sould like--may I? Molly, will you lis
ten while l tell you a long story? have
longed to utter it for days past, but till
now never dared.''
"Certainly,' said Molly, coloring. He
never called her "Molly'' before.
at is about young man. continued
Mr.. Conrad "a wild young fellow, full
of fun and fro!ic, who never stopp ed at
any thing that promised a good joke.
"There was a young lady, too, as it
happened a sort OF cousin Of his - as
wild as himself. She was sent, for her
sins, to boarding school "a very strict
school. It was at P, not far from
there" '
THE convent?" asked Molly, wonder
ing. 49,
"Exactly. Well, my young lady wrote
home all sorts of droll accounts of her
prison-house. She told all her trials and
adventures, and made pen and INK carl
catures of the Lady Superior, whom she
dubbed The Dragon; in short so conf
cal that her brothers and cousins and
two Or three young men who we're init
mates of the house, and so privileged,
used to roar over the letters, and look for
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