The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-08-14
My Miss Laura.

death made me an orphan, poor and
fricndless. Miss Laura De Neale found
me one day, crying bitterly, took COM
passion on me and brought me to her
home. Miss Laura's mother was an in
valid and the care of the house devolved
upon Miss Knox, the housekeeper. -t
had been there year when the Rev.
MIR. Walderon. the rector of st. Paul's, be-
came a frequent visitor, and at last Mis-
Lauras accepted lover. He was not
handsome, but yet man of splendid
presence ana, because of his love for my
mistress, and for his commanding figure
and noble bearing, I came to look up to
him with reverence, almost with worship.
-Four years slipped by. One day
Miss Knox told me that Miss Laura s
cousin, Philip Lansing, had returned from
abroad. She also informed me that he
and Miss Laura had once been lovers
that he wanted her to run of, but she re-
fused. He was heir to million, and
bound body and soul to his uncle. Miss
Laura was too poor to please the Cd man
and having spirit of her own she re-
fused to marry the nephew. .r..:.
The weeks passed on. l began to no.
tice change in Miss Laura. She had
not been wont to sit broeding over her
thoughts, but she did now. I noticed
that her cousin often called in tho early
morning, and that she spent much time
with him; that when he had gone, she
was pale, preoccupied In fact, entirely
unlike herself. I also saw that she went
oftener to her money desk, and something
weighed upon her spirits; that now and
then she went out in sort of disguise
but dared Lot even conjecture, thou gh
my mind was full Of terrible misg1vings.
One night sat up waiting for her till
the clock struck eleven. knew the rec
tor had gone sometime before, and was
wondering what had become of Miss
Laura, when the door flew open and she
came in.
Her face was startlingly pale, and he1
eyes, unnaturally large, seemed to scin-
tillate with quick fiery flashes. For a
moment I was frightened, but at sight OF
me her countenance changed. She nod.
ded and smiled in her own pretty fash
ion; then. going straight to the mirror
she suddenly gloomed again, and began
in an absorbed way, to pull the pins out
of Der hair.
Wont you let me do that for you. Miss
Laura?" I asked.
"Not now-l'm in hurry my hair is
so heavy! it hurts me--my head has
ached all the evening. You NAV do it ur
for the night--there! now, my dressing:
gown, child-the easy-chair -tnat is com.
portable. don't often keep you up SC
late, Renie. How cold your hands are =
1t was not that my hands were cold
it was that her head was hot, it throbbei
heavily at the temples, and it almos
seemed as if the thick warm masses O.
golden brown palpitated as they fel
over my arm, in rich, unrestrained lux
uriance. .,@E ~. zz- ...-.,
At length the long coil was combec
and carefully fastened just above the
nape Of the shapely neck.
"That will d." she SAID, almost i'm
patiently, for still fingered. Il can gel
along myself now.'' -
Then l heard one quick, passionate
sob, but her face was hidden from me
tor she had thrown both arms over he1
head, and the drapery concealed he1
features.
I left her reluctantly, feeling that
trouble had come-troubie between nv
beautiful mistress and the rector of St.
Paul's. Was it ON account Of her hand.
some cousin2 Vainly I tried to sleep,
The easily fancy that she was sobbing on
the other side OF the wall haunted me,
What if she still loved Philip Lansing5
The grave, proud face of Mr.. Walderon
seemed to tighten in disdain as l caught
myself acting the part Of Miss Laura in
an imaginary dramatic episode, he learn.
ing the fact that the woman he loved had
been wooed, almost won, and thrown
aside, and that still her heart throbbed
at sight Of her old lover.
On awaking the following morning,
Il found the sun shining broadly in my
room. Miss Laura was an earley riser
J. and must have rung for me. Hastii,
dressing, I hurried to her room. Sht
was up, sitting in the great armchair
listlessly, like one dreaming with ope1
eyes.
did you ring for me9' asked.
"l2 Yes. I believe I did," she re
4 piled, with a start. Dress me as quick
" as you CAM she added, with forced
quiet; II will have my breakfast brought
up stairs. You can make some excuse tx