The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-01-22

calm, haughtily Indifferent His blanklv
astonished, angry, agitated, by turns.
sNot-not that, Agnes" he pleads,
huskily.
The serene beauty, the quiet determi-
nation OF her face answer him.
At least, let me explain. can do SO
to your satisfaction, I think, I hope!" he
says, obviously. "Return it to your fing-
er, and reserve judgment till you hear
the defense!' And he holds the ring to-
ward her, with great clumsy hald that
hembles somewhat.
Still no audible reply. A faint shake
OF the head, a look of polite incredul
that is all.
@Do you not care2" he asks.
HIS appealing eyes search ed her face
1t does not change. Beautiful, impertur-
bable, the sentence written there never
varies. His unsteady fingers dropped the
ring; but he lets it lie, half buried in
heecy rug. Then, with a set, stern look
ne sets his foot upon it, bows slightly,
and walked from the r. ON.
he leaves the house, passing the win
dow to gain tie road, but looking neither
to the right nor to the left.
His head is erect, his hands are out of
the loose pockets. For once (startling
transformation, young Mat Curtis looks
positively dignifed.
And as he vanishes as startling trans
formation takes place in the room he has
quilted. Miss Bellue proves herself a
woman, and not a queen, by series OF
actions essentially feminine:
First she rescues the bent love-token
from the floor; then she kisses it and cries
over it; then she locks it away carefully
in a writing-d desk; then she rushes up
stairs to watch her lover out of sight from
an upper window. @... 49, I'd,
5sesFor quarter of mile or so she watch
ed him, "a retreating figure, growing small
er and smaller in the distance He never
once looked back; the regular march of
his step never faltered: turn of the road
hid him from sight. Miss Bellue sat
down on the floor "a most undignifed
position cried till her pretty eyes
were red and swollen.
q ut is all over" she moaned--"all
ever!"
Fire! Firep'
Mat sprang from his bed, and, with
professional experiences struck light,
tumbled into some clothes, and rushed
from the house.
No need to ask whence the alarm pro-
ceeded; the fierce pillar of flame and the
red glow in the sky were beacons toward
W ho Of
one thought in his mind, Il pray heaven
it may not be the rectory!'
"Where is it2' he shouted to two la.
borers, tagging along as swiftly as heavy
boots and ponderous habits of progress
sion would let them.
Farmer Joyce's, sur"
''Farmer Joyce's! Thank heaven! The
next house to the rectory, but not near
enough to endanger it!''
Mats suspense gave place to a thrill
of almost pleasurable excitement; it was
his mad young blood" asserting itself.
Dashing through a gateway, he almost
ran over girl, bareheaded, wringing her
hands in impotent anxiety. It was Miss
Bellue. ..-
'Go back at once" commanded Mat,
CURLY, "Put on hat, and the thickest
shawl you have"
The panic-stricken girl oocyed. Not
till afterwaad did it occur to her he had
no right to issue such instructions.
Sos When she returned it was to find Mat
thew Curtis, Esq, M. D., in the center of
burning pig-stye, pitching out squeak
ing, halt-roasted porkers.
''Just my luck!'' he grumbled, examin-
ing his scorched fingers. eff they had
been babies, now, might have gained
some credit at the same risk.'' -"
"The stable is a-fre, surf"
''What!" shouted Mat, He did not
wait for the information to be repeated.
An ardent lover OF horsefesh, it was an
appeal to his sympathies that sent him
round intervening outbuildings in state
OF breathless suspense.
It was true. The stable was on fire;
the horses were screaming with terror;
two or three rustics were making excited
and fruitless attempts to drag them out
attempts the poor animals resisted
with all their might. A little crowd of
men looked on idly and dsspairingly.
"Jim, run into the barn and get three
or four empty sacks and rope. Quick!"
eyes, sur"
By drawing sack over each animals
head and ne ok, thus blindfolding it; by
passing a rope round the forelegs and set
ting strong arms to haul, and by a little
organization Of brave but until then Flap.
piled efforts, rescue was effected. All
the horses were saved except one poor
brute smothered by the smoke.
Farmer Joyce came up, with grimy
hand extended in honest gratitude.
"Thank you kindly, sir. don't mind
for the ricks and the buildings-they are
insured; but it went to my heart to hear
them poor brutes Scream
Mat gave his left hand-the right one
was bound up with handkerchief. The
old rector joined them, Miss Bellue lean
ing on his arm. ..
'The danger is over now, Joyce, I
think. Mat, come across with me.' 1872.
, Mat glanced at the averted face of the
young lady, and misconstrued it. She
was, in truth, ashamed to meet his eye.
The contrast between his GOODNESS and