The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-07-16


tremor in his voice, though the brave
face was colorless when he congratulated
bride and groom and wished them bon
voyage.
He had met Mrs. THORNTON several times
since her return from her tour, but never
alone, as to-day, and he found it danger
ously sweet to sit there gazing into the
lovely eyes and at the dear, tender little
mouth Of his early love.
But let us return to Mrs. Thornton.
She stands there. in the centre of that
pretty room, with white, white face,
and wild, frightened look in the sweet
blue eyes, then burst into a passionate
| flood of tears, throws herself on the near
est chair, drops her face in her hands,
and her hands on the table before her
fifteen minutes pass. The sobs
grow fainter and fainter. At length silence
reigns, save for an occasional chirp from
| the canaries and the ticking of the pref
| ty French clock on the mantle. A rap
| at the door arouses her, and James enters
with a cluster Of violets. There is no
card-nothing to tell from whom they
came; but she knows only too we'll. In
the dear old days, when she was Miss
Tremaine, two such clusters were left
every day at her door, one bearing Ray
Remington card, and the other
Charles Thornton's.
How long ago 1t seems, and how
changed the violets are As fragrant as
Of old, and as quantity pretty, their dear
little faces all awry, but somehow they
almost make her cry. And she ikens
them to little, fearful blue eyes, and kisses
them tenderly, pityingly, and then
thrusts them hurridly into the open draw
er of the table, closes it, and turns to
greet her husband, whose step had an
nounced his coming.
A moment later she is excessively pro-
voked at herself for thrusting the violets
out of sight. Why did she do it! She
could not have told you. Perhaps she
felt instinctively that her husband would
hardly approve of her receiving even so
tritling gift as a wee bunch of violets
from his old rival, Ray Remington.
Well, the thing was done and there
was no help for it. Were she now to
take them from the drawer, Charley
would certainly require an explanation
as to how they got there, and surely it
was queer place in which to put pretty,
fresh flowers? Better not say anything
about them. And shonld she speak Of
Rays visit? Yes; she would surely tell
that but not now-after dinner. Char
ley was always iusta trife impatient
cross-when he was hungry. She would
Uait until after dinner. But before the
dessert was brought on, while she was
eating her salad, her husband asked to
be excused
"There was most interesting article
in the Evening Spouter on the Chinese
question, which he had commenced in
the omnibus on his way home, and be-
came deeply interested in"
And off he went, and when the dainty
cup-custards, fragrant mocha, and lus-
cious fruit we're brought IN there was a
troublesome lump in the white throat and
a suspicious moisture in the blue eyes of
the wife, and the custard was trihed with
for a moment, and spoonful or two of
the mocha swallowed, for were not the
watchful eyes of 'sJeemes" upon her?
And then she fastened from the room,
her mind fully made up. She would 90
to Charley, tell him every thing just
how she missed the old caresses aod deli
cate little attentions; how lonesome it
was to sit there night after mig gazing
at the back Of his newspaper, or at the
top of his SLEEK brown head as it peeped
above the top Of the paper. She would
tell tim of Rays visit, and about the
hidden flowers, and with this resolve in
her heart: she opened the door Of the sit
sing-room.
"Charley, dear,'- she would give her
self a moment. for fear her courage
might fail" Charley, dear, will you put
your paper aside for moment? I want
to tell you sonnet ing"
@'Now, Lou, don't bother me; never
was more interested in my life. By lingo
this fellow writes we'll. Where's Leila
or Bijou? What is e use of your hav
ing pets, if you never notice them2 Now
sit down, that's good girl, and dress
Leila up in pink ribbon or something.
You Dug hit to be fond Of that COMPOUNDED
cat; it cost enough
How quickly the moisture leaves the
blue eyes! What sudden, firm tighten
ing there is of the pretty red lips, and
what hard, cold heart this of hers had
suddenly become! And tie Tempter
whispered in her heart, "Not so would
Ray Remington have looked or spoken; 81
And, remembering the tender voice and
the love in Rays eyes, she feels tender
ness springing up in her heat for the
owner of the bold, black eyes, and glad
though guilty pleasure in the thong gifts
of the hidden violets. And Charles
Thornton, Esq, returns to his paper with
a most self-satisfed air; which, by the
way, is the expression generally to be
found on the masculine countenance
when the owner thereof has been making
a most egregious ass of himself:
An hour later he throws down the
Spouter, and asks what it is she has to
say to him.
II really have forgotten. 1t was of no
consequence"
| Take care, Charles Thornton ! Your
wite's first falsehood. Who is to blame
for it ? and to what will it lead?
Three months later. Ray Remming-
ton and Mrs. Thornton have met many
! times since that sad day on which he sent
her the violets. They have lunched to-
gcther, rode together, and attended mat
| lnpps tOUnfhar ap1 ~, pirh+ &c oil ON