The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-09-24
A SLIGHT MISTAKE.

be deeply moved, and various were the
shades that chased each other over her
fair face
"And has Frank come with h,m5 ask
ed Nellie, with an eager look and tone.
III don know anything about Frank,
returned Lydia, with toss of the head
that had some contempt III it. "Only !
the names of those who have brought |
home money with them are printed.
You can look for yoursclt.'
Nellie took the paper, and 81" 1haI
Sidney II. West had brought home eighty |
thousand dollars. Below she saw a list
of passengers, and IN it she found the
name of Frank West; but there was no
mention made of his having brought
home any money.
Frank has GOMEZ she cried, III glad
tones.
"Well, suppose he has2 Of course you
do not mean to renew the old intimacy.
II should like to see him, at all events,
rp|icd Nellie, aid then sho went on
reading the paper.
LYDIA and Nellie Collins were sisters;
the former being twenty-elght years OF
age. and the latter six years younger.
Then father, who had been at one time
quite t1our:shing merchant, had been
dead number of years, and the sisters
hved with their mother in fine house
and in fashionable part Of the city
Mrs. Collins was naturally good wo-
man: but fashion had turned her head
somewhat, and she thought more OF hav
ING her daughters move in select circles
than she did of surrounding them with
bealthful influences. But there was
vast difference between the dispositions
OF these two daughters. Nellie had been
her fathers pet, and had drawn from
him fund of sound sense and reason
which her sister had failed to obtain, and
which did not leave her ~hen her father
was taken away. There was deep cur
rent of humanity-of natural, grateful
OVERWHELMING her whole nature, and
even her schemlng, fashionable sister
respected her for it, though she probably
had no real conception of why this re-
spect " as called forth.
1t was generally supposed that Mrs
Collins was wealthy. She owned the
house in which she lived. and it was
siderable money.
Sidney and Frank West we're cousins
and had ono, been clerks in the employ
OF Mr.. Collins. Three years previous t.
the opening Of our story they went t.
California to ''seek their fortunes, ant
had no returned, as we have seen.
One evening as Mrs. Collins and he
two daughters were alone, Sidney ant
Frank were announced. They wer
cheerfully admitted, and warmly vel
coined. Sidney was tall, dashing-tel
low, five and thirty years OF age, dressed
in the height Of fashion, and flashing
with costly jeweiry. His cousin was some
years younger, and dressed very plainly
Frank WAS by far the most intelligent
though he lacked "style." In fact, h
was rather common-p place in his manner
and conversation, depending more upol
the substance OF what he did and sal,
than upon the show he could make
But Sidney blazcd and flashed away lik
pyrotechnic battery, and he was no
long in enrapturlng Lydia and her me
ther Frank and Nellie finally drew to
gether upon Que Of the tete-n tetes, an
there enjoyed a conversation by them
selves.
81 must secure that man." said Lydia
after the visitors had gone.
"What, returned her sister with som
surprise, lido you mean Sidney West2'
''Indecd do
"You cannot do such thing, Lydi'
Arc you not engaged to Charles Adams9
"No-indced am not.''
"But you have given him every Ell
enlargement"
II may have done so while he was IL
best match that offered" returned Lydi
with toss of her head. "But I ha,
been very guarded in my conversatit
with him. lave made HIM l
PROMISES
'But, pursued Nellie with a trouol,
look, "you have given him every enco
agement, and know that he loves y.
and think you mean to be his wife,
"And do you think l would give n
hand to poor clerk, when such 4 pr
as this is within my grasp?" said Lydj
with much warmth
"You should not call Charles Adams
poor clerk" said Nellie, reproachful
''He has salary of two thousand dolls
a year and will soon 60 into business
his own account. You know he has &C
fdc'l to you statement Of all his pecu
AIRY plans and prospects,"
"Yes-so he has," retorted the elt
sister and if he ever succeeds in busine
it must be some years first, during viii
time his wife must be helping him sa
No, n--uone of that for me, while h
band is within my grasp who is alrea
rich"
III think" spoke Mrs. Collins. at t
point "that Sidney West offers very
sirabie match. think he loves Lyd
and would make her very good b
band"
II know he used to love me-" g.
ydia.
'But you returned his love by treat
him very coldly,' suggested Nellie.
''That was when he was only a y
clcrk,' returned the proud beauty; 81
now that he has returned with the 20
en- fleece of Phryxus, he is quite u diff
ent person" E.@: .E @- ".&
'He will make very eligible mate
pronounced the mother, with much
clsion. She spoke as though she |
made up her mind, and wished to h
no more argument on the point.