The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-04-30

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"sWh-what is itw I asked. SIS
Phillip" 5
give not seen him-one of the men
met him in the road"
"Then he has gone, after ala"
"Gones" echoed Judith. I can find
no comparison that could do justice to
her tone.
81 suppose he tells you all about it in
his letter." I suggested, hoping at least
to be relieved from explanation, since I
really had none to offer. --,.-- ~.,-, r.-,.
''What does he say"
"Say! / think you are crazy. You are
all as mad as hatters. I'll turn the house
into an asylum, and shut you all up in it.
if there's no other way"
,"But the letter." -
"Don't I tell you it's from Jeanie!'
cried Judith, fairly dancing at me in bel
anger and astonishment. "Jeanie has
gone awayw ...3. .
"Jeanie gone, too9" I muttered, and
sat helpless.
"Gone, too" demanded Judith. "Dc
you mean that Philip has left the house?'
I nodded. I was past speech for the
moment. .E
"Tell me this instant what it ali
means2" shrieked Judith. "Ill not
wait a secondw
"Philip went into a great state-said
he would not stay a night in the house
with that girl. 1 tried to get him to sec
you before he started; I thought he was
with you."
Judith sat down in a chair and glared
at me.
My question agitated my sister so much
that I really thought she would fly in
pieces. Then, with her usual brusque
changeableness, she suddenly began to
read the note aloud:
"DEAR AUNT JUDITH-You must forgive
mc-some time / will explain-1 cannot now
I am leaving the house-1 shall take the trair
to New York-mamma is there. Try not tt
be very angry with me, and invent some rea
son to give Uncle Jack@ can think of none
in my confusion-but I must 20. It breaks
my heart to behave SO ill toward you-d<
please try to pardon it, and believe me always
your loving Jeanie."
"Heavens and earth !" cried I. "Gone =
"Gone? Ordered the carriage, anc
drove away while [ wa busy about thu
gardener, who is ILL.,"
"Gone to town,"I said. "Why, goo6
gracious, Philip has gone there, too"
There was a brief silence between US
The room grew rapidly darker; for 'twi
light was coming Cd, so that I could no
we'll see Judith's face. Suddenly sht
startled me by bursting into a fit O.
laughter. There she sat and laughed
like a maniac, and the more I begged tx
know if she had the Mysteries the NOR
she laughed.
20, don't you understands" she man
aged at length to a1ticulate. "These two
idiots were trying to run away from eacl
other, and have run together"
I did understand. I laughed more in
sanely than Judith had done, I laughed
till I set myself coughing so hard tina
she was obliged to loosen my neckcloth
and pound me on the back.
A minute we heard Jea0ie's voic,
in the hall.
"Good heavens! she has come back |!
whispered Judith. stop where you are
She may as we'll think you know nothing
about her going. I'll find out what i
MEANS"
My sister went away. I sat Their
alone in the gloom. The dining.ro room
was at the back of the house and ha(
glass doors opening upon the strawberries
and these doors now stood open, tor i
was a warm May evening.
Suddenly I heard a step on the veran
da and saw Philips head appear in thu
doorway. He could not see me, but
had lighted another cigar, and it mad,
a bright spot in the darkness-he coulc
see that.
"Uncle jack" be said, softly.
eyes, my boy" said There wa NJ
further emotion possible to mel wa
calm from utter s~tupefaction.
II have come back" said he rathe:
sheepishly.
$50 I perceive" said I.
"You needn't say anything to Aun'
Judith" aid he, in a coaxing voice
Then he went on: "You see just as
was taking my ticket at the station,
saw Miss--I saw your young lady friend
AS she has chosen to leave the house
there is no reason why I should no
come back"
mot the slightest" said I, though
did not in the least know what I meant.
"What reason did she give for 20
ing?" - .
II didn't see her," said I. -,
"But to Aunt Judith-you have seel
Aunt JudithW
20, yes," l replied; "But I don't thinl
she knew any more about Jeanie's rea
sons for going than 1 did yours"
II suppose I had better tell you," sait
Phil. II feel rather more sane at pres
ent--I know I acted like a fool-but
you see, meeting her here, so unexpect
~, quite upset me-"
III should say there had been a prett,
general upsettlng," I muttered, but hat
sense enough not to make it audible.
Just then we heard Judith call me
swat here" I said, rising. "lll e
and see what she wants."
So I went out into the corridor, closing
the door after me.
"Phil has come back" I whispered,
81 know it, but Jeanie DOESN'T" re
turned my sister, in a low tone. ii saw
him going through the strawberries
What are we to do now2"
elias she said anything?"
"she won't explain. She only says sh,
could not stop in the house with tina
man; that when she got to the station sh,