The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-04-16

cay that was he;'' and she pointed to
man who passed the house al Il distance |
of some rods, and who now at her ex-
clamation lifted his hat and bowed.
The sight of this man created the most |
powerful sensation in the group and Mr..
Holt sprang to his feet and went down to
the gate; but he had vanished. The
likeness to Hugh Glendenning had been
startling, not only his face. but his at
titude and gesture and his gait seemed to
have declared that it was Hugh Glen
denning himself. In another moment
George Dana came running up, calling
for help. He SAID, while crossing the field
to meet Agnes, he had seen her in con-
versation with man who looked like
Hugh Gleddenning, and who strobe away
on his approach, and when he himself
reached her she swooned away and was
lying on the ground.
The trouble which now overwhelmed
Agnes and her family was one of those
cruel enigma;ical troubles which take all
freshness out OF life. Agnes, when
restored to consciousness, declared that
while she was crossing the fields her hus-
band had suddenly started from behind
tree, caught her by the arm, held her
tightly clutchcd, and said to her, in a
horrible tone, DO not dare to marry that
man" and that she remember ed no more
until she opened her eyes and saw her
mother bending over her. A frightful
bruise on the tender flesh of her arm cor
roborated her story. The family, too. had
| all seen man who, if not Hugh Glen
! denning, was his absolute likeness.
George Dana was the only one who COM
bated tue truth of these ideas; he de-
clared it to be wholly i'm possible
that Glendenning should be alive; he
himself had questioned the captain and
Off GERS on board the steamer after the
suicide five years before. Everything
pointed conclusively to the belief that the
unhappy man had been drowned. The
steamer had been searched Over aud
over; on the fatal day of the disappear
ance they had not even sighted a vessel
or q boat; thus there could have
been no rescue from the sea. He was
dead, George declared with irresistible
decision. When confronted with the
fact that they had all seen Hugh or his
ghost, he declared it to be chance re-
semblance-that Agnes was dispirited
and nervous, and when the man touched
her her disordered imagination supplied
the words she believed him to have
spoken.
George, however, being broken hearted
at the failure of his engagement, was no
to be trusted as counsellor in such {
crisis. The marriage was given up
Advertisements were put in the principa
! papers for year, implo1ing Hugh Glen
denning, if alive, to communicate will
his wife and family; but not a word wa
, heard from him. Agnes naturally sui
, fered the cruelest form of suffering--sus
] pense and dread, and helpless and hope
q less misery. Her past was embittered
e present she had none, and the future wa
\ full of doubts and terrors.
2 Gradually, as two years, then tire
j years, passed, every one save herse]
# ceased to believe in the reality of the az
|. partition which had startled them all thu
i twentieth day of August. Aud at time
g even Agnes herself doubted the evidenc
Of her senses. How could 1t be possib]
10 that Hugh was still alive, when in a
- these past eight years he had only ono
Il disclosed himself to the sight of any {
his friends? When he might come an
. claim her before all the world, what po
~ sible object could he have for lurking
o shadow, only caring to overwhelln BIT
~ when she made an effort at renewed tie!
~ George Dana naturally was not slow
a help her in these questions and doubt
~ he tried, too, to inspire her with coura&
70 that, instead of covering helpless b
II fore vague and nameless shadows in Il
~ darkness, she should resolutely 90 {
~ ana meet and grasp and defy them. +
4 this time, too, she was legally freed fro
10 her husband, even if he were alive, a
ID than eight years had passed since his a
parent death. Agnes was at last pc
10 suaded to end the long suspense. 81
n n suffered not only for herself, but f
n George, whose life she was spelling, al
~ finally consented to marry him private
n from her sisters house in New Yor
~ Their plans we're not discussed beyor
~ the family circle; it was decided that Il
no two should quietly walk out to the ci
ho church, and then and there be married
er a strange clergyman. Thus everyth1l
n unpleasant would be avoided, and bcfo
'st consequences we're faced they would
~ actually met and conquered.
This plan seemed destined to brir
~ the happiest results. The morning
-. the wedding-day dawnea. Agnes quit
al ly ate her breakfast; then went to b
Ia room and PIT on her bonnet to 90 o
q and be married. As she stood at Il
'at window drawing on her gloves M
a. stopped suddenly on the pavemel
,as looked up and gave warning gestul
Mt then assembled the doorstep.
W. Amoment later her sister entered t
IS room and found her sitting down by Il
of fire, huddling as if to warm herse|
Nv "Why, Agnes" said she. II expected
1ise find you all ready to start. Here is
S;y,s little package which some one has il
IN brought for you. Unless l. were seer
oil about the wedding, I should suppo
-; ~ this was present"
~. ~ "Tnere will be no wedding" said A
20, 20 mes in a hopeless tone. II have ju
no seen Hugh again. 1t was he who broug
ar that. Let me see it."
She opened the little parcel listless
CO., "' It contained ring, mans weddi
o ",' ring-the very one she had given HUI
~ IL nine years before.