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

AAJ o.AOAS anu massive, was growing
ruined from want of care-the care that
money alone can give.
There were stories that it was haunted,
several people affirming that they had
seen unearthly forms pacing the terrace
in front of its broad hall, or moving
before its ruined windows.
The general description made these a
stern old man and beautiful, golden
haired woman; but, strangely as it may
seem, though many people residing in
the nelghborhood testified to having
seen these, they were never visible to the
inhabitants Of the house.
At this time the owner of the old
house was named Millicent Berkeley, e.
girl as beautiful and bright as the one
whose strange disappearance, two
centuries or more before, was still mvs-
terry. She was the daughter of the last
Wardour Berkeley, man who had let
his passions rule till they sank a noble
genius in the ruin of dwelling drunk
ard, and the great cause of wonder was
how one so pure and SO sweet and wom-
anly could come from such father.
| His wastefulness had left the lands
belonging to the old estate burdened with
heavy claims, so that when he died the
half-ruined house was all that the dauph
ter could call her own.
His funeral drew together many of tn
distant connections of the family--off-
shoots that had carried the name to far
away places-and among these came
one Simon Berkeley, a young man just
graduated from college, proud, hand
some, courageous, talented, generous,
ambitious and warm hearted, but poor.
He had used up what little money he
inherited in obtaining an education, and
now stood ready to enter ife's fight and
bravely battle up the victory.
He had never mingled much with
women, for he had lost his mother when
babe, and no sister had been given him
and knowing that bis success in the
future depended on himself alone, he had
kept steadily at his studies, and carried
OF the highest honors of his class.
Then came the funeral of Wardour
Berkeley, and Simon met Millicent.
She was like revelation to him, so
lovely and so lovable that his soul went
out to her in a great cry for love; and
when the obsequies were over and the
other members of the family were gone,
he fingered on at the old house, striving
by all the many powers he possessed to
make Millicent happy.
That he succeeded can easily be mag
ined, for Millicent had led lonely life,
and her sunlit days had been very few.
The days of his stay grew into months.
But he was not idle all this time: he
could not afford to be. He read law for
hours, filling his mind with 3 store of
knowledge to help him in the future.
Autumn came, and with it the settle
ment OF the estate, this showing Millicent
that she was almost pcnniless, for she
could not sell the house or land near it,
and neither were productive Of an in.
come.
At this time of trial her cousin was of
great service, and they were drawn closer
together.
They were walking in the orchard one
bright October afternoon, when the
beauty of nature, clad in her varied
splendor and rich with warm floods of
sunlight, filled their souls with that sub
tie sympathy that awakens love.
It would have been impossible for anv
man OF generous nature to refrain from
doing what Simon Berkeley then did.
! In their walk they came to a terrace
that overlooked the sunlit sea.reaches.
where the white sails shone and glittered
as they filled and swayed in the wind.
They had been talking of Millicent's
business, and she was troubled when they
reached this point.
They stood silent a little time. and
then the tair CIR, suddenly stretching out
her hands lmploringly to the ocean, said j.:
"Oh, that we might have the power to
ny from trouble as easily as those ships
glide through the seal"
How could any soul stand unmoyed at
such time? It would have taken hard
and storm-tossed man to Whilst the
pleading in her voice, and Simon Berke-
ley was not person of this kind. He
took the outstretched hands reverentlv
in his, and looking into the clear, sweet
eyes, said: my darling, will YOU not
let me try to keep this trouble away, my
love?-for love you"
She could not doubt this, there was
such great light in the deep, gray ewes
looking into hers; and as she saw this, q
sweet rest came to her soul, and, with a
low, glad cry, she nestled in the clasp of
the arms so willing to take her. So thew
stood for long time, holding that holy
converse that love brings, and then again
walked slowly through the orchard
aisles.
II should like to keep the old acres"
said Millicent; $50 many of our family
have called them theirs, and lived and
loved among them, that it seems like a
sacrilege to let them 60"
"They shall not co." answered Simon
1--WE will save them; for I can work now,
and to him who works with brave soul
all things are easy"
He was hopeful and strong, for love
and sunshine are the great powers that
give the soul hope and gladness.
eyes, I feel that we can and will keen
them" she said, "lor we can help each
other.
SAND must not stay here much longer.
dear, for when the work is ready and the
hands willing there should be no linger
ing by the way.
II know, and yet it is so hard to let
you go, just as seem to have gained
yOu," and her little hands cluno close IN