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

and ease. No, my father is not q wealthy
man. but be has what is worth more to
me than all the wealth of the Indies, an
excellent library and now can study and
read. It is what my heart has craved
but what never dared hope for" ~
Eight years have come and gone since
Harry Balm still loving, parted from Eth
81 Cameron. He had, as she had antici.
pated he would, married the only chilo, an
neiress of a leading banker in New York,
but she who had 80 much contributed
to his advancement lived not to share his
triumph, for ere the years had spread by
death claimed its own and gently they laid
mother and babe in the graveyard. At
last Harry Balm had attained the height of
his ambition. at last he stood one OF the
leading men of the city, but was he happy?
! No. Often IN the solitude of his chamber
his heart pleaded for his first love but pride
whispered, "Be still; she is no mate for
him." Again he yielded. The elegant
mansion of Mrs. Lee was brilliantly
illuminated and the magnificent furnished
parlors were crowded with the elite of
that great city, for tonight her beauti-
full and accomplished friend, Ethel Merle,
has returned from abroad and in her
honor the ball is to be given, and who
would have thought that Ethel Cameron
and Ethel Merle, the beautiful and grace
tul woman, were one ana the same!
But WHY did the color in her face come
and 60 so rapidly, why did her heart
beat so fast and after anxiously scanning
every face almost stop. Ha! this was
the secret she misunderstanding Harry
Balm, and for him she had tried to look
her best. Surely che would not be dis
appointed; he would come; it was early
vet, but hours passed and he came not.
She had been dancing; she was one Of
the gayest Of the gay. Again the band
I'd commenced. the Lancers were being
formed, but refusing on the play of ia
tigue and warmth she crossed to a win
dow, as she thought unobserved, and
drawing the curtains together was so deep
in thought that she did not her the ap-
preaching footsteps until the curtains
were drawn aside and miss Merle, ex-
cuse our intrusion, but my friend wishes
to be introduced, and not knowing when
. the opportunity woulu again be afforded
j., I have taken the liberty of this
l Miss Merle, my friend, Mr.. BAN.
Her heart gave one great leap and
r then stood almost still, but
l she did not lose her presence of mind
r but bowed low and pronounced his name
4 distinctly. Yes, after eight years of JOY
|. and sorrow, for she had experienced both
: she stood face to face with the man tina
d had deserted and left her because sht
e could not aid to his ambition, but nov
n she stood his equal and she would hav'
8 revenge. She would exert her power Il
d the utmost to fascinate and draw him t,
/. her side, for she had determined Harr,
}; Balm should again ask her to be his wife
e But as they talked on, did he not recog
e nize her? No. But as a low musica
o laugh floated out in the still evenin!
IS breeze it brought back to his mind tn
II past and the remembrance of Ethe
e Cameron, but he thought it only fancy
n for he never for moment imagined tina
q the little country girl whom he had part
q ed with so long ago and the lovely WON
'e an before him now were the same. Fl
y would have deemed it impossible. Ethe
1t Merle was accomplishing her revenge, to
| night after night Harry Balm sought he
d side and soon learned to love her wit
q his whole heart. He swore life woul
T. she would be his wife at last, yet he da1
" not lay his heart at her feet, for had NJ
m fortune favored her TOO? he could stan
Ill it no longer-he would go at once an
y, ask her. He had been in the drawing
ID room what seemed to him hours (bl
er what was in fact only ten minutes) whe
rt the door opened and looking even mo-
ID beautiful than ever Ethel entered, an
I'D grasping her hand he dropped on or
in knee and told her of his love. He sal
nd you know, Ethel, I can offer nothin
re you have not except life of devotio
al. Will you accept it, will you be my wife
IN, After he had finished she said 'Aris
lot Harry Balm" There was somethi1
ICE in the tone of her voice as there had be,
ast IN the sound of her laugh that made hi
.ut startlc and gaze eagerly into her ey
les and there saw a look that broug
o. thoughts of Ethel Cameron again TO /
lie. mind. "Really,'' she continued, "has til
lgo wrought such change in me that y
i'm, who knew me best know me no. MOI
I'm, D. you remember, Harry Bain,' s
uld went on, Weight years ago when you |
nen again you would tell me ifby your o
the choice you had gained happiness" WI
uld she had concluded speaking he spra
and forward and catching her hands in
on. exclaimed, "Oh, Ethel, my darling
my know you now, I know why love y
my Forgive and forget and bid NE hope,
the Oh, Ethel, as true as there is heao
'ver above I have never ceased to love q
ure think of you and there have been no
feel in my life when 1 thought I would e
up everything.' And then snatch
Ear away the hands she intrusted him W
'ble she said, "It can never be-years ago
'ide cast away my love, bid all hopes dep
aid, thousand times no; would never tt
ave my happiness to one so false as you.
w." Harry Balm, the time has gone by whe
him " 'uld have been your wife. Now wo
he rither die" 'Oh, Ethel, have pity,
aes- plain this mystery" And she told ]
hen Of the eight years past. how her fat
oh, claimed her, how he helped and enct
e to aged her in her final success and W
, he she thought she had at last found hal