The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-10-14


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80
al opportunity for explanation; and
rom pride and plque, she laughed and
talked gally with Goesett, who was ALE
ways beside her. Gossett had from the
first understood that he had 8 rival IN
the man who had saved his life, and
dimly fathomed the motives that actuat-
ed him in leaving the course clear for
him. y
"The man is quixotic ass, " hessaid to
himself. II believe she Likes him, and he
is throwing away his chances; but the
sooner get him out Of the way, the bet
ter"
At the END Of the week Gerald came
into the smoking-roo Of the hotel late
one evening. Gossett was alone there.
For time they chatted on indifferent
matters, and then Gossett said;
II am sorry l don't see more OF you,
but you seem always ont, and well,
l hardly look upon myself as Tree man. ]"
"May I ask Gerald said after . NOM
ent's pause, " II you are engaged to Miss
Heneage?"
SWELL, after what I owe you5
Gossett sa1d. II do not like there to
be any concealment between US. There
is and has been for sometime sort ofeu-
gagement between us. It's not actually an
engagement, because her mother objects
to long engagements, and is anxious that
her daughter should not marry until she
is three land twenty; SO, you understand,
there is no avowed engagement, although
in point of fact it comes to the same thing.
It is secret between us two now; and I
should not tell you, butt know that /
can rely upon your not mentioning it OF
notcingfit in any way. In few weeks
she will be within six months Of three
and twenty, and then it will be publicly
announced"
Gerald was silent for short;tme, and
then said, quietly:
"You are a fortunate man. I suspect.
ed that it was so from the. first time
saw you address her. And now I will
say goodnight and goodbye. l am go
ing up to town tomorrow. Will you say
goodbye for me to Mrs. Heneage and
her daughter?"
"a very good stroke Paul Gossett
said to himself, as he went out. "Now
something Of the same sort the other side
and I think the game is mine. He's
hard hit, and wont care about seeing Vi
after marriage; and if he does, and il
happens to come out, it won't matter
then"
The next morning, at breakfast, ht
said, carelessly, to Maud Heneage, "Tha
queer fellow, Mayfeld, went up to tow
this morning. He asked me to say good
bye to you and Mrs. Heneage.'
"Has he gone for good?' Maud asked
after short silence, and Paul Gosset
could see that she had grown suddenl!
pale.
20, yes; from what he said, fame,
his wife had come back from some visi
or other, and wanted him home"
Ills wifen Maud Heneage SAID.
eyes; did he never speak to you abou
her2" -
Maud did not answer, nor did she /,
out for her usual walk that morning.
"haried!' she thought to herself, a
she sat alone in her room, looking on
on the seas "marriedr Then she hat
been utterly mistaken in her judgmen
of faces; and yet, as she sats there, sh
| was unconsciously making excuses to
him. He had, she felt sure, loved hel
but he might not have known it him
self, and when he realized it, he ha
altogether withdrawn from hel. 81
ought to have told her. It was wrong
livery wrong; but yet he may have mean
no deliberate harm. He might be unhap
| Pr with his wife and SO avoided the sui
:ject, thinking that, so long as she wa
but chance acquaintance, it was no al
fair of hers. So with an aching hear
she made excuses for him, and blushed t
find herself doing so.
II have no right to think OF him. sh
cried; she's married man, and nothin
to me. Thank heaven, if we meet t
morrow, I at least need not feel ashamee
It is all over now,'' she sald YEARLY, q!
| ter pause. "They saw every woma
meets her ideal once in her life; hay
!, met mine, but he was already another
Well. it does not matter who mar
now.''
, Six months later the papers had I'll
, announcement of the marriage of Pa.
Gossett and Maud Heneage; and upo
the day that the notice made its appea
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