The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-11-04

finally mentioned Alice. He came from
the place where I live Woodruff. Yer
mont folks thought he was q likely
enough young man when he started down
to Glyddon. How's he dong nows,'
Poor Bertha blushed and shook with
as much feeling Of guilt as If she had
personally superintended the closing Of
Guy 8 career with violent death. Some
how this bland, fatherly old persons In
terest in him gave her new perception
OF the mystery and awtulness Of his fate.
"Ohp she exclaimed, "hadn't you
hcard2"
t'What! he amt dead responded her
neighbor, with quaver in his voice.
But Immediately he added: tsNo. he
can't be. ] should have heard Of it. Per
shaps yeu mean he's marrled2''
At another time Bertha would have
laughed at this absurd juxtapositIon, and
even now had the impulse to answer,
''sNo, it's not quite SO bad as that.'' But
the mention of marriage came too near
her last interview with Guy to make it
wholly comlcal, SO she merely said: MHe
is gone away, nobody knows where; it
After 9 good many expressions Of
grief and wonderment, the old man
wound up withe "And so you can't
think of any possible reason2 That seems
singular. What do you suppose7''
His young friend hesitated and looked
down. she could not fib, and she could
not confde; so she said, simply, 81 can't
tell" Her lips trembled a little.
"Oh, well, hell turn out all right, I
guess concluded the other, soothingly.
1T reminds me Of foolish thing I did
myself when was young. I went off
and left the place, Twas staying in too.
But that was because I was kind Of
|spooney about young woman that
wouldn't marry me. Alice used to have
the name OF beng too level-headed for
anything like that. He wouldn't be such
a fool, would he2''
The small, brown hat went slightly up
ward with sudden movement. 81 don't
know" said the owner, sswhy you
should call it being tool.''
"You know better than I do about it,
Of course assented the white haired
critic. "Perhaps that's exactly what he's
done. Is it,
~ heard some one saying they tho1ght
he was disappointed in love- Bertha an
swered, rap dly and ungramatleally.
"And you don't blame him?' hazard
ed he, indulgently.
ssNo don't. It shows that he feels
deeply, anyway"
swell, now,' contin ued the old man
with drawl which indicated an appoach-
ing relapse into garrulity, sits queer
enough I should have met ye, amt lt9
And you from Glyddon, where used to.
live; and learning news of Atlee this
way. Queer enough! Well I must see
his folks when get back, and find out
if they know where he's gone
After this they talked of other things,
until they came to Wingfeld, the end OF
the journey, he making himself agree
able all the way, so that when the mo-
meAt came for parting, Bert ha was aware
that the journey had been very short, and
her casual acquaintance was really an en-
tertaining one.
"Maybe shall see you again, he
suggested, as they descended to the plat
form together. s
"Do you ever come to Glyddona'' sAs
inquired, with polite reserve.
"Guess shall before long, = he replied
"You wouldn't be surprised, suppose, if
old Clifford should drop in to see you some
day? And now / think of 1t, what's your
Nance Will YOU tell me9
She told him, and he DR. omptly wan
dered of, after giving her a nod, appar-
emily intent upon his own affairs. 81
should think he might have said good
bye little more as fhe was interested, .
unused Bertha, not wholly pleased at
having him appear to dismiss her SO cas-
lily. And yet, what else could mere
stranger, fellow conversionalist of an
hour, do2 Besides, Bertha reflected that
old men could not be expected to show
the same interest and gallantry as we'll,
as Guy and other young men.
When she got home that evening, she
bethought her to inquire of her father
whether he had ever heard of an old man
named Clifford who had lived in the vii
lage. Mr.. Finch dlmly recollected him
years before. t'But thought he was
dead" he added.
"No; / met him to-day in the train,
his daughter infor med him, s'and had
VCAy pAO6sS'tAI SAdIs 11CS Was 80 nlCtss i
do so like old men. Somehow when they
pay you compliments it doesn't embar-
ras you, and they seem to be true; for
what GAN an old man expect to gain BY
paying compliment that he doesn't
mean2''
"I'm afraid the appetite for feminine
approval only increases in us with age
laughed Mr.. Finch.
In less than week from the time of
his departure, the village was astonished
by Guy Atlee's temperance. 81 went
!! up to Woodruff to see my folks was the
| explanation; and he expected to make
light of the manner Of his going. But
though his escapade was good deal
criticized, he appeared to have gained
rather than lost in public estimation
by it.
When he went to see Bertha Finch, he
declared that jealousy had brought him
back. 81 learned of Irritation you
were carrying on with an old gentleman
in the cars -old Clifford; and knowing
your preference for mature men,
thought my chances, if had any left,
were in danger