The Princeton union., 1880-10-28

pola features, the large piercing eyes OF
Grantly Thornby. She was thinking,
too, she wished William had just a little
more manliness about hin-at least
enough to make some exertion tor a i've
llhood. 0
she looked very pretty sitting upon q
sofa IN deep thought, her fair hair falling
IN waves over her shoulders, her dimpled
chin resting in her small white palm, her
eyes full of gentle, tender light. awaken
ed there by her woman's pity for an un-
loved man. Sweet Adelaide! Her ten
| der thoughts were taking strangely for
| eign shape. when the entrance of her
mother aroused all the. antagonism Of her
nature, and sent her pleasant images fly
ing to the four winds of heaven.
"Well!' said that amiable lady, look
ing steadily at Adelaide.
"You have succeeded said Adelaide;
II have given my word, and now let me
have peace. I've no more to do with it..
Make whatever arrangements you please,
let the sacrifice be complete, only give
me peace.''
The mother turned to reply, but
Adelaide had left the room.
It was now IN the middle of july. and
it was settled that they were to be mar
ried in the coming October, that golden
month Of the year. Adelaide experienced
no regret, nor in fact seemed to take the
smallest interest in the progress of the
affairs. MIR. Thornby was constant in his
visits, but no common acquaintance could
have been more reserved or respectful.
NO word OF love ever passed his lips, no
| pressure of hand denoted his claim upon
that little property, yet even Adelaide
could not help noticing that his tace in
growing graver was also growing paler;
still her nature revolted against the enor-
nifty Of forcing her into a marriage re-
pugnant to her feelings. Had he been
in love with any one else, no hand would
have been sooner outstrelched in sympa-
thy and coincidence. As it was she pit
led him, and really began to exert her.
self to Danish something of the gloom
which surrounded his life. .sIt WASH t
his fault she would think, "after all; he
couldn't help it. poor fellow, and as ana
to be his wife, I may as well try to be
agreeable:
From that day the scene changed at
the dwelling of Mrs. Fairfax. It was an
old rambling country mansion in which
they resided, and Mr.. Thornby's estate
joined theirs. Flowers grew all about in
the greatest profusion, and there was a
large sheet OF water just upon the verge
OF the wood where the lazy water-lilies
lay with their white leaves all the long
summer. To this spot Adelaide and MI.
Thornby made a da,l pilgrimage. Ade-
laide was astonished that she had never
before discovered what an amiable com
panion her betrothed was; she rather
liked leaning upon his arm and looking
up INTO his brilliant eyes while he ex.
planned to her some of the wonders of ma
ture spread before them. He spoke too,
OF travels made in foreign lands; of fa-
NOUS cities and monuments of the past; Of
the wonders OF architecture, OF art, Of
palntin and statues which she only
knew from prints, but which she had not
seen themselves, and which in his descrlp-
tlons rose in her imaginations far higher
than the graver's art could make them.
He pictured to her Venice with its silent
streets and funeral-like gondolas, it's
glorious palaces and churches, its Bridge
OF Sighs, its secret crimes and iealous1es.
He spoke too of Rome and what it was.
OF It's walls and ruins, of its monuments
and churches; of Milan and of Florence.
OF the golden Arno and orange groves,
of the treasures Of literature and art
within the walls Of the Pitt palace.
Adelaide was sensible enough when
the romance she had gathered from books
was not too powerful for her. She be-
gan to compare the glowing, fascinating
descriptions which he knew so we'll how
to relate, with the silly, whining senti-
mentality other former lover, and for that
matter lover still, for she would have
flushed with indignation had any one
suggested the idea of her having turned
truant to her first love. She never dream
ed Of such an atrocity. She liked Mr..
Ihornby because he was so kind to her, so
careful over her, SO considerate for her
comfort, but never, no never could her
heart wander from its allegiance to its
first love. And she was sincere in this
belief. She went, indeed, so far that once
when she met William Beckett, she told
hlm that had he been man of mind
sufficient to bear up under the mistor-
tunes which oppressed him, had he risen
up under adversely and carved his way
in the world as other men had done. she
would have left all, defcience of restraint.
aud shared his fortune whether for good
or bad, But it would be rushing in the
lace OF Providence to saddle man with
a wife and the responsibilities of a family
when he had not sufficient energy to sup
port himself; to all of which he only
whlned like child, and accused her Of
turning against him because he was poor.
! October was fast approaching. The
orchards were golden with their luscious
fruit; the forest trees were all tinted with
autumn brown, while over all was that
dreamy. hazy, delicious air, which seems
redolent with the general JOY of the sea-
son. And you would scarcely have
known Adelaide again, so wondrously
had she changed. The gladness of her
heart seemed to have come out upon her
face, making it radiant with beauty and
bloom. No longer did she sit passiyely
looking on upon the progressing of brid
al appointments. Her betrothed was as
!arge-hearted as he was large Drained. He
insisted upon furnishing the trcusseau,
and made trip to town for that purpose.
Be sure there was nothing forgotten that
could please the eye or CRAFTY the taste.