The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-09-09

threw himself on the ground at nv feet
u thought ] should find you in this
lovely spot. May not come too?'' he
entreated.
u thought you had gone with Bardie.: 9
''Yes l left him there playing with the
little Temples. made brief call on
the ladies, and then gave Bardie the slip.
l wanted to get back, and only hope he
will not discover my retreat. Everybody
is lazy to-day except you, Nora. You
have your work laid out in avery notable
way, though after all I do not see that
you have done much.'' !.
J Some days are unlucky,'' answered.
II did not feel in the mood. But Twill
sketch now," and I began to work in
earnest, partly to get rid Of the searching
eyes which seemed to read my troubled
thoughts. 5000
Crest instead, Ellinor, and let US talk
awhile: - =. 80 ,
eyes, talk; but I can work too. I
want to make this picture. The view is
so lovely; it heunts me.'' Il
"Ah?' said Harry; "there is a picture
which haunts me-a picture which I saw
lately, and can think of nothing else; a
woman, young, fair, and with the sweet
est mother face, and little child"
"a Madonna" #.1-' - aa
perhaps so. The child was asleep.
Such repose! Such confidence in his
whole attitude and expression! Evident
~ the one right spot on earth to him was
his place IN her arms. And she looked
like brooding dove. Nora, can never
tell you what felt when I came upon
you so suddenly to-day with nv little
sleeping boy, nor what revelation from
heaven came to my heart that thus it
might be-must be. I said we were fell
loW-mourners; can we not be fellow-com
forters?'' .s
| could not speak. The sobs had
suppressed, the trouble had been fight
ing, had their own way now.
| Harry looked at me in doubt and dis
tress.
"What is it, dear Ellinor? Do I hurt
! you? Do shock you? Have YOU NO
heart to give me? No, I will not ask
anything now. Calm yourself, sweet
child; rely upon me. I will not say an.
| other word if it distresses you like this
Unjust speak, I cried, with a des.
perate effort. "Harry, Harry, how can
you ask such things Of me, when you
know that you can never care for any
body again as you did for Susie?"
II KNOW he answered.
"When you know that am no more
to be compared to her than this little
common flower at my feet is to be com
pared to an exquisite half-blown rose
petal after petal laden with sweetness
down to its secret golden heart?"
EYES," he answered, picking the little
common flower and holding it to his lips
cts not the rose. But it is hearts S. ease
It has it's own mission, its own per.
fume.,'
"And do not speak of Bardie,'' cried
more passionately than ever. 'Do not
tempt me with him. I wish he and ]
could go away together to some secret
place, and I could have him always.'
''Dear, you may have him always. No
other woman ever shall.'
A long pause ensued. determined
to grow calmer befor speaking again. It
was so hushed that we could hear the
stirring Of some little rabbits III the bush
es behind. He looked at me entreaung-
~. I shook my head.
"Ne, no, Harry do not ask me, 10 not
tempt me. I am not much of a girl, I
know, but am worth more than that.
ought to be first IN the mans heart who
marrles me. No, do not speak. You
know cannot be first with you, and Sc
cannot marry you. Oh, dear!" I sighed,
"there IS nobody on earth with whom /
am first nobody who loves me best of
all.'
! The string Of the rabbit became VIC.
| lently excited, and with a great crush
Ing of leaves and parting Of branches,
and rending of little blouse, Bardie tore
himself from his liar, and flung himself
upon me. Yes, yes, my darling Nora
he said, with tears, kissing my head and
face and hands, II love you the best of
all, my own Moral want you. Go away,
papa: Marry me-1narry Bardie, Nora
dear!' and he threw his arms around me
and buried his head in my neck.
eyes, Nora" crled Harry, clasping his
arms about US both, s'marry Bard1e, mar
ry US both. We do want you; we can't
possibly live without you. There Is no
body on earth, there never will be, whom
we love half so well. Sweet Nora, say
yes, and make Bardie and me perfectly
happy
They had conquered. My heart weld
ed to both father and child, and made
a full surrender, with my head on Har-
rvs shoulder, and my arm around his
child, and my tears all kissed away; and
a wonderful sense of home belongings,
and fullness and content, gloHed through
and through me, and 1 felt as if Susie's
smile came down in the sunbeam, irradi-
| ating the whole scene, and blessing the
new part was to take in the lives which
her death had left wrecked and stranded.
Aunt Urania came to meet us as We
returned to the farmhouse, putting on
her spectacles OF discovery as she came.
But it needed no glasses to see what had
happened. Dewy eyes, disheveled tress-
es, happy, agitated lace, told the whole
story, even without the help OF the
ecstatic child in wofully torn blouse
growing over his victory, and hardly
waiting to get within earshot before
proclaim1ng the secret IN his clear high
voice: "Pts Hta
''she's going to marry me, Miss scud-
dymore; she promised she wouldr' And
then, as an afterthOught. he added: sob.