The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-02-25
convinced, sat perfectly still, and tried
to reason away his fears, with knitted

convinced, sat perfectly still, and tried
to reason away his fears, with knitted
brows.
After that life went on much as usual
at the Holt farm. Elsie was to become
it's mistress at Christmas, and her Aunt
Eunice was very busy over the expected
wedding. She loved Elsie with moth
er's love already, and Nathaniel, as the
autumnal months drifted by, grew a
trife thoughtful; for Lewis Walton,
who had been q summer guest in the
neighborhood, still fingered, and still
called on Elsie, who tried to hide her
growing fondness for his company. He
was wealthy, indolent and gifted with q
persuasive tongue. Elsie loved ease,
lacked firmness Of principle and will,
and, although she imagined herself
faithful to Nathaniel, her heart was
slowly but surely being beguiled away
from the true and steadfast love of an
upright man.
Nathaniel watched her with brood
ing tenderness. He was SO loyal him
self that he would instinctively notice
any wavering on Elsie's part, he thought;
yet the eyes OF love are often blinded by
self confidence, and when Elsie came
to him and laid her golden head against
his arm, as she often did in the autumn
cleaning, Nathaniel's happiness was too
deep to be delusive, and he would hold
her to This breast as if nothing could
ever wrest her from his faithful arms.
Poor Elsie! little did she know of the
passionate depth and power of this
strong mans love. His homage was
hers by right, and she accepted it as
some Princess might the service of her
vassals. She never thought how desc
late that life would be if bereft Of her
love-how barren of hope or happiness
would be his darkened future; for, if
he erred in any sense, it was in the
strength and purity of the love he laid
at her feet
The purple haze of Indian summer
was lying on the hills. The sun sailed
through the mist like great ball of
flame, and pillows of dead-brown leaves
swept up the ravines, as Nathaniel Holt
trudged down the mountain path, his
brown cheek flushed with exercise, and
his eyes kindling with love as the old
farmhouse, with it's many windows
stained with amber, and tall gables
draped with scarlet runners, came in
view. His mother sat on the porch
bathed in rift of ruby sunshine, but
he looked in vain for Elsie-Elsie who
had promised to come up the mountain
path to meet him. Something like the
murmur of voices attracted his atten-
tion, and, turning into side path, he
came upon Elsie and Lewis Walton
seated on messy log, with their faces
turned from him. Walton's hunting
jacket and gun lay on the ground, and
Elsie's hat had fallen at her feet, while
the fair glowing face was upturned to
the hazy November sky, as if she dared
not, yet longed to meet the fire of the
black eyes that seemed to read the in
nermost thoughts of her heart.
Eleie-Elsie," the soft persuasive
voice was saying, "be wise, and listen
to me. You do not love Nathaniel
Holt as women love men they marry"
Nathaniel is so good, and has been
like q brother to me since mammals
DEATH" murmured Elsie, by way of
protest, while Nathaniel stood as if
rooted to the spot, his breath coming in
thick, hot gasps.
"That's just it, Elsie; you have mis-
taken your feelings. Instead of the love
you should give him, you will reward
his great love-for he does love you
deeply-with warm, sisterly affection.
Ali Elsie, think in time-I love YOU as
have never loved before, and, Elsie,
you love me-" said Lewis Walton, as he
put his arm around her slender waist
and drew Elsie's happy face to his
bosom, and covered the warm, red lips
with kisses.
Nathaniel Holt fed from the spot
like a hunted deer. The veins on his
temples stood out like whip-cords, and
dry, voiceless sobs broke from him as
he sank down on the messy turf and
buried his face in the cedar spears that
lay inch deep on the moist ground
Never again could he take Elsie Mari
ans false face in his hands and kiss it
with lovers kisses. For she had will
fully given up the pure, honest love OF
his guileless heart for the love OF man
who, in the sight of God, if not in the
sight of men, was legally bound to an.
other. Perhaps he had been mistaken
in himself, but this he knew, he had
made an idol of her and given her such
love as no human being should lavish
on fellow-creature, be they ever sc
perfect, and God had seen the foolish
ness of his idolatrous love, and punished
him sorely for it.
After his passion of grief had spent
itself, he arose and turned into the
path that led homeward, feeling very
much as if he had stood beside Elsie
Marian's grave and saw her laid in it
His face had grown white and hard anc
stern in that short but bitter struggle
and the brown eyes were full of grie.
too deep for tears. He felt faint anc
dizzy when he saw Elsie standing a
the meadow gate alone, and the light O
her newly-awakened love in her blu,
eyes. L. .-s..sG
Nathaniel she speaks nervously
for her womanly instinct tells ler some
thing is wrong-"what has happened
You are late" ~
| Just this, Elsie"-he takes her hand
in his and turns his set, white fac,
away from her--"I have lost somethin,
out of my life which I shall never
ooxvN, IL