The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-07-22
1T MIGHT HAVE BEEN.

bO-lilSul, GIo uSuG SuuS tIle luIulSl11AlS,
the pictures and ornaments all openly
suggestive Of coziness and comfort. I
lean back in my arm chair, survey the
contented. But it is in vain. I can only
the taunting ghost OF what might have
been. How vividly the past comes up
before me tonight. It is useless for
me to attempt to drive away these
thoughts, for they are bitter memories
of my past life, which, like Banquo's
ghost, will not down at my bidding.
try to crush out all thoughts of the
past, as at other times, but they come
with such weight that they are stronger
than my will.
Two years is not a long period Of time,
if measured as days. weeks and months,
but, if measured by the agony the HUI
man heart can endure, it is an eternity.
Some say that hearts cannot break,
others, that women's do sometimes;
but mems are so constituted that they
can bear disaster to the affection with
out material injury to that delicate
organ. don't pretend to say how this
may be, but I do know this world will
never again look as bright and beauti-
full to me as it did before closed my
eyes on hope.
try to cover my sorrow with mask
of harshness toward womankind, and
well I succeed; for among my acquaint-
ances I am known as bitter, cynical
man, who sneers at women and love
and not one among them would accuse
me of ever having sentimental thought.
But there are times when the old fires
burst forth controllably-yes, times
in my life when anniversaries come
when temporarily there is an end to
peace, and must live over again the
bitter past; and tonight is one of those
times, and unwilingly drift back into
the "long ago." It is evening" The
brilliant orb Of day is slowly and ma
jestically sinking toward the western
horizon. The soft breeze is heavily
laden with the fragrance Of the early
spring flowers, and it stirs gently the
tender leaves of the few forest trees that
have dared to assume their yestments Of
green. A broad, deep stream, spanned
by rustic bridge and directly across
this, and as far away as the view is un-
INSTRUCTED, winds q sandy, neglected
road, bordered on one side by a dense
underground of scrub oaks, with here
and there tall pine, which stand like
grim sentinels on guard; and, on the
other, by broad field, which shows by
the freshly, turned soil that the plow-
share of the husbandman has been busy
there. Half mile away, can be SEEN,
standing out in bold relief against the
clear evening sky, the tall, white spires
of the village churches; and, as the
bright rays of the declining sun are re-
flected from the bronzed balls by which
they are surmounted, they glitter in the
distance like FURNISHED gold. r..
Upon the bridge stand two figures.
A youth Of perhaps % years Of
age, and girl several years his junior.
She, tall, dark and queenly, with deep,
fathomless eyes-such eyes as poets
write of-eyes, one glance from which
can elevate man to the supreme pima
Gle of happiness or doom him to such ex.
cruciating torture that the pangs sui
fered by lost souls in the lowest pits o.
hell can scarcely compare with it
broad, high forehead, over which, as il
the prevailing style, is tastefully ar
ranged the glossy locks Of jet-blacl
hair. Her face is one that brings tt
memory the description given by an
cient writer's of the goddess of beauty
but close reader of human characte
would pronounce her possessed of 1
heart that would break before it would
yield. and a will that is strong as death
Silence holds supreme sway. The on
ly sound that breaks in upon the calm
peaceful stiffness is the low, musica
murmur Of the stream as it flows be
meath the bridge and the vesper hymn
of some feathered songster as it wing
its way to the deeper shades of the fol-
est.
The girl is seated upon the low railin
of the bridge. In one hand she holds
small parasol, while the other, fror
which she has removed the dainty glove
toys idly with q small bunch of vii
flowers which lie upon her lap. He
eyes are fixed upon the distant hills, an
there is PARKWAY look upon her fac
which tells that her thoughts are not {
her Immediate surroundings.
Her companion is leaning against til
railing at'her side and gazing westwa1
at the setting sun which now hangs lik
fiery ball just above the summit OF tt
distant hills. But ever and anon L
turns his face toward the beautiful b.
ing at his side, and his eyes light u
with what is Enthusiastically a look
love.
He is the first to break the silenc
and his voice is low, as if fearful that i
sound would CRATE harshly upon IL
quiet surrounding.
Myrtle, listen to me, please"
She glanced up, but gave no 9TH
indication that she had heard his +
quest.
"Myrtle, must tell you now VIII
has been on my mind for weeks. 1t di
tresses me, beyond the power Of langua!
to describe, to realize that we are ]
longer children, and to feel that the IL
preston made upon me by your charm