The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-03-24
HILDA'S RIVAL.

HILDA'S RIVAL.
~Then you will not help herr" said
Geofrey Brandon.
Hilda De We're curled her beautiful
lip scornfully. Here was royal type
of beauty, and it was no wonder men
loved her so madly.
Godfrey Brandon eyed her narrowly,
and there crept over his handsome face
a look of admiration, which the girl was
not slow to perceive, and the disdainful
curve OF her perfect lip rounded into
sunny smile, as she said:
"But why should we quarrel about
her, Cousin Godfrey? Suffering or
not, she is as naughty in her low posi-
ton as she was when she was the mis-
tress of half million, and I do not
care to encounter her insolent pride
again, even at your special request, my
friend. No doubt some of her many
admirers will assist her, 80 why should
I trouble MYSELF"
Hilda De We're loved the noble man
before her with all the power she pos
sessed of loving anything beyond her
self; and, had she known how her last
cruel words struck TO his heart, she
would have left them unuttered. s..a
She saw she had made a mistake
when he said, colaly: ....
"As you choose. I came to you with
her story of distress, for thought you
had tender heart, and I felt T had
some claims on my cousins generosity
when I was pleading the cause of so old
and tried friend Of hers as Christine
Verne. see my error, and will not
detain you longer" ... .....
He bowed, and was about to with
draw, but Hilda, with mighty effort,
curbed her rising anger, and, fastening
after him, laid one exquisite hand
on his arm, and said, pleadingly, with
lovely eyes misty with tears:
"You are angry with me, Godfrey.
What will become of me without your
love and sympathy?" ..
Such a perfect picture as she made,
with her blue velvet dress sweeping
around her graceful form, and her
beautiful face, like grieved child's,
raised to his.
She knew her power, and was not sur
prised at the softening expression in his
eyes, as he answered:
II am more grieved than angry, Hilda.
You loved Christine Verne once, and
were untiring in your offers of friend
ship when she had but slight need of
them. Now, when size is in poverty and
disgrace, through no fault of her own,
and you have in your power to aid her,
you refuse. Why will you not give
her this position of governess for your
little sisters, when you know how noble
and worthy she is? Cousin Hilda, re-
consider your decision, and for my sake
give her the aid one true woman has tho
right to expect from another"
His handsome eyes wore q look of
earnest pleading, which Hilda would
have found it hard to resist, had her
sympathy been asked for any other per-
son than Christine Verne. But, As it
was, a hard, determined look settled over
her face, obliterating all its lines of soft
beauty, as she listened to the thrill of
tenderness in his voice.
She had humbled herself to him, and
this was the result-to hear him plead,
with all the eloquence he possessed,
the cause of the one woman she hated,
the one rival she feared, and in whose
downfall she triumphed.
If you force the truth from me,
Godfrey, here it isl I believe Chris
tine Verne is as vile as her miserable
uncle, whose name is now the talk of
the town. would no more have her
in my house than I would the veriest
vagabond in the street. If her story
SO moves you with compassion" and
her red lip curled into q sneering
smile, "why not 60 and offer her the
consolation of your love, and the shelter
Of yonA home? No doubt she would
gladly accept both, as she has SO long
been trying her arts to win you'll"
MAY God forgive you, Hilda, for
your cruel, unjust words! Would that
we're worthy of her love, or had at
hope that she would listen to me. I
would go to her this hour, and ask her
to be my wifel Your heartless words
against her have opened my eyes, and
now know she is the only woman I
have ever loved. Good-by!"
And Hilda knew, as she heard him
going down the steps, that her princely
cousin was lost to her forever.
She clenched her dainty hands, and
muttered, wrathfully:
"But he shall never marry herl 7
will take care that she does not cross
his path again."
An hour later, when Christine Verne,
in her humble abode, with her pure,
proud face wearing look of pitiful an
guish, heard Hilda's soft, sympathetic
voice breathing in her ear q plan of es-
cape from her wretchedness and pow