The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-12-16
blooming flowers filed the air with q

blooming flowers filed the air with a
heavenly sweetness.
Lucy dragged herself slowly ALONG.
with q half guilty feeling that this beauty
was SO little to her She was not in
harmony with its peace; the stiffness
lrrltated her.
Suddenly it was broken by voices
which stole gently upon her ear. She
could see no one, but she recognized
Mab's tones. :
~Ihen you do not hate mee'' she
syllabled insinuatinglY.
Hate youe No. I believe I love you
You are the most bewitching girl!''
! Lucy felt the rustic of the cypress
v1nes,c cool and dewy about her face,she did
not knew that she had fallen. But the
Others heard the crash, and Nab cal
led LucyW guilty, and Allen came and
lifted the little figure in his strong
arms.
"My poor little girl!n he said. ..what
is the matter with yous There is fever
at the village. DO you suppose she is
coming down with it?;' he asked Nab.
"Fever2 "a contagious fever? Horrors!''
cried Nab; and skipping down a side
path, she flew to her room and began
packing ner trunk.
Allen was busy with Lucy. Either
she had tainted, or she was very i'll. She
was perfectly unconscious, and her small
white tace lying upon his arm was pitiful
indeed.
He gathered her up to his breast and
carried her to the house.
'There!' cried Aunt Lucretia. start
ing up from her seat in the doorway.
II thought she would faint She has
oeen miserable enough all day. Take
her right up to her room, Allen, at the
head of the stairs, and I will come and
put her right to bed"
Allen marched steadily up the stair
case, carefully carrying his burden, and
pushed open door which stood aiar. In
an instant it was slammed in his face,
'Den't you bring her in here with her
horrid tever-don't you dare! I'm not
going to expose myself for ANYBODY. I'm
going right to Boston by the first train in
the morning"
Allen Stoptord's face changed color
violently, in the dusk. In spite of its
ha!shnesg, he had recognized MAIDS
voice. He was plainly confused, but not
too much so to find another chamber.
which he entered and laid Lucy gently
down among the pillars of the white
bed.
Then for one little moment he LAID his
cheek against that cold and colorless
one. 1t Lucy could have seen his ewes
then, she would not have doubted that
she was dear to him.
"Here's camphor, and ammonia. and a
cordial, and red lavender!' cried Aunt
Lucretia, bursting in; sand she shan't
stir off that bed till she is betterp
Allen wandered alone around the tar-
den till morning. He saw the light
barn out IN Lucy's chamber.
Johnny Bottles and the housemaid
were around the house, where, in the
cool dawn, he sat, immovable and moody
in an a1bor
Suddenly he saw the front door opened.
Nab, arrayed for travelling, issued forth.
and went down the road toward the
station.
"You can send nay trunk by express
she said to some one who closed the door
behind her.
Did Allen start up and follow here
lie had not the slightest inclination. he
waited until it was a little later, and then
walked to the village and sent the doctor
to visit Lucy.
But Aunt Lucretia was doing all that
could be done for weakness induced
BY nervousness prostration and sleepless-
ness. The red lavender was all-suffi-
Gent
When Lucy came down again, there
seemed new heaven and a new earth.
Nab was gone. Allen had never been
so tender, and she was too weak at first
to do aught but succumb to a tenderness
which anticipated her every want. But
by-and-bye they could talk together.
'.Mab's conduct was shameful said
Allen.
"You said you thought you loved her
that night, Allen?"
"Well,if I did was greatly mistaken.
/ was begulled," said Allen, wofully,
with .contemptuous curl Of his lips,
either for Nab or himself.
And Tno11 ho;no, -