The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-04-28
nothing concerning either book or.

nothing concerning either book or
paper.
After / went to my own room that
evening, reviewed the week of my
visit, and came to the nclusion that
there must be something amiss in my
conduct to make any one accuse me of
being an old maid SO / made up my
mind to be as lively and friendly as
possible during the remainder of my
visit. determined that if jim really
thought me as old as Aunt Tab that I
would make him forget it.
put my resolution in practice the
next morning. soon saw that the
whole family were not a little sur
prlsed at the change in me. st had
been my nabit to allow them to talk
on subjects interesting to them with
out taking any part in the converse
ton myself, thinking any remarks OF
mine uncalled for and superfuous..
Now I managed to find something to
say to keep up lively conversation.
Jim especially seemed to appreciate
my efforts to be agreeable. Before
that meal was over, I saw to my salts
faction, that he was changing his
mind about the $ old maid.
So it went on for several days, the
most enjoyable Of my visit. I found
that trying to give pleasure to others
made them more interesting to me !:
but that made me all the more deter
mined to return home soon, for fear
that instead of making Jim think more
of me I should find myself thinking
entirely too much of him.
1t was Saturday evening, nearly
sunset, and was sitting in my favor
ite resort, the back porch, when I
happened to think [ wanted to make
some fresh bouquets to put in the
rooms.
[ had done this ever since the flow
ers bloomed, though it was something
they were not accustomed to have.
about the house. When I set the first
bouquet on the table jim wanted to
know if that was all we were to have
for supper; the first one 1 PUT in Aunt
Tabs bedroom I sat in the open win
dow, and the next morning Uncle
Robert said: Il awoke in the night
and thought l saw an owl sitting in the
window; but when [ got the gun to
shoot it, it was one of those flower
pots that Katie had for supper last
night They loved to tease any one
so much, that, though I saw they liked
to see the flowers, they pretended not
to care for them.
This Saturday was the last of my
visit, SO thought I would make some
extra nice bouquets before I went
away. l looked about for something
to wear on my head, but Aunt Tab
had worn my bonnet to visit a sick
neighbor.
Just then I saw Jim's straw hat
hanging in the kitchen, and without
any ceremony put it on. He didn't
like any one to touch anything that
belonged to him, old bachelors never
do; they are worse than old maids;
but he was gone hunting, so Isnapped
my fingers and said 1 didn't care for
jim Oh anybody else.
1 was alone at the house, but [ was
not afraid, for they would all be home
before dark. went into the yard and
gathered my apron full of lovely roses
and syringa blossoms. / was about
returning to the house when I saw
fine bunch Of flowers high up on the
syringa bush. [ forgot everything
else in my desire to have it; and [
up and reached for the flowers
several times. but could not quite sue
coed.
At last I caught the branch, and
had just broken off my coveted flow
ers when I was caught around the
waist somewhat roughly. / looked
around and saw a gun on the ground,
which frightened me so that [ did not
know who it was until. touching the
hat with his head, for his hands were
engaged in controlling my frantic eff
orts to escape, he said,-
sAha, little thief, have 1 caught
you! This is my property, I believe.
which you will be kind enough to re-
store after paying the fne.''
Then I knew it was Jim.
1 shook my head, too angry tospeak
or else there was something in his
eyes that made me speeches.. He
folded his arms about me and said,-
''Now you are in prison and you
must pay your fine if you want to get
out And he put his lips dangerous
ly near mine.
81 had not said one word as yet, but
l tried to make my looks as expressive
as possible of my wounded dignity.
He answered the looks by saying
''Never mind about the fine, Kati e,
darling; [ am willing to keep you
here forever, imprisoned near my
heart. never to let you go again. May
|, Katie? Will you be my wife and
be near me always as you are now e.
He looked so manly and handsome
as he said this that I longed to say
yes. But couldn't do it. So [ just
braced myself for the effort. and, try
ing to look him in the face as con-
temptuously as possible, said,-
cob dear, no, indeed! How could
you think Of such thing? I am an
old maid, I have heard-too old to
think OF marrying any one SO young
as YOURSELF
The effect was greater than 1 had
expected. He dropped his hands and,
after gazing silently in my face for a
moment. he turned toward the house
and left me standing with his hat still
on nv head. and his last look i'm nrint