The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-09-29

i OetecCeQ the lmp6uoCCo IN his tone and the
look of annoyance which sometimes swept
across his handsome, expressive face-and
her own heart grew sad and heavy, but,
child as she was. her LOYALTY kept her ST.
lent even to her cherished friend.
One day, Pauline went to the house. but
found her out.
Il will wait for her in the library" she
said. Tell her am there"
She passed on into the room, expecting
to find it empty; but, instead. it was ocou-
pied by its master. His head bowed upon
the table, his whole attitude was one of
misery which had thown off its mask. Ri
She turned to beat retreat, but he lifted
his face and saw her.
Come in" he said This is your work!
1t is fitting that you should look upon it. /"
My work.! she anwered aghast.
YES! Whose else? A year ago to-day /
found that you b ad deceived me. Do you
wonder that, miserable and wretched as I
was, / sought to find q woman who had not
learned the lesson of deception? I was
mad! thought pretty toy, and thought
to while away with it my hours Of medi-
tation-te use it as charm to Danish
memory. Instead. it shows me every hour
the falsity of my reasoning, and holds up
to my tortured sight the might have been.
Why do still love you? Why do not
rather curse you? Why do you come here,
day after day. to add fuel to the Aame?''
will never come again, Pierce. I
thought, prayed, you had long ceased to
love me; but in this last moment will tell
you the truth. did not deceive you: you
were mad with jealous doubts, and I too
proud to explain to You the truth there.
fore sent you from me. I thought you
would come back;I did not dream
Her voice choked.
That could be such a mad insensate
fool" he finished. taking up her words.
All Pauline, my one only love" he
added, under his breath.
"HushY she commanded. imparionslv
BE q man and true to your manhood.
Edna loves you better than I know how to
love, prehaps better than any man de-
| serves. She is simple child; honor her
for it. will not come here more; will
| make to her some excuse. But. oh. make
her happy, Pierce! What matters it to you
and me? Our happiness is lost, but do not
let that fact lead hers astray. See iall on
my knees-I plead to you-I kiss your hand !!
By all that is pure in her pure life, do not
let her dream your chains are not Of flowers!
It would kill her, as the cruel wind blasts
with single breath the shrinking, selsi-
veplant. Your soul is noble; prove it SO.
Be gentle, be loving, be tender. By the
memory of your every hope for the future
by the memory, if that may sway you, of
your once love fer mel"
At that instant the portiere was swept
back. Edna stood upon the threshold, but
an Edna transformed from the timid,
shrinking girl into lioness. Her eyes
flashed; her slight figure was almost tall, in
n n 70 R,,1l Z,
her voice rang out. clear and soornful.
You need not fear" she said. II have
only heard your last sentence. would
not play caves dropper single instant
not even to more thoroughly expose the
falseness of the woman who thus PLAYS
traitor to my husband. By the memory Of
| his love for you. How dare you say that?
He never loved your Pierce, tell me that
| you never loved her!''
She sprang to his side and twined her
hands about his arm.
Edna" he said, 'tyou are doing the
bitterest wrong-I-"
Another minute and he would have told
her all the truth, but Pauline had by this
time regained her feet
Hush" she commanded Lin. aNot q
single word! What conld You say that
would not further wreck her Happiness?
Nor would the storm which devastates
her drive our ships into harbor. Goodby,
Edna! Think Of me as gently as you can.
We both loved him. Let that plead my
excuse.
Once her glance fell on his face. Again
| it entreated him in its voiceless eloquence
to leave her in her belief, then she turned
and left them. Without all was dark, but,
thank God! she might yet look within.
I &pe, .kA ~ 4
as Edna fell weeping piteously in his arms.
He felt coward, tnat he dared not vindi.
cate the noble woman who had left them,
but the blow would strike with cruelest
force on her who had done no wrong. His
silence was his own bitterest punishment;
but at least he might atone.
| Very gentle, very tender he was to his
child wife. She no longer shrank at an
impatient word, or missed something in
her life. It seemed full to repletion-so
full that when, at the close of one more
short year, God called her to lay it down,
| she chung to the sweet boon with arms
close pressed about her husbands neck.
@You never loved her?' she said, in that
last hour. Tell me, darlingp She tried
to win you from me, but failed?n
aShe never tried, my love. She taught
me, rather, to love you.'
She thought he meant that he thus had
judged between them. and was content.
Tell her, she whispered, that I for
give her now, because she loved you, even
tn. ugh her love was false and wicked. Oh
Pierce, how could any woman help loving
your" :
They laid her away to rest, with her baby
daughter on her breast, and they we're
honest tears of love, repentance and re-
morse, which Pierce Haywood shed upon
the new made grave. Then he went abroad,
and the world, looking at him. said that he
had Low his wife in very decd, and wond-
cred yet the more,
But after two years travel here & d ed
TO 60 straightway into Paulin Irving's pres-
ence. She was alone in the room into
which the servant ushered him, and look
ed up with great joy in the beautiful
eyes.
Il am come at last Pauline, my love! my
love!" he said, advancing toward her With
outstfetched arms
She let her weary head fall on his
Heart. 20 IA
And have been WAITING. q he answered
,-Waitsng aiwsysII thought that was
tired, but never shall be tired again. . n 33
Their secret was their own now, and
they belonged each to the other. Yes. tho