The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-09-08

LII . CYC6s dX0 4O4 xAPO sWAAVO 0AAN "a VOOS
was standing close at hand. As her mother
spoke, she made q step forward, and fell
fainting. Miss Raddles departed, amid
the general confusion, to remark, c%onfden-
TALLY to q friend or two, that Ruby Farris
had fits; she had just left her in one. She
always thought that red and white complex
ion really very unwholesome, though peo-
pie admired it.
When Ruby opened her eyes again, in
bewilderment, that slowly grew to q dull,
intolerable pain. she stesdfastly refused to
answer the questions that were asked her.
81 wan to be alone" moaned the poor
child; and SO they laid her IN the drawing
room sofa. How shockingly bright was the
summer day now! though only q short time
since that sunshine had seemed to &C cord SO
the Vene tan blinds, and drew heavy cur
tains over the g~lass-door that led into the
garden, leaving it q little open, that a breath
Of fresh air might steal through the folds,
and left her-to nave q nice sleep, they
said.
A nice sleep! What a mockery oil the
tender household sayings had been to her!
None knew of her grief, for Ruby had been
shy Of speaking of her scarcely-found hap
piness. She felt as if the past and future
had be en- blotted out, as if nothing ever
could happen again-ever had happened
but this horrible event. And yet she won
dered why she could not cry. Did she 1--we
him less than her pet canary, That died last
week-years, ages ago, when she was her
self, and had a heart, instead of this leaden
weight that did not feel, only pressed all
the life out of her.
Oh, if she could die and go to Alec! But
she could not die. She would go on living
for a length of years, and her youth would
pass, and wrinkles come, and her pretty
hair grow thin; and even her love would
fade in, the long years, leaving her only 3
sad, spiritless old maid. And poor httle
Rubys mind wandered in these sad laby-
rinths of thought, hour after hour, as she
ay in the darkened room. One memory
after another passed before her, each more
full of pain than the other. Only yester-
day she was sittingta at her drawing, n saw
him coming in from the garden through
that very door, now so heavily curtalned.
She lived that scene over again IN her MIND,
feverishly recalling every word and look.
She had told him an old legend about the
house thew lived in; and then she remrm-
bered what she had said about spirits, and
his look, and the half-spoken words. How
she hated MI. Raddles for i~nterruptine
them. If she could only have told one
word of her love! But now Alec would
never know it. Nh! If her belief we're but
true, and his spirit would come to her, and
show her that love was stronger than the
grave" -:
All at once q sudden light broke on the
darkness. She turned her heavy eyes, and
there, between the curtains, stood her los
love, il the sunshine, looking tenderly a
her.
Ruby half raised herself, held out he
trembG ng hands, and cried:
ALEC, my love, you have come to me!
sm not afraid; not at all afraid!"
Afraid Of what, darling2" replied tn
phantom, in tone of the greatest surprise
aCome to you? OF course I ~have-straigh
from the station. Have you . headache
that the room is so darkened?"
The last words were lost upon uby. H
was kneeling by her. her head upon hi
breast, and q torrent Of tears was utterl.
spelling the specter's shirt-front. Gradu
ually, with great difficulty, he learned the
truth; and by dint Of soothing and caress
ing, and laughing a little at her, the tear
dwindled into an occasional sob, the colo
came back to the rosebud mouth. the ligh
to the eyes, and Ruby was herself again
at was that gossiping Miss Riddles,
Alec explained. THAT family seems des
tined to annoy us. I hnd intended comm
BY that train" (Ruby shudiered, and ha
to be restored by q kiss) but I found NJ.
business would not let me. / was vexc'