The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-07-21
AN ELOPEMENI AFTER ALL.

AtfOClOuS. uOW ud10 uo uO SuCu d LAlAS.
outrageous liberty! Such q -
baby. She was Enthusiastically pretty, and
angry. She had youth, yet
not too much Of it.; that is TO say, she still
retained all it's bloom, while she had out
grown that callowness which poetic license
frequently terms freshness. She adm
spite Of her tears just now-the easy con-
fident air of woman of the world-in-
dependent, assured, and modest withal.
In short, she looked what she was,
wonderfully fascinating young widow who
had loved wisely and not too well, and had
the world before her where to choose again.
She was rich and she had good taste her
dress and her surroundings both bespoke
these desirable attributes; and, as we have
already remarked, she was very, very an
cry. She dried her eyes with petulant
gesture, as if ashamed of that watery evil
dence of weakness and stopped in her
rapid walk up and down the spacious draw
ing room, to glance again at the newspaper
she had tightly crumpled in her hand. It
was with considerable difficulty that she
smoothed out the wrinkled folds sufficiently
to decipher the offending paragraph; and
shame and indignation, she readit-this time
terpolations of her own.
The --latest Society Sensation! Those
horrid great capitals and all about me! I
declare it's sha meful! "A Beacon Street
Belle Elopes with an Old Admirerp Old
admirer, indeed! The hateful wretch.
we learn with infinite surprise of the
elopement of the well known and wealthy
young widow, Mrs. Hetty Herndon, with
the distinguished young American artist,
Mr. Tom Trevor, who has but recently re-
turned from Paris Pity he didn't stay
there, the impertinent jackanapes! we
understand that the gentleman was an old
sutton of the lady before her marriage to
her late husband, that an unhappy lovers
quarrel-Unhappy, I should say it was
quite the contrary !-'alone prevented their
union. The denoument is certainly some
what startling, not to say theatric' oh, the
shame of it! Everybody has seen it by
this time-'but we presume the fair. heroine
Of the adventure is tired of common place
and the ordinary routine of life, and pre-
ferred to have a dash of spice thrown in
when she took her old lover back. She
can certainly afford to be independent
Can /? wish | could afford to scratch
his eyes out! And she. is sure, in any
event--as is the happy bridegroona-of the
congratulate. ons and good wishes of hosts
of friends, among whom we venture to
write ourselves Was ever anything so
atrocious-so utterly impudent? / really
would never have believed it of Tom Ire
vor. l used to tell him passion for prac-
teal joking would get him into trouble
eomeday, but I could never have dreamed
that he would descend to thing like this
TO humiliate me SO; and tonight of all
nights! Every body will be at Mrs. Thorn
tons masquerade; and if I 20, as 90 must,
what can say? And if don't 60, what
won't they say? Oh, it was shameful,
cowardly thing to hurt me SOL"
She was at a white heat now. She
stamped her little foot, and was Just on
the verge Of another food of tears when
a servant entered with card upon salver.
Calming herself, Strengthening out her
face, and glancing toward the clock, she
murmured: % Ht
1T can't be the colonel come for me so
soon. Itsfull an hour before we need
60"
She reached out her hand, and took the
card, gave one glance at it, and stood for q
second as though transfxed; then her anger
burst out afreshp and in perfect transport
of fury she exclaimed: $40 S s 81
He here! How dare he; the miserable,
brazen creature!" &#E ST. s
Then to the servant in her most dignifed
manner: Say t..at Mrs. Herndon is not at
home to Mr.. Trevor. I
But before that functionary could explain
the porter was lifted bv strikingly hand
some and manly young fellow, who came
up to her with outstretched hands and face
both happy and anxious. ss.,g'
My dear Mrs. Herndon, pray pardon nv
informally, but was so eager to Gee YOU
and" ~ 4a rs #1t : !
BY this time her contemptuously lev
manner began to chill him, his anxiety got
the best of his happiness, which wants he'd
utterly, leaving behind but chaos Of
amazement and confusion. Still he strug-
gled on; "And the circumstances @sss -
The circumstances" she interrupted
tr1gldly. are enough as to make your
presence in this house an insult. I won
der at your audaucity. sir; I wonder at itv'
Insult? audacity?" said the poor fellow,
his face crimson with modification and
wounded feellng;;' oh, Hetty-I mean Mrs,
Herndon-these are hard words to use
against an old friend!'
You but add another insult to the score
In using that word. Friend, indeed! How
dare you intrude upon me and exult in
your crime in this way; how dare you, STRIP"
Crime, my dear Mrs. Herndon, what in
heavens name are you talking about? Ia II
Il crime to desire to see an old friend again.
and an insult to resent an insult to her?'
Resent an insult to me, sir! No one
ever dare insult me before You, who call
yourself friend, are the first to do such q
thing! Oh, how could your" Here pretty
Mrs. Hetty was almost ready to break down
again, but her pride and her anger saved
her. Leave me, sir! Words are useless.
Go, and at once" And she turned upon
her heel. gs
But Tom Trevor was not the man to
throw down his arms in the first ski1mish.
Young as he looked, he had been under the
fire OF real gins; and, although this was a
more serious matter, even SO fierce can
nonade from so charming woman as Het-
ty could not silence him all at once.
Really, madame, if you talk of insult, it
seems to me that / am the aggrieved party.
"You?' And she turned little, looked
over her plump shoulder at him, half indip-
nant and more than half amazed. "Youi
Indeed" And again her back was toward
him. t~7
eyes, madame,gI am. am more than
willing to leave your presence; but not until
receive some explanation Of the indignity
tat has been put upon me.
Indignity! Indignity! So it was an in
dignity to have your name coupled with
mine? This is worse and worse! Go, sir!
Coz? And she looks quite equal to. putting
u S~>N< A@-- NJ