The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-02-24

But. somehow.or other, her conscience
did not feel quite SO easy as it had felt
before Toms call.
An hour later Tom was sitting in the
Widow Baldwin's small parlor, with his
arm around a very trim waist, and very
lovely golden head resting on his
shoulder. 1t was very evident that the
closest economy was necessary with the
Baldwins, for the carpet was patched
and worn, and the muslin curtains
washed threadbare. and the furniture
in sad need Of varnish and new hair
cloth.
II wish I saw my way clear to take
you out Of this, Prissy,' said Tom, with
sigh, s.but clients are scarce enough
in Wolf boro."
Now, Tom, where's the need to
worry? I couldn't leave Aunt Martha,
anyway. We are both young enough to
wait.
You're too good for this world,
Prissy," said Tom, with kiss on the
dimpled white chin.
There's some one knocking !; let me
60, )" cried Prissy, springing up and run
ming to the door.
It was no visitor, but the hired man
from Miss Snences farm, with the spring
wagon, which he had brought to convey
Tom to his cousins home, for Miss ST.
lence had, not ten minutes after his de-
parture, an hour previous, overturned a
kettle Of lard by accident, and been ter
ribly scalded.
"Where's my hat?" cried Tom, in
great excitement, while the man was
telling how he had wasted time by GO
ing to the office first, and, not finding
him there, had hunted him up.
''Let me go with you, Tom know
I can help, cried Prissy, as her lover
was springing into the light wagon.
sob, Prissy, if you only would.
"Wait until I get my bonnet and
shawl and tell Aunt Martha. I won't
be gone a minute and Prissy rushed
into the kitchen, where her aunt was
ironing.
SEQ, by all means, said Mrs. Bald
win, when she had grasped the meaning
of the girls incoherent explanation.
"Stay as long as you are needed, and
don't worry about me-"
Miss Silence made no remark when
Prissy entered her room with Tom. She
was in great pain, and was thankful to
see even this member of the hated Bald
win family.
For three weeks Prissy was chief d.
rector at the farm, and managed SO clev-
| erly that Miss Silence had no chance to
| find fault. But the grim spinster had no
word Of commentator for the young
girls untiring industry.
81 calkerlate to pay you for what you
have done," she said one day, as she
watched Prissy making bread. ssYou
needn't think you're workin' for moth
in"
II don't want any pay, Miss Silence, !"
said Prissy, with trembling lips; II am
only too glad to do what I can, be-
cause" She hesitated and turned
scarlet
Because you're in love with Tom, D
finished Miss Silence. ooh, you ueedn' t
blush; know all about it, and, If he
chooses to break his head agin stone
wall, amt a-goin' to stop him."
| At the end of three weeks Miss Silence
was able to be about again, and Prissy
went home, declining the 500 bill for
her services. But she had not been
| gone three hours when the hired man
| CSsA1O lAOm 1dIA, W1dl GWO ldIS0
baskets, which he sat down on Mrs.
Baldwin's kitchen floor.
Compliments of Miss Silence, and
she sent these in place of the money"
and was driving off in the spring wagon
before Prissy could recover sufficiently
from her astonishment to ask him any
questions. .- .. H.".s.
The baskets were full Of good things
of every sort, and there was royal
Christmas dinner for the Baldwins the
next day, much to the Joy Of the chill
dren, who had contemplated, ruefully,
dining on mush and potatoes.
Prissy sent note Of thanks to Miss
Silence by Tom, but she never received
an answer.
Time moved on, and Toms law bust.
ded Prissy, against her better Judgment
to marry him.
Miss Silence did not grace the impor
tant occasion with her presence.
Give no time to be gallivanting off te
weddings" was her excuse, when Ton
reproached her for this slight. #
"She is such a peculiar woman, we
must not expect her to act like othe1
people; but she has good heart IL
spite of her queer ways" said Prissy
when Tom tried to make excuses for biz
cousins remissness.
"But her greatest peculiarly lies il
her not liking you, Prissy,' said Tom
kissing his brides soft cheeks. "'And
can't quite forgive her lack Of taste
All went well with the young coupl,
for more than year. They bega,
housekeeping in a modest cottage Ton
was paying for by nstallments, and wer,
so prudent that they managed to gathe
about them many little comforts tina
made their home pleasant.
But fortune seldom smiles long at
time, as we all know, and reverses wA
come to every one. One bitter night il
December Toms house caught fire ant
burned to the ground, nothing bein!
left except few clothes belonging t.
Prissy and the baby.
OF course Mrs. Baldwin opened he
house to them at once, though it neces
STATED much crowding. Prissy sug
. gested an appeal to Miss Silence, bu
Tom emphatically declined to make il