The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1884-03-20

as fash succeeded flash and the deep
thunder rolled, the party, after rushing
wildly about in the storm, finally found
protection In rocky cave at no great
distance. When they were assembled,
and were congratulating each other on
the shelter they had secured, it was
discovered that Lillian was not among
them. In moment Edgar started out
into the tempest in search of the missing
girl and found her sheltered beneath a
large tree, her white arms clinging
around it, while she gazed up through
its branches at the clouds torn by the
binding flashes of lightning. There
was loud crash, moment Of confusion
and horror, and Lillian lay in Edgar's
arms, her head pilloWed upon his breast.
The tree had been struck by the electric
fluid and dashed to the ground,
but from some miraculous cause
they both escaped unhurt.
Lillian, almost insensible, was vet con-
sciOus of whose arms were about her,
Of whose passionate kisses were on her
lips. Her heart throbbed wildly. She
felt no terror of the danger, no graft
tude for her escape; she only knew
that Edgar sheltered her, and that he
loved her, and that if she could only,
have died then before another claimed
her, she would have been content.
Many eyes were enlightened on that
eventful day. All day the ladies looked
obviously at Nina, whose saucy laugh
not even the warning elements could
quell. Lillian, pale trembling from her
recent exposure, became white as mar
BILE when Nina whispered in her ear:
will yon accept my lover now if I
will give him to you?D u
At length the storm was over and the
sun shone out, turning the raindrops
drops on the forest leaves to twinkling
jewels. The party made their way home,
trife the worse for wear, and it was
not until they had all partaken of a sup
per prepared for them at Oakland that
entire composure was restored to them.
After the events of the picnic Edgar
became devoted lover, but although
his affections were dear to Lillian, they
failed to bring real happiness. She had
told Edgar that she loved him when she
knew she should be parted from him
forever if she married the husband
chosen for her by her father. She had
betrayed the confidence of her little
friend Nina, and was practic-
ing deceit toward ,s Hugh
Thornton The girl was driven
to desperation. At last she determined
to see her betrothed husband, to lay her
heart, with all its inirmities, open for
his inspection. Perhaps he, too, would
be glad to be Free Surely he would
not marry a girl who had given her
heart to another. She would throw
herself on his mercy. She could but
marry him after he had distinguished
the hope she had been cherishing.
The autumn had now passed away,
and had been succeeded by pleasant
open winter. Gossip had tired of Lii
ian and her affairs. Nina glided about
like sunbeam, refusing to be Jealous
OF her lover, butwhen questioned about
him always wore that explicable smile
that puzzled all the wise heads in Bloom
ingdale.
The theatrical season had commenced
in New York, and celebrated singer
there was creating a whirl of excite.
ment throughout the whole surround
ing country. It had reached as far as
Bloomingdale, and as music was pas
sion with the young people Of that town,
a party was speedily gotten up to visit
the city and hear the famous cantatrice
Lillian gladly accepted an invitation to
accompany them, after having written
to Mr.. Thornton to meet her in New
York. .8
The morning was bright and beauti-
full when Lillian arose from her pillow
to look for the first time into street of
the great city already filed with hur-
rying people. Scarcely was her toilet
completed when a letter, bearing the
Washington postmark, was handed to
her from the door. Yes; it was as she
thought Tomorrow would decide her
fate and she would know whether she
was destined for a life of happiness or
for one of bitter misery.
Lillian looked queenly in her seat at
the opera house that evening, and many
questioning eye in the vast assemblage
was bent upon her. Edgar sat by her
side listening to the glorious voice Of
| Madame Blanco, when suddenly. he
| laid lis hand upon Lilian's arm, with a
shiver that went like an electric shock
| to her heart, and whispered to her !:
| Hugh Thornton is hereH Following the
direction of his glance she saw leaning
against pillar, young and elegant
man, whose light, curling hair shaded
but did not conceal a massive forehead.
His laughing eyes were riveted on her
face, which displayed the confusion into
which she had fallen. Edgar saw only
| her, and his pale face grew paler as
he noted the exertion for self-possession
that Lillian was forced to make. Nina
could not refrain from giving utterance,
rather loudly, to her surprise upon de-
tecting Hugh Thornton among the au-
dience, but was embarrassed when she
became aware of the attention she was
attracting.
1t is all over" Lillian said to Edgar,
as he handed her from the carriage at
the door of her hotel, "We have been
very happy, too happyl Try to remem-
Der me kindly Springing past him,
she sought her private parlor, and,
throwing herself upon a sofa, burst into
/ q passionate flood ST tears. She had
| at last seen Hugh Thornton. He was
handsome, possessed fame and talent
that the world had acknowledged, YET
i all this was nothing to her <.omnarea