The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1890-09-04

The stranger entered; and was
shown into the little parlor. the Ia.
i dy remaining ins5he hall until he was
well into the room. Then she fol.
lowed, and closing the door gently,
looked mp at the visitor. A sudden
start, little cry, and she would
nave fallen to- the floor but for the
i stout arm Of her visitor. Assisting
her to chair. the stranger took q
seat directly. opposite to hers
{. Throwing back, his coat, and at.the
same time displaying the uniform Of
q captain. he said
miss Lowrey, or rather Mrs.
wright, sincerely hope that you
VIII excuse my rough manners. lam
Pete, the plow-boy, returned to Nav
tucket to fulfill commission intrust-
ed to me by dying comrade.,
The schooisbeacher gave start.
and then lowered her head. Pete
continued:
The mansfor whom promised to
deliver this packet was dear friend
OF mine, and. there is no slight pleas
lre, although it be married by sorrow.
IN knowing that ! was, perhaps, serv-
ing two friends when I came back to
| Nantucket,
He handed her the packet, and rose
to leava.. She looked up at him. and
with tears in her eyes, said:
Please remain a few minutes long
| err
Pete, fell back in his chair, and
toyed with his hat, while Mrs. Wright
broke. the seal of the packet and
looked hurriedly over it's contents.
There was one little note that at
tracted her attention. and she
blushed deeply as she read the fol-
lowing:
The man who will deliver this to you is.
Notwithstanding your doubts to the con-.
trary, a brave man.
unknowing Pete had brought her.
proof positive that he was not cow
ard. She rose from her seat, gath
cred up the contents of the packet,
and walking over to the hearth,
tossed them on the burning logs,
saying as she did so: "See! There
goes the last of him, the man who
wronged me-"
Pete rose to his feet at the words,
and looking at her reproachfully,
was aboutto speak, when shestopped
him by saying:
"He wronged me, Pete. 1t is true
that he married me, but to desert me
on the same day. Once loved him;
now respect his memory. lam alone
in the world, in the true sense of the
word. [ have one request to make
of you, the brave, unselfsh man
whom I once foolishly insultee.
Will you speak to no one about this
until am gomez"
Pete rose to his feet and looked
her squarely in the face. A peculiar
light was in his eyes. He spoke
softly and inquiringly. II expected
this,' he said, "and true it is that
you are alone in the world, without
q friend, save one who is afraid of
blast OF wind"
She advanced toward him, and
said, with a voice full of sweet en-
treaty: "Forgive me, Pete, for as
sure you that I never intended to
say such mean thing"
Pete's time had now arrived.
Lowering his head until his breath
famed her cheek, he whispered:
II will forgive you, and
help to forgive the past, on one con-
sideration, and that is that you sur
render Internationally, and become
the captive of a plain soldier boy"
"She answered by entwining her
arms about his neck and sobbing
with happiness"
Pete continued: ri have recently
learned that with little exertion I
may be able to get start in life if !
go at once to a certain town. in West:
ern New York; but 1 must start to-
night, partly for that reason, and
partly in order to secure proper med
ical treatment for my wounded arm,
which is now in a threatening condi.
ton. I left neutrality-suspicious.:
you and [ can do the same tonight.
Will you go?"
II WILL" was the firm reply.
For years afterward the sudden
disappearance of Miss Felicia Low
cry was the framework for many a
curious story told at the fresides by
the good farmers of Nantucket; but
none of them ever thought that
"Pete, the plow-boy," had any thing
to do with it.