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

am aware that was no. 8 very
brave lover from the first, for 1 wrote
my momentous question instead Of
delivering it by word of mouth. / shut
myself UP in my chamber and spent
the evening writing letters to her.
The one which finally dispatched was
indited with the briefness Of despera.
ton:
Won M msrr yA msg soMnRs; love you w
Then rested from my labors. Hel
reply came back the next night:
mistaken Ma AuP N5 1AsDos A1r shins o yoa
Then, of course, there was nothing
for me to do but to forget her. This ]
did not succeed in doing.
But time waits not for miserable low.
ers more than for happier men. The
summer went by, and it CHANGED that
never once saw Waite Somers' face un.
til certain day about Christmas.
During the hot weather | drove tc
my counting-room, but on the fine
winter days preferred to walk. The
road lay along the edge of large
sheet of water called Swans pond.
This by the middle of December was
frozen across.
But one morning was rather late tc
my business, and, wishing to make .
short cut, started to 60 across the,
pond on the ice I had proceeded but
half way across when the brittle sub.
stance gave way and I was plunged
into the cold flood beneath.
At first | went under the ice, but
though l could not swim I struggled
back to the aperture and laid hold OF
the edge Of the ice. 1t was thin, how.
ever, and kept breaking in my grasp,
and a numbness began to come over
me. I felt myself grow pale and my
heart sank as l struggled.
Meanwhile l was half conscious of
shouts and confused voices. I did not
realize that they had any connection
with me, however, until slender fig.
on the ice above and beside me, and at
the same moment a rope splashed into
the water. -..ss
My brilliant preserver was away like
the wind, but had the means of escape
in my hands and chung to. the rope,
breaking the ice before me until I was
drawn by unseen friends upon the
bank. Then dozen hands reached to
my assistance, and found myself sur.
rounded by crowd of men.
was in very exhausted condition.
They put me into carriage, and I be-
ieve it was Mr.. Somers' Tom who
drove home with me.
At any rate. it was Tom who assisted
in ,,1ttipr to bod oc1 -, ~ With
hot compounds until felt as if should
explode. .-.-" .sE.-.
That will do, my good fellow, that
will do" / said, at last II can't drink
any more of anything. just put away
that glass, if you please, and tell me
who it was that threw me the rope"
who should it be but Waite Som
ers?" demanded Tom, who was but six
years from Cork. ''What other skater
is there in Bayswater like her? Sure,
no man could have ventured on that
thin ice, and it was as much as her life
was worth to go; but she did it-blese
her purity, flying feetr'
The hot tears came into my eyes. J
went to sleep very happy. H..
They kept me in bed two days, but
OC OuO VI CllClI uduSlS Ou Lie tulIt anu
drove to the Three Elms.
Vattie faltered and turned little
pale as she gave me her hand. But
took both little hands and drew her
aside, though Rose and Lilly were look.
ing on wonderingly.
darling, it is very noble in you te
risk your dear life for a man you de.
spise."
But 1 do not despise you"
''For man you dislike" .
'tBut 1 do not dislike you.'
''For man you do not love-" ...
''But I do love you'll" sobbed Vattie.
yielding to my embrace.
Then she tried to release herself and
talk of other things, but I had beer
denied too long to permit this, and ]
held her close. kissing lips and hands
and bonny hair.
"Vattie, why did you refuse me?"
because thought you were crazy
to ask me in such strange way, after
stunning me for six weeks. Why did
you do so, Aubrey"
IL was troubled about Mr.. Louyois.
Lilly said you were to marry him.
That was only child's story. Mr..
Louvois has married my cousin, Mar
garet" -
The rest of my happiness shall keer
to mySelf-N Y. WeekZ9 ..-s-