The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-09-17

supposed that l had entered the
wrong room.
'Oh, come in she said, with lit
tie laugh, and shut the door,
please
: obeyed, and the big brown ewes,
full OF mischief, again met mine.
u sat down, half dazed, the trans
formation was so great. Diamond
earrings spanked in her ears: her
dress fitted her to perfection; her at
tltude was one OF gracefulness; there
was a red glow in the brown cheeks.
and her lips were tantalizing in their
ripe fulness. 1 was impressed that I
had met her somewhere-but that, I
thought, was owing to the photograph
and my having seen her in male at
tire.
"You will perceive that you have
made a mistake she quietly said.
""This isn't settled yet, I replied,
not knowing just what to say.
You have not been playing detec-
tive long, I infer, she said, with a tan
talizlng little laugh. You should have
noticed that my ears were pierced for
rings. Come, now; acknowledge that
you were way off, Mr.
She pronounced my name in full,
and IT. was like exploding a bomb at
my feet.
"'You know mel gasped. Tell me,
who are your
"'Again that ripping, provokinglit-
tie laugh
"'You are excessively dull, she said.
4 always thought you liked me, and
| f0 l. Io 1,
forgotten me so soon. You used to
call my monogram, Big A, little A,
bouncing B. ] am Alice A. Brinton.'
"'Yes, [ am excessively dull con-
fessed, after had found my voice.
But, Miss Brinton, in heavens name
what does all this mean?"
"I'll tell you,' she said. 4 could
not get along with my stepmother.
Father sided with her, and made mat
ters still more aggravating. I left
home. drlfted here. I could not Get
school; nobody wanted a governess.
put on mems clothes and found en-
Payment
"Does your father know the strait
you are imp I asked. He is rich. Why
don't you go homer"
guess will since this thing has
happened she thoughtfully said. 1
beg OF you to keep my secret from Mr..
Clayton
II promised faithfully to do so, and
then Dick Clayton walked into the
room. He was in his own house-the
door wasn't bolted-he was curious
over the detention. He stared at his
Farmland in amazement.
r.-will explain she stammer-
ed, looking atme, her face burning with
bushes.
Eyes, Dick, I said, motioning to him
to follow me out OF the room; but, as
we left, l said to her: I'Il return in a.
few minutes
''When I told Dick her story he was
entirely satisfied. More than that, he
seemed delighted, and 1 noticed that
ne was doing some rapid thinking"
"That story rounds up in the usual
way" | said; "the ranchman married
her" 49,. H.
"No he didn't either" replied the
detective. "When I returned to the
room l said: Alice, you must 60 East
with me-
oh, I CAN'T objected she.
=" Yes, you can. I'll be your escort
This is no place for you
II had always liked her. and she
looked so pretty just then, that 1 fell
madly in love with her.
i" Get ready at once I ordered.
Don't be silly she retorted.
"Still [ saw that she regarded me
with favor.
"'I insist" I said.
"'Oh, indeed!' she cried, angrily.
u" AS prisoner, if not otherwise I
quietly said 'See?' And 1 held up
package Of letters.
81 had taken them, unobserved by
her, from her trunk, the lid, of which
was up. The letters were directed to
Banjamine Gray and had the imprint
of the st. Louis firm on the envelopes.
They had been sent to her while
travelling for the house.
"When she saw the letters she grew
very pale, and she stared at me half
wildly, half appealingly.
were in male attire when you were
employed by the firm. Now you can
either 60 back with me as a prisoner,
to be disgraced, or as my wife, your
secret safe with me forever. Wen get
married at AUSTIN
"'Oh, it is too sudden she stam-
m n, *and = and compulsory.
''She yielded, and went back with
me as my wife.
Didn't you take big risks?" I ven
tured to ask. T.. -. s--.--.....v
"May be?" he replied "But l have
not regretted it, and never expect to.
No man ever had a better, handsomer,
truer wife; the forgery matter was sat
isfactorily explained"
just then q superb looking woman
came into the room. j.. ..--.s...
Bates" she announced, "tea is
ready"
''Alice, this is particular friend OF
mine," her husband said, pronouncing
my name.
II am pleased to meet YOU" was
her welcome in a low sweet voice, her
bright brown eyes meeting mine.
I spent several days with the family,
and came to the conclusion that my
friend had not taken any risks at ALL
Frank H. Stauffer in Boston Globe.