The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-01-22

poor child, and shiver ran through her
from head to foot.
1t was too much; the softness of nv
heart conquered. could not go with
out one word to tell her how pitied her
grief. a..
In the tenderest manner T took her
hand; in the gentlest tone T said: ssDo
not be unhappy; do not weep so.''
She started up with q stifed cry. On
seeing me vivid flush passed over her
brow and neck, and she quickly with
drew her hand. Then the color fell out
of her cheeks, leaving them deadlier
white than ever, and she dropped her
face into her hands as she murmured:
,"Oh, you here! You to see me!'
l didn't understand the emphasis on
the pronour, but only answered:
'sDo not send me away before tell you
it was accident br ,ught me here and
sympathy detained ne. You seem very
miserable"
She glanced shyly at mo from under
the swollen lids.
81 was a little while ago. But don't
feel SO now" she whispered.
The deuce! Here was an odd return
for my sympathetic interference. 1
rather liked it, however, for seemed to
do the poor child good, and I felt so
wretched and alone in the world.
'But, oh! what must you think of
me:' she cried suddenly, and again the
face went into the hands and again the
bushes mounted up to the eartips.
81 think-I-that isl am very, very
sorry to see you suffer-" l answered
somewhat inconsequently.
"But to think you of all people But
you will never tell hi1h?'
Why I, ''of all people, couldn't con
celve, but it was very safe to promise
about him." as [ had never set eyes or
the grief producing Goodwin. Therefore
I answered honestly:
"On my word, never!"
''But then you know ALT Oh, how
forward, how unmaidenly, how bolG
you must think me!''
What in the deuce the girl meant why
l should think her bold for not wanting
to marry her grandfather I could no
conceive. So I only shook my heat
sagely. In medic tutissimus ibis.
But then this never has seemed lik,
home," she went on. "Auntie tries Il
be very good, but she doesn't know
how. And then young girl may have
strong feelings, and oh, I do love SO ut
terly!"
"Wh-atr' I gasped, surprised out O.
propriety. ''The devil you dor 1t wa
very improper; but then to think of he
being sold to man of 60, and then 'lov
ing so utterly" Wonderful creatures art
women. My abruptness made her recoil
but it was only for a moment.
'Then you won't think me immodes
-unWomanly? could not bear it. You
Of all people in the world!'
There it was again. Why in the deuce
did she care for my opinion so much i
she loved Goodwin $50 utterly?"
''Unwomanly! never!'' said vaguely.
fFOh, thank you! thank you'll" She was
beginning to get excited again. II fell
you would understand; you have seer
more Of me than any one else; you car
make allowance for a young girls feel
ings overstepping the bounds Of prudish-
ness"
rose and walked to the mantel.
began to believe that the stone sphinx
that upheld it had turned suddenly sof
and blonde and crept into the form O.
the White Mouse. She was surely talk
ing in riddles of the deepest.
''Tell me once MORE" she said, follow
ing me- to the hearth, "that I lose moth
ing in. your eyes by-by what you know.
under any circumstances, I began
warily, real, deep love-
''Oh, and how do love! God knows
how deep and pure is the passion thai
makes me forget all bonds and almost al
prophecies! What else could excuse my
being able to speak Of it now-to you
You know [ an pledged unwillingly tx
another
''To what!' almost slrieked.
"To Mr.. Goodwin. whom Ives, whom
I hate'' the girl answered, with ten times
the spirit thought in her.
''And you don't-it isn't-you don't
mean it's Goodwin you care for?' STAN
mered in confusion
"Goldwin! Oh, how can you jest with
HE at such a moment? You know whom
I-you have long guessed even before
confessed my love for-for-another!''
Again the purple flood dyed her brow
and neck, and then died Qaiclzly out.
felt deuced queer. Here was I alone al
midnight with ti1nid White Mouse
who had suddenly asserted herself, and
told me she did NOT love the man she was
engaged to, and "did SO" love somebody
else. There Was nobody else except Tom
Jones, now talking terrier with the
groom up stairs, and-myself! Great
heavens! conld the girl mean me? No
nonsense 1 must be mistaken smiled
sickly smile to reassure myself. Then
said, II don't-that is, you know-I-
could not-you would not suspect me oil
testing about a-um-your sacred feel
ings." She seized my hand impulsively
and pressed it.
''They are sacredv' she cried-ssacred
as the first worship Of a pure girls heart
must ever be. Oh, you know, you must
feel how strong and all absorbing is the
passion that can change me into sell
asserting woman! that can make me
defy prejudice and custom, as you see
do. when I say that I will give mn home