The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-07-30

to say. "Now we are alone" The
company had gone, Olive had retired
to her room. They sat by the library
fire.
AS the young man looked at his
friend sitting in his velvet lounging-
chair before the glowing anthracite,
surrounded on every side by luxury,
he thought he had never beheld a
more unhappy countenance. There
were new lines in the handsome face,
and the close-curling brown hair was
whitened above the temples.
81 have confidence in you, Roland,
and l must talk to some one"
"Thank you, Mr.. Seton. Can I
help your"
"My children!'
Mr.. Seton covered his face with his
hands. Alarmed, Roland. waited.
His companion could not sit in his
chair; but rose and walked the floor.
"You know how Victor went away,
Roland. My only son! His mother
was SO proud of him"
He broke down again. -
II may never see Victor again. But
Olive, my little girl, she was always
different-mild and patient like her
mother-yet not without strength of
mind. have based all my hopes of
the future on her of late. Yet She
'1Dear Mr.. Seton, what can have
gone wrong with Oliver"
Roland Harlow's face was anxious
enough now.
ut is impossible for me to think
any harm of my daughter. She has
ever been purity and truth ITSELF It is
my own remorse that makes me
shrink from seeking her confidence. "
"What has .happened?"
"Night after night Olive steals from
her room and leaves the house. She
is often absent till past midnight.
And she says nothing of this nightly
habit-evidently thinks it unknown.
You understand, Roland, that can
not force myself to believe any i'll of
Olive. I will not believe that she
seeks bad company"
mo; no indeed"
not her confidence. I have lost my
children's confdence!" and passion
ate, loving Ogden Seton covered his
face and wept in unutterable sor-
row.
"Mr. Seton, if you asked an expla~
nation Of Olive, think she would give
it to YOU"
"Roland, I have thought of this
matter until I am almost i'll. One
thing I am convinced of. If Olive
wishes to maintain secrecy regarding
this matter she will do so. Mind, if she
does-and I sometimes fear I dare
not say what! But it is killing me
that my child does not trust
| me-
"Don't worry SO, Mr.. Seton. I will
try to help you"
"How?"
"It is delicate matter; but am
sure Olive does not fear me. Perhaps
can lead her to confde in me of her
own free choice"
"God bless you, Roland!-try, try.
would give the world to be relieved
OF this anxiety!"
n X X
By q thousand ingenious but inef-
fectual ways Roland Harlow strove to
surprise Olives secret, but never sue
ceeded. The same which was the key
mote to 1T he never thought to utter;
and the girl was too wrapped in her
own thoughts and feelings to observe
the singularity of his. A fortnight
had gone by, when she declined to at
tend concert with him, ard bidding
him goodnight in the hall assembled
to her room. Roland let himself out,
and, crossing the park, sat down un-
der the trees in the balrny spring even
ing.
The truth was, he was overwhelmed
10y his thoughts, and sat racking his
brain longer than he knew, for he was
suddenly surprised by the sight of OF
i've, wrapped in a gray waterproof and
veil, emerging from the door of her
house. She came quickly down the
high stone steps, was Joined at the
corner of the park by Ada Grand
mont, and the two walked rapidly
away. Before he knew what he was
doing he was following them.
Leaving the aristocratic quarter OF
the city, they sought one less preten-
tious, and then their steps grew slow
er. Arm i'm arm, they paced SLOWLY
along looking about them, and talk
ing i'm low tones. Before the entrance
of stores, theaters and other public
places, they stopped ond waited for a
considerable time. At the door OF
two or three private houses they
stopped and rang, but Roland dared
mot approach near enough to get any
clew to their business. -
They went down one side of the
street, and came back upon the
other; at last, when the clocks were
striking LII, returning home. They
reached the park. Ada Grandmont's
residence being near Olives the latter
had but a few steps to 60 along be-
fore the door of her house closed soft
~ upon her, and soon appeared a
light in her chamber window.
Twice Roland sought and found
opportunity to follow Olive in the
same way. She was always accom-
panied by Ada. The temerity which