The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-12-24

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I'M smiled SO necessarily
= and on whom the
R IN gods have lavised
Ml - so many good gifts
w." that they, after a
while, begin to think
the world was created solely for their
amusement and qualification, and
that all the blessings OF life
are theirs by right OF birth, and,
when the mood strikes them
to take possession of their in
heritance, all that is necessary is to
reach out q hand, and it is theirs.
Such favored Individual was Jack
Shepard. The world was at his feet
that IS, the fashionable world. En-
Wed Of all men-welcomed with open
arms and beaming smiles by the moth
ers OF marriageable daughters and
openly adored by the daughters them
selves. Who could help it? It was
not so much his looks; there are plen-
ty OF handsome men; and it wasn't
altogether the number of ciphers in
his bank account; it was simply be-
cause she had a way about him."
, But Jack futtered around the
world, heart whole-not exactly fancy
free, because the number OF charming
girls he had fancied for day, was
legion, but no worm in the bud ever
fed on his damask cheek, and like a.
butterfly in a garden of flowers, he
lowered for a moment round one
dainty blossom, and the next minute
was off to the next and the next,
leaving to each forsaken fow'ret only
a memory of his bright sunshiny
presence, or a harmless kiss or two;
perhaps a drop of dew lies on the
heart of the stately lily or the beauti-
full rose after it is gone, but what does
the butterfly care for thls-the flowers
are only a part of the universe given
him to enjoy;-and the rose folds the
tender leaves around the crystal drop,
and nobody knows'it is there.
1t was getting along toward the chilly
days Of Autumn-the last Of October.
The air was beautifully mild outside in
esun, but inside. just enough freshness
crept in to make a big CRATE fire one of
the pleasantest things in the world to
contemplate. Beth thought so at
any rate, and was sitting on the rug
comfortably basking in TIE warmth of
the blaze. On the roomy couch near
her, luxuriantly stretched among a.
nest OF gold-colored cushions, lay an
other girl, a girl with clear gray
eyes and yellow hair. This was
Beth's cousin ''from the West"
Luray Fuller, and this was their first
secret session, and held with closed
doors. Luray had the floor.
"YOu see, Beth" she was saying, cit
was not only George, whose matt err
of-fact way of taking possession of me
was unbearable,-buthe was encour-
aged and aided and abetted by my
own family. 1t did no good for me to
snub him. have told him hundreds
OF times that I never wanted to see
him again, and if he stayed away a
week Papa would make special trip
down to his office, and bring him up
to dinner. Papa always said he could
not get along without George, and,
because a silly girl did not want to
talk to him was no reason why he
should stay away from the house alto
getner, and George is so provokinsly
good-natured, he'd begin right where
he left off, and we'd all jog along to-
gether, and George would fit into all
the corners rs if he was predestined
from the beginning to belong to that
family, and Papa and Mama would
look on seriousl y with :bless-you-
my-children' air. 1t was maddening,
and do you wonder that / took the
Pennsylvania limited and came to
you for protection? The night before
left home, Beth, went through a
sacred ceremony / took out my
pocket book and kissed it, solemnly
swore never to leave New York until I
had fallen in love with man, and,
my dear, shall, Of course, expect your
help and cooperation. y
Beth laughed heartily, and then
sighed: '"Ah, Lu, don't 90 too near
the fire. Love is a sweetness full of
bitterness
Another profound sigh and com
templative gaze at the red GOALS.
''And that reminds me-" said Lu,
quickly; "teIl me aboutJ lack; hisname
has been suspiciously conspicuous In
your letters lately"
There's nothing to tell" sighed
Beth, plaintively. ~ wish there was,
am so unhappy, Luz The brown
eyes filled with tears, and Ll patted
the droopinghead. Sometimes" con-
tinuing, II think he does care for me,
and | ann the happiest girl in the
world, but the awakening comes soon
er OR later, and realize that he is
only flirting with me, as he firts
with dozens of others. When he
is with me live-the world
is a beautiful place, full OF sun
shine and joy,-when he leaves me, |
wonder why God fortunes us by max
ing us live in such world of miisery.''
The little bronze clock on the mante]