The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-11-26

tics. Mrs. Dalzell pale, faded, woful
and wearied-lookinc. and looking so
perfectly the pro" lady she had al
ways been-prou', despite the plain
ness of her little house and the shah
biness of her widows weeds.
Miriam Dalzell, her eldest daughter,
as beautiful as dream, with her ex-
quisite Greek features and a complex
ion like unsunned snow, with her mag
nifcent black eyes that always were
beautiful whether languid and dream
ing OF haughtily questioning, with her
wealth of black hair that crowned her
like a coronet.
She had always been regarded as a
beauty, and had always been the
reigning belle in the town where they
lived; but now, when Mr.. Dalzell's
death had been the cause OF their be-
ing Obliged to leave their pleasant
home and occupy a suite of apart
ments, when they suddenly discovered
that instead of a large, ample income
they would be Obliged to use the
closest economy to at all manage on
the pitiful sum that was left them
then Mlriam's belleship fed from her
and she took her beauty, her grace,
her heightened, elegant tastes and her
hauteur with her into anobscurity that
was too agonizingto be endured.
Then, sitting little apart from
either mother or sister, was Lily, Mrs.
Dalzelps youngest child-Lily, as un-
like her sister as it was possible for
her to be, unless was excepted the
vein OF pride that ran in all the Dali
zells, but which IN Lily's case was of a
different quality from Miriam's; a
quality that. while in Miriam it made
her excessively naughty, exclusive,
reticent and vain, in Lilly was dignity,
strict woman truthfulness and eleva-
ton OF character.
No one ever thought of calling Lily
pretty; she was too slight, too petite.
She was neither blonde nor brunette,
therefore was not noticeable for
personal characteristics.
Her complexion was fair and soft as
rose-petals, her eyes were tenderly
gray intelligent, amiable and frank in
their expression, and her hair was OF
chestnut brown; but. her mouth was
exquisite girlishly lovely, with it's
proud curved lips, red as g. spray OF
meistened coral, with even, milk white
teeth showing becomingly when she
laughed, and with distracting dimple
in her left cheek.
The fourth of this quartet was Mrs.
Dalsell's brother Hiram, who had been
very much averse to his sisters mar
riage with Courtney Dalzell, and who
had never seen or communicated with
his sister 'daning all the years of her
mamied life until when Mr.. Dalzell
had died he had sent word to know ii
he could be of any service to his sister
or her children.
Then, knowing her brother was very
rich and perfectly able to do great
things for either OF her girls-or both,
for that matter-Mrs. Dalzell had
written accepting his offer, with large
hopes based ON his coming.
And he had come and had seen to
the settlement of his brother in-law's
affairs, and, now that the widow and
her two daughters were settled down
in their comfortable, plain little suite
of rooms and Hiram Winsate was to
return honae on the next day, the final
family talk was at hand, introduced
by Mrs. Dalzell herself.
And now, Hiram, what about the
girls?" u.
"Yes-about the girls. I've been
thinking it over considerably, and I've
come to three conclusions. any one Of
which will agree to put into effect. !"
Miriam dropped her long.lashed lids
and her beautiful eyes, for Hiram
looked directly at her, and in spite Of
herself her heart throbbed as she
thought perhaps he had decided to
make her his heiress! Why not. surely?
Hiram went on:
"Of course take il that you girls
between you intend to let your moth
or have an easy life OF it. At any rate.
between you you ought to be we'll able
to take care of her now when she IL