The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-09-10

more flaming than the lightning that
Illuminated the sky. He felt as
though he were going mad.
He had had his Jealous doubts and
fears but back Of them all his love had
whispered words ofhope and encourage
ment. Inhis heart he had never finally
abandoned his faith in Winifred. He
had believed that she would repent OF
her fc olish thrilling by and by. Butnow
all hope was dead in his heart. It lay
ruined and shattered thing, from
which life had been tudely wrested.
Hardly knowing what he did, he rose
and went out in the pouring rain.
Down the garden path he strobe, and
out of the gate toward the woods
half mile off.
He walked on and on, never needing
the awful crashes OF thunder, his white
face stamped with a look OF utter dis
may.
All, Winifred! Winifred you should
have seen your work! Would it have
given you any satisfaction had you
seen your lover lying pale and appa
rently lifeless on the moist earth, where
he had been hurled by the flying frag-
ments OF a tree which the lightning had
shattered?
"Where is Mr.. Bronsoh?" Mrs.
Leary inquired, as her guests assemble
ed at the tea-table, when the storm
was we'll over. HAS any one seen
him?"
81 saw him do avery foolish thing"
her husband observed. "He went out
about o'clock, when it was just pour
ing down. | called to him, but he did
not answer me-"
''Where did he go, do you think?"
Mrs. Leary asked anxiously.
'In the direction of the woods"
Mr.. Leary replied. 81 can't imagine
what was his idea in going out in such
storm. He hadn't even an umbrel-
la"
"He ought to be back by this time,
john" Mrs. Leary obser we'd uneasily.
Winifred Erskine, in a lovely toilet
OF Powered foulard and Spanish lace,
sat beside Mr.. Terry with apparent
composure. Her face was trifle pale,
though, and her eyes unconsciously
turned toward the door with an ex-
pectant look every time it opened.
81 am really becoming anxious
about Mr.. Bronson" Mrs. Leary OBJ
served later in the evening. 1t is so
unlike him to 60 off and leave us no
message. Do you think he could have
met with an accident, John?"
81 hope not" Mr.. Leary replied, but
he privately dispatched his coachman
and butler with q lantern to look for
the missing guest.
HE may have lost his way" he
said as he came up to where Winifred
was standing with her face pressed
against the window-pane, peering out
into the darkness.
Before very long the two men came
back. They had found Mr.. Bronson,
they said. He had met with an acct
dent. They could not tell whether he
was dead or alive. His head had been
badly cut.
Mr.. Leary at once ordered the car
rage to the door, and went himself to
bring Mr.. Bronson home. For while
the widest excitement reigned, and
no one observed Winifred Erskine was
lying in dead faint on the parlor
floor.
A servant was speedily dispatched
TOR a doctor. For several hours the
verdict was withheld. Philip Bronson
lay white and still in the silent room,
and no one could tell whether life or
death was before him. At midnight
the doctor came downstairs softly and
went away. AS he crossed the hall,
he felt a OBTAINING hand on his arm,
Looking around, he saw an imploring
look on the face of a. woman who
stood beside him.
us he dead?" she whispered.
"No; he is alive"
"Wlll he recover"
II cannot tell yet. will know to-
morrow"
The doctor went out, and Winifred
stole up to her room to watch for the
morrow, which would decide the fate
OF Philip Bronson.
In the morning the symptoms were
encouraging. DR.. Hannah succeeded
IN dressing the wound and in ascer-
tanning that there had not been a. frac-
ture. Philip might have recovered
shortly had it not been that nv his
exposure to the rain he had contract
ed cold which eliminated in a. fever.
81 think that he will pull through
all right" DR.. Hannah said. II hope
so, at I'LL events. But fear he has
been suffering mentally. That is verv
much against his recovery. Who is
this girl he calls for so constantly Mrs.
Leary?"
Winifred Erskine. She has been
spending the summer here. 1 think
they were engaged.
"Was there any difficulty, do YOU
know, before this accident happened?"
III cannot say, doctor. She seems
very anxious about him. She has
hardly eaten a thing for week."
Mrs. Leary's party broke up
shortly. The doctor complained that
there were too many people about the
house, and he ordered them all away.
Let me stay, Mrs. Leary," Win1i-
fred Erskine had pleaded. III will not
make any disturbance, and can help
you nurse him." .....
She begged so hard that she was al
lowed to remain, and, before MANY
days, was installed as an attendant
in the sick room. Philip did not know
her, but, in his delirium, again and
again he called for Winifred.