The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-12-31
A TERRIBLE MONSTER.

| had never seen her Handwriting
before; and yet, the instant the lette
was brought to me, | knew it wa
from Paula, whom I had not seel
for three long years, in fact, not sine
she had become the wife of Fredericl
Wertheim the brilliant bOtanis
whose researches had won the plau
dts of the whole scientific world
Paula and l had been friends from
childhood, and I had naturally ex
pected to see her handwriting embell
ished with all manner of capricious
little twists and curls; but I knew il
was from her as soon as I saw my
name on the envelope, despite the
].Nrried, nervous letters, and I felt in
stiHctively that something was
a. ::>SS.
| broke the seal rriedly-the
nleet bore but two words "come" and
Ter name, "Paula."
Such a request from her was to me
an order. I did not hesitate an
instant. Paula and her husband
lived on large estate about six
miles distant from the city. But my
'strolls had never led me in that direc-
ton; it would have brought up
dreams Of my childhood that we're
best forgotten-but there, it does no
good to sentimentalize in this fashion.
1t was early autumn, and I had to
urge my horse through heavy fog.
The chateau in which Paula lived was
situated at the extremity of an alley
OF chestnut trees whose boughs inter-
laced to form long, dark tunnel. As
entered this alley, it seemed to me
that far in the black circle, which
looked like the cave of some terrible
beast, l could see the vague features
of q horrid. grinning mask, shadowy
as mist, which menanced me and
dared me to come on. The sinister
impression of this hallucination was
so strong that drew rein and half
stopped, leaning forward on nv
horses neck to peer into the profound
darkness. Then, driving the spurs
deep in my horses tanks, I
dashed into the unknown.
was almost thrown by the alb.
ruptness with which the horse
stopped, for just before me was an
iron gate, surmounted by a curious
ly carved head, a masterpiece of the
iron-Worker's skill, which accounted
tor my strange illusion of the mo-
ment before. And behind the twisted
bars OF the gate stood Paula await
ang me, her rosy baby in her arms.
Even in the darkness Icould see that
she was very pale and her tace show
ed signs of suffering. Jumped from
the saddle, and in an instant was
raising to my lips the hand she
extended to me.
Arrived at the porch, she stopped
a moment as if listening. She could
have heard nothing, for she slowly
pushed open the heavy door, which
swung silently to disclose a heavily
carpeted hall. And moment later
we were in small reception room,
lighted by candles which threw a. fit
1ul CLEAN upon our faces.
"Listen"
They were the first words she had
pronounced, and the sad tones other
voice told me she had suffered deep-
ly.
Il have summoned you," she went;
on; you are the friend of my child
hood. The bond between US has
been strained, but it is not broken.
Three years ago became Frederick's
wife. AS child [ had thought of
him, whom they already called pro-
lessor, as a being whom none might
dlsobey; he won me with a word. his
glance held me, and felt myself con
quered by his will. My weakness
leaned upon his strength, I was proud
to bow before this will that seemed
to dominate all things. speak of
these matters because it is necessary
that you should understand all, fer
have sore need of your help
why, what is the matter? Does
F'rederick dare
FREDERICK is goodness itself, he
loves me-but, I am afraid, I fear-I
Tear him above all things, Why? Oh,
II could but tell you, if l could but
+, know myself! But this fear which
torments me every day, and every
night still more, is the more poignant
because it is inexplicable!'
"Bah! Terror, fear-these are mere
words" said I, lightly, though I was
far from feeling at ease.
Words which sound in our brains.
nevertheless, which are ineligible to
our reason, which awake dread ech-
oes. Why do you smile? Do YOU
not know that mystery is stronger