The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-05-21

did George Liyeston cease to occupyher
thoughts; from that evening did Harry
1 Percival, who had never loved before,
love fervently and passionalely; from
that evening did George and Harry
cease to be intimate friends, and very
/ soon they became bitter enemies.
And from that evening seemed to date
the ruin and downfall Of one who had
always stood first in his class; one,
& who before had never sought the intox-
icating glass became reckless of him
self, and endeavored to seek relief from
sorrow in the flowing bowl, amid the
revelry of his fellow-students Each
night he sought his room inebriated
But Harry Percival forsook his old
haunts of vice for Clara society, car
ing as little for his lessons as ever.
Each morning he sought to meet her
in the street, that, if possible, he
might receive one smile, one token of
recognition, one look OF love to cheer
his heart. Each evening he was to be
found by her side; by him the wine
cup was forsaken, the college debau-
cherry neglected. .....D.
I But George Liveston took his place.
Both alike proved reckless Of study,
for George cared little for the future,
while Harry dreamed not OF manfully
fighting the battle of life, but only Of
basking in the sunshine of Clara's
presence.
Harry Percival and Clara Boards
ley were engaged. Never did youth
love so desperately as he, and never
was youth more deceived. Claraloved
to f1irt; and that same heart that could
profess eternal devotion to George
Liveston, then cast him aside with
out one sigh OF regret, as she beheld
him on the downward road to ruin,
could in likemanner deceive Harry
Percival, and only waited for suffi-
Gent opportunity so to do, hoping
that, like George Liveston, he would
down his love in the wine-cup, and
she be free to seek another victim.
It was Commencement Day. George
Liveston came forward upon the
stage. His cheeks were flushed his
very manner showed that even now,
at the close Of his college course, had he
been INDUCING too freely in the intoxi-
eating beverage. His theme was
"Our Mission, 1.-THE mission of him
self and classmates. Alas! What
hope, what prospect had he?
The next orator was Harry Percival.
He spoke eloquently; all eyes were
turned upon him. His theme was
"a Young Mans Hope,' How he
dwelt upon the bright future, the fiat
tering prospect before him and fellow
students The exercises over, the
palm OF success was allotted to him.
Student after student was now bid
ding farewell to those with whom for
years he had spent many hours in
pleasant intercourses, wandering to-
gether "by the green pasture and still
waters of knowledge" George and
Harry had parted, perhaps never
again to meet on earth Clara and
Harry had said farewell, made pledges
OF eternal devotion to remain true to
each other. All seemed bright to him.
Often would he visit her, and in a few
short years, when he had obtained
his profession, would he claim her as
his bride.
A few weeks only had passed when
she wrote to him desiring to be
released from the engagement, she had
never regarded it as serious. Harry
FASTENED to her side; more earnestly
than ever pleaded his love; spoke Of
their VOWS which were registered in
heaven, those pledges which he be-
lieved were binding, and which were
acknowledged to be q fact; he entreat-
ed and urged her to pause. No, she
never did, nor never could love him.
They parted. He often afterwards
sought her society, but was as often
refused.
Many were now her admirers, true
and noble youths, who could not re-
sist her charms, believing her noble
and true, base and false as she was.
Harry again sought her, only as a
friend, advising her to cease her de-
ceit, or the time would come when her
nearest friends would forsake her.
She needed him not, and in disdain
cast away his advise.
Little did she know whom she had
rejected, and how soon she would be
called upon to entreat of him as he
had of her.
On that very day when their
engagement was broken did he
VOW from that hour mot, like
George Liveston, to drown his sorrow
in the wine-cup) but that he would
with new zeal, new energy, devote him.
self to his profession, and strive to in
scribe his name high in the Temple of
Fame. And nobly was he rewarded
for his years Of toll
And where, all this time, was George
Llveston? Had he sunk deeper and
deeper in vice, or had he found one in
whom to care? Had he again been a
worshipper at woman's shrine? Yes;
he had found one OF the purest of
earth's beings, one who would remain
to him as true as the needle to the
pole. But, alas again was he doom
ed to disappointment. Death came
and robbed him of his treasurer and, as
he beheld that form, once so beautiful
now cold and lifeless, he thought of
the past, of his first love, and Of her
who now slumbered in the new-made
grave; and he vowed to live new
life; he saw there was nothing per-
manent this side of heaven; he would
seek to gain an entrance to that
heavenly mansion where sin and sor-
row are unknown; he would become a
minister OF the gospel. -,
ST. HNboro no no \ rIoro Doo,Ie1o1,