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

was lying in a hammock swung from
two of the large pillars at one corner
of the back porch. The pillars were
overgrown with honeysuckle, trained
to form wall of leaves and flowers at
this end of the porch. Several wicker
chairs were supplied with cushions
stood in seeming disorder near the
hammock, while on rug near by lay
a large mastiff. All the members of
the family except Edith had gone on a
picnic to one of the neighboring hills.
During the early part of the afternoon
= Edith had been reading novel, but
the novel had evidently proved unin-
teresting, for it had fallen on the rug,
while the girl lay half dreaming in her
hammock, which she kept slowly NOV
ing with little foot. She was won
morrow.
The morrow would bring her not
only her twentieth birthday but-ac-
cOrding to prOphecy-her future hap
piness or misery. While she was Won
dering what her destiny would be, she
started suddenly, believing that she
had heard the door-bell ring. She sat
up quickly passed her hand over her
eyes, and tried to convince herself that
she had only imagined she had heard
the sound. There was long silence.
Evidently she had been dreaming, for
no one went to the door. She was on
the point of lying down again, when
the bell rang for the second time. A
few minutes later and the maid told
Edith that there was some one in the
parlor to see her.
'Pshaw! some cousin come to dis
turb me! what a bore these cousins
arer
But the moment Edith entered the
parlor she stopped, blushed crimson,
and exclaimed prettily:
why! Mr. Brooks! III never
dreamed it could be you! | am very
glad to see you," and she offered her
hand as she approached. And pray"
she added what brought you up
here?n
''Well" he replied, his color Deep
ening at the sight of her, 'since I
asked for you, I suppose I might rea-
sonably say that [ came up here to see
you. I am not doing wrong, am I?''
'.No-Eow silly! 1 am delighted
you came, only am sorry I am the
only one at home just now to receive
you; but you see all the rest have gone
off on a picnic. When was told there
was some one in here to see me, I was
out on the back porch, lying in ham,
mock, and trying to read novel;
Then | interrupted you?"
''But | am glad you did, for it was
awfully stupid and pokey. Suppose
we go out on the porch. Mr.. Brooks,
and then you can tell me all that you
have been doing since saw you last "
Il haven't been doing much lately,
except wishing from one days end to
the other that were up here. 1t has
been pretty slow and hot in the city
for the last two or three weeks. I
wasn't breaking down under the heat
or the work. but still, " he continued,
smiling, IF I may say so, I found no
trouble in convincing myself that
ought to run up here for few days"
And why here?" she asked, smiling
prettily, and looking up at him in
somewhat coquettish way as he paused
to let her pass out on the porch.
'Well, as soon as get up my courage
I'll tell you, and be laughed little, in
an easy, half-boyish way.
When Edith was seated in the ham,
mock, and Brooks in one of the wicker
chairs close by, there was short
silence.
Have you mustered up your cour-
age y,t?'' she asked.
Don't you Think he said seriously,
after a moments hesitation, 1+don't
you think that, after all, one is more
apt to follow the course of ones heart
than the idea of ones sense of duty? It
seems to me so, and if remember
rightly, Bacon touches on this point.
He says, Whatsoever a man command
eth upon himself, let him set hours
for it; but whatsoever is agreeable to his
nature, let him take no care for any
get times, for his thoughts will fly to
it of Themselves Now, have 1 an
swered your question:"
''Oh perfectly, though I object to
having Bacon quoted at me on a Sum-
mer day."
Very well, I won't do it any more.
Fact is, " he added with smile that's
all know"
After while they started down to
the bank of quiet river that skirted
Edith's summer home. They strolled
along narrow, winding path, talking
and laughing softly, with the mastiff
was walking majestically behind his
mistress. They sat down on bench
built around the trunk of one of the
large trees near the water edge, but
presently Brooks got up to pick some
flowers that were growing wild in the
shade of the old trees. When he re-
turned he wove the flowers into a
wreath, while Edith talked to him.
Now and then he laughed lightly over
what she said, and occasionally ven
tured some reply which he knew would
bring the color to her face.
''There!'' he said, holding up the
wreath for her inspection, isn't it
artistic?" ..e.. .g.s