The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-11-03
THE DOCTORS STORY.

Dr. Elliott, in his cozy little Office in
the insane asylum at W. The
blazing FIRE in the CRATE cast cheer
fzEl glow around the room and the
doctor, grown reminiscent over his
cigar, had entertained mo with stories
Of all the good and evil that had be-
'EsiEen the inhabitants OF my native
town. l had been away fifteen years
1a4nd the changes that had taken place
within that time had both surprised
and panied me.
Striving to shake off the gloom
that seemed settling over my friends S.
usually merry face, l suddenly said:
"What has become of Margaret
Eastman? Married Isuppose, and hap
Nay,1 hope. Doyou remember the pugil-
astbc we used to have to see
,apon whom should rest the honor OF
escerting pretty Margaret home from
school7 Those were happy days."
And as the memory OF some of our
'isoyIsh pranks awakened in my mind
i laughed heartily, but the doctor was
strangely silent.
What is it old fellow" I asked
'fsWhat can have happened to our
pretty Margaret to cause you to look
SO glum?''
''Well, Phil, you shall hear and
Judge foc yourself. Pretty Margaret,
as we used to call her, is an inmate
fof the asylum here. Not crazy; no."
rs [ started to my feet with cry OF
asxnazement, "but physically and
mentally wreck, and, being without
friends and none too we'll off in this
worlds goods, l had apartments fit
ted up for her in wing of the build.
ing away from the others so that I
might give her every care, and hope
in time to restore her mind. Wait;
1'H begin at the beginning and tell
you the whole story" And lighting
b fresh cigar, he resumed:
"Aargaret, as you may remember,
was just entering society when you
lett Her escort and, in fact, her &C.
copied lover, 40 Dame Rumor had it,
was Will Danton. Well, things seemed
TO be going on smoothly enough until
one day college chum of Willis, Jack
Ashton by name, appeared on the
scene. From the very first Margaret
and he were friends, and it finally
ripened into warmer feeling on both
sides Each day found Jack on some
prete1t Or another, at Margaret's
side and she daily grew lovelier with
the new lovelieht in her eyes, while
viii became sullen and dull, taking
long rides by himself and having little
TO say to any one. This state of
AFFAIRS could not last long and one
day there was a scene between Mar
garet and Will which ended in his
4oing away, no one knew where and
10 one cared to ask, for he had g, own
unpopular since Ashton's advent,
who still staid on. 1t was plain what
kept hun and If ever a man deserved
q good woman's love it was Jack.
He was one in a hundred; not hand
some but strong and manly looking
ehe kind of a man you could count on
every time. He was great favorite
with every one and when finally he
~and Margaret were married they left
Us with the general blessing and good
will Of the entire community.
Cline passed and l heard OF them
occasionally. Margaret's letters
nome were written in the best of
spirits and apparently they were as
happyfas human beings could we'll be-
The first cloud in their sky was the
death OF her father and it was
not long before Mrs. Eastman
who had been in poor health
since Margaret's marriage, was laid
to rest by the side of her husband
and Margaret was left alone in the
world with no one to care for her but
lack The way she chung to him and
mis- love and thoughtfulness for her
would have efectually convinced the
most skeptlcal that in their case at
least marriage was not q failure. After
they lett for their new home I neither
saw or heard anything more of them
Un6Ii ABOUT a year ago. One bitter
cold day l was sitting here alone
smoking and congratulating myself on
Che prospect of q quiet evening at
home. 1t had been showing and blow
ing furIously all day and it was lust
the night to lend an additional charm,
80 a blazing fire and a good cigar.
Ely dreams, however, were rudely dis.
PEELED by a business like wrap on nv
door, and 'muttering curses not loud
but deep. I babe whomever it was
come in in no gentle tone. The dis.
euroer of my peace proved an attend.
@nt with the information that g. ladv
had asked to see me. Bidding him
show her in | gave the fire q dilieent
poke, lighted my lamp and turned to
welcome my visitor. She took the
chair extended toward her and throw
>1ng aside the long veil that completely
."enveloped her said: DR. Elliott. dc
you not remember me?" At the first
'sound OF her voice l recognized Mar
garet Eastman; but oh! what q
chan ed Margaret. She had grown
pale Eand thin and looked tweut,
wears older than when | last saw her
Without giving me time to ask any
questions she told me the reason fol-
a'er coming to me. you were nv
fathers friend she said, tand now
have no home No home!' I echoed
blankly. Why, is Jack dead?' 4
spasm OF pain crossed her face anc
Aler voice trembled as she replied; yes