The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-12-01

ly lighted parlor Alice Hall and nv
Frank, standing near the fireplace,
talking more earnestly than usual.
Suddenly she covered her face with her
hands and I could see her shake with
violent sobbing.
For q moment he looked at her, his
whole face pitiful and tender, and then
he put his arm around her and drew
her into a close embrace, smoothing
her hair and bending over her with
caressing tenderness.
| The door OF the room opened and
Alice sped away, while ], shutting the
opera glass / had long used for spy
ing, resolved to break my engagement.
Frank would come the next day to
see me for the last time.
But the next day he did not come.
In ms place received brief note:
My father is dangerously i'll. Igo
to New York on the next train"
Restless, miserable, wandered of,
taking the Stapleton road, and walked
into the village, making some trifing
purchases as my errand. 1t was at
the store where bought some ribbon
that | heard two ladies conversing,
one Of whom said -
"They have smallpox at Carter's."
This made no impression upon ME,
and ] had forgotten it by the time
turned my face homeward. But as
passed Carriers lane T remembered it
and looked idly down the narrow
tootWay. Suddenly all the blood in
my vains seemed to stand still, for
just beyond the turn lay upon the
ground little scarlet mitten.
1t flashed upon me in a moment
that it was Wednesday afternoon,
when Alice Hall gave the Carter chill
dren their music lesson. I turned
down the lane and took up the red
mltten as cautiously as if it had held
a snake.
Yes; it was Lizzie's gift to Alice
Hall, with my fancy knitting on the
wrist.
She, this fair, sweet rival of mine
was on her way to Carter s-to dam
ger, perhaps to death. Would Frank
still love her when her face was
SCARED and pitted? Would all his
love be mine if she died? II she died,
and had murdered her.
The thought seemed to be shouted
in my ears and drove away my de-
mon. started at full run down
the narrow lane, never pausing until
before me [ saw the slender figure
sought, when [ sent my voice ahead
in d ringing shout:
"Alice! Alice HALL"
She did not hear me and already
she had entered the gate. Oh, for
those moments lost in irresolution!
Up the steps into the house! Should
|, too, risk contagion to save her?
Yet still | sped on, rushing into the
house and Selling her as she stood be-
fore the fire in the great farmhouse
kitchen.
"Come with meH' gasped, and she
obeyed instantly. She told me later
that she could not but obey such g.
voice and such a look as mine.
Out OF the infected house, down the
lane led the way, until I sunk down,
painting and exhausted.
"What is 1t?" she cried, kneeling be-
side me on the frozen ground. Ills Rob-
ert's father dead?"
~rh b, have the smallpox at Car
eOA ., SdSpou.
e, land you have nearly killed your.
self to tell me?"
"But," I said, recovering some
breath, "who is Robert?"
81 must tell you'll" she said. "You
will keep my secret?"
lpromised that.
"Robert is my husband" she said,
gently, "but his father does not know
of our marriage, and I am willing to
wait until Robert can be independent
OF him: That is why l came here.
Frank, Roberts brother, you know, is
so good to me-brings me Roberts let
tiers and does all he can for me-
"You knew Frank before he came
here, them"
"Oh, yes, he told me about you, and
he wanted me to be near you, so that,
when you knew, you would have learn
ed to love me. I thought you never
would, but you must love me a. little
to run into that injected house to
save me-"
II love you dearly" I said, humbl-
ed to the heart.
Then we went slowly homeward.
The next day brought us the telegram
announcing Mr.. Blair's death and
Stapleton again lost it's music. .~
1t was not until long afterward
that. in rummaging over some OF my
old clothes, in a. home visit, took
out a cloth sacque, in the pocket OF
which was .Alice's scarlet mitten. Liz
zle, matron herself, recognized it at
once; but it was not to her that I
made my confession.
[ told Frank, for could add to nv
story the assurance that I was cured
forever OF jealousy on the day when L
picked up the red mitten in Carriers
lane.-New York Ledger.
Substance OF Precious Gems,
1t is a singular fact that the most
precious gems are composed of the
| most common substances. The dia-
| mond is the purest form OF carbon,