The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-05-12
effectually cured Of his flirting pro-

parting was all mistake; you forgot
me and married; but /, Edith, have
remained single for your sake"
care you sure of that, Eric?" asked
Mrs. Gresham, archly. "Were you
not recently engaged to that pretty
little Miss Beauford?"
Captain Thorne flushed guiltily.
''Who told you that?" he asked.
ooh, the usual little bird. You
showed excellent taste, Captain
II prefer to leave Miss Beauford's
name out OF the present discussion,
he answered, constrainedly. The
widow looked at him keenly for mo.
ment or two and then began to play
with the ring upon her finger. Gone
thing | promises: will renounce tor
ever all other women on the day you
give me permission to take that ring
from your finger and put another in
it's place." "
Mrs. Gresham suddenly became
very distant and coy. It took an
immense deal of persuasion to induce
her to consent, but at last she yielded
on one condition..
"And what is that, my darling?" he
dShcO, dliAlOuSly.
"Well, you know, Eric, when mar
ried Phillip it was such a very prosy
wedding, so matter-of-fact and unro.
mantle, that l vowed if / ever married
again'-here the widow blushed
charmingly-"I would elope."
"And so you shall!' replied Eric,
eagerly. eve will fly together this very
night"
But Edith laid her golden head on
his shoulder and murmured softly:
"Not TOMS ht, Eric; there is no need
for such baste.'
Tomorrow night, then love you
so dearly that every day seems an
eternity until can claim you as my
wife"
"Well, then, tomorrow night let it
be. And, Eric, we must have a car
riage and four horses and a. host of
friends to welcome us at our Journey
end. i'll go at all must go in style DEAR
OF course, Captain Thorne consent
ed to all her capricious whims. Then
the widow kissed him and begged him
to keep the affair secret until they
started.
The next night at the appointed
hour-lO oclock-Captain Thorne
awaited his lady-love, who was rather
tardy. -Four handsome bay horses
champed their bits and paved the
ground, impatient to start. At last
he saw her approaching. The tall,
stately figure was enveloped in dark
cloak, her head shrouded in a mon
strous hood and veil.
He went forward to meet her, and
percelving that she was violently agi-
tated, whispered words of encourage
ment as he assisted her into the car
riage, but although she gently pressed
the hand that held her own, he could
not induce her to speak word during
the drive.
Here we are!" he exclaimed, as
the carriage finally stopped, Sin few
minutes you will be my own"
Then with caress-the last, he
said, that he should ever give to
Edith Gresham-he led her into the
brilliantly lighted drawing-room,
where the cerem ony was to take place.
About a dozen of their choicest
friends, including Miss Beauford, were
there to meet them.
Captain Thorne started when he
saw Nell, and changed color. Then,
as though with an effort, he turned to
his bride-elect.
But as the lady removed her hood
and vel! she disclosed to the gaze of
the ,astonished assembly the features
OF Nora McGrath, his Irish laundress.
The silence that ensued Was broken
by Miss McGrath:
'.Well, thin, and what are vez
waiting fer? Shure, and after stailing
me away from me home and friends
at this tonne o. MI ht yen better be
atther marrying me, or I'll be getting
a breach of promise case out yez in
a jiffy!"
But, my good woman, where did
you come from? How did you get
here?" Demanded the Captain in
bewilderment.
Glow did I get here? Do ye name
to deny yer brung me here yersilf?
Oh, We villain!'
"But where is Mrs. Gresham? What
do you mean by this? Explain your.
self, woman"
The laugh at Captain Thorne's NOR
LITIGATION was general; little Miss Beau
ford alone did not smile.
"Misthress Gresham, is it? Shure,
and was forgetting entirely the little
bit of paper she tould me to give yez
when we wuz married." -
So saying Nora produced a note ad-
dressed to Captain Thorne, which read
as follows: ....
MY DEAR ERIC: When you receive this
shall be many miles away from Newport,
but that you may not be disappointed in
our scheme Tor tonight have prevailed on
Miss McGrath to take my place. trust
that she will make you good wife. This
little filtration has been very amusing to
me and has made time pass very pleasantly
for both of us. Ofcourse you could not
suppose that I would ever consent-in earn
est-to become the wife Of common flirt.
Yours for auld lang syne.
EDITH GRESHAM.
For one wild moment Eric Thorne
stood quite dazed. Then the man
hood within him, which had SO long
lain dormant, rose to meet the oc-
casion. He walked straight over to
Miss Beaufort and took her hand.
'Nell,' he said, II have been q fool,
and am tlypunished. But through
all this nonsensical business / have
never really forgotten YOU. In the