The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-09-14
A PAIR OF THEN.


eeigled me to Newport for?-to make
the distinguished acquaintance of the
paragon they have selected for my wife!
very considerate of them, truly
Edmund Winslow bit viciously at the
end Of his unlightrd cigar, and fumbled
:sslvagely through his pockets after his
silver match-case.
THANK Fortune, I've had sense
enough to establish a business for my
SELF" he continued after long, lux
urious pull and puff at his fragrant So
lace. I'm not dependent upon my low
ing family, as the average rich young
man is. 1 can enjoy the delights Of
having my own way. And my way
takes me out Of Newport tonight as
fast as steam can carry me-"
He chuckled little to himself, and
his fine keen blue eyes sparkled with
boyish amusement as he strolled leis-
urely away in the direction of the rail
road station.
He was picturing to himself the dis
may of his father and sisters when they
should discover that he was gone.
Il must wire an apology, l suppose
HE said to himself as he pushed his blue
banded, white straw hat jaunti1y back
from his handsome forehead; 81 should
not like them to be anxious about me-
And then I'm off for a months fishing
IN some secluded corner of the globe
where matchmaking relations and sim
Wering heiresscs intrudeth not"
1t was late in the afternoon when
he finally boarded a train. An hour
later he alighted at station whence
he purposed to continue his journey
SO q certain delightfully."- quiet retreat
among t1ae hills and valleys Of New
England
There were not many people about
the station just then
The lamps were not yet lighted. and
Il chill, depressing drizzle was driven
before q titful wind.
'sFOrty minutes to wait. / might as
well go somewhere and get comforta-
bIe dinner" he muttered, after con-
slllting his timetable.
He turned Il corner Of the platform,
and he was stepping down to a tagging
of q street at it's farther extremity
when he heard the sound Of a WOman's
bow weeping.
AS he paused and looked back, he saw
q girlish figure leaning against one Of
the columns which supported the broad
roof of the platform.
Through the gloomy, misty dusk he
could not determine whether she were
ugly or beautiful, some coarse rustic
or q gentleWoman.
He knew that she would not be weep
ing there alone in such a spot, unless
her difficulty, or trouble, were serious
And Edmund Winslow possessed the
very soul Of chivalry.
After short hesitation. which any
gentleman would have felt, he walked
respectfully over to her.
Are you in trouble, madam. Can
assist you in any way?" he inquired.
1t was a pleasing. manly voice; and
IL WAS one, the simple kindness and
honesty of which would have been felt
by the most distrustful of people.
The girl dropped the gloved hands
which had hidden her tear-drenched
face and looked at him.
And just at that moment some one
lighted the great swinging lamp which
was suspended from the corner Of the
platform roof nearest to them.
AS the girl stood there in that sudden
" clear light, young Winslow fairly start
!" ed at the sight of the beauty revealed
to him.
The young stranger was no taller than
~Weman's ordinary stature, but her fig
-etre was slim and lithsOme and OF eX-
uuIsite grace. Her hair was like the
golden fosS-tassels Of the ripening corn.
while her eyes were dark, large and
:sfSmond-shaped, with straight dark
1Ashes and dark level brOws. Her skin
wass like ivory, and her little mouth
was Il Cupid's bow carved in scarlet
coral.
Those oriental eyes searched his colln-
tenancc shyly for Il moment.
Bnt there never lived man, woman
aUr child who would not have trusted
Edmund Winslow after an observant
Fook at that frank, high-Drcd and most
noble face Nor would that trust ever
have been betrayed in the smallest de-
gree.
you are very kind" she said after
that attentive little silence "And if
YOU can help me out of my difficulty
4 shall be grateful, and, oh, so happy"
She explained that she had either lost
her travelling bag. or that it had been
stolen from her seat, and that it had
contained her purse with a small sum
of money and also her tickets. She
was in Il town which was totally
strange to her, and she was without a
sDenny. And she had been afraid to
appeal to anybody, because she might
he sent home! And-and the fact was,
she had run away!
At that faltering confession the young
man eyed her quite as narrowly as she
had eyed him.
She could not be much more than
seventeen, and it was evident from her
Language and manner and dress that
she belonged to a refined family Of
abundant means. What then, he Won
dered, could have forced her, or in
sluced her to flee from home and
friends?
'I'n tell you," said she, reading his
thoughts apparently, and speaking with
an access of emotion; "they want me
TO marry man whom L have never
met-some odious old fellow who is
very rich! And they wanted to send
me to his DeOnlp so no eor16 COO mo o,,f1