The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-04-27
HER DARK SECRET.
By Catharina T ester.


stately walls Of Creighton Cliff, where,
in the wide old library, with it's gothic
carvings and paneled windows, a young
girl, in sombre black garments, was
seated before the CHEEKY fire blazing in
the CRATE, staring with woeful, despair
ing eyes at the ruddy GOALS while the
shrieking wind and ceaseless downpour
of rain without seemed to her fit ac-
compartment, indeed, to the tragedy
going on in her life that dismal wrath
full night.
II know what you would say but I
cannot hear it, she said in low, sad,
thrilling voice, looking up into the
handsome, passionate face of the man
blending over her. "Whateyer dreams
we have had are over and done now,
Ross Desmond l can never be your
wife! I viii be frank with you. There
lis an obstacle-a dark, bitter secret in
my past, that robs me of the happiness
You offer me! Alas, if only for my
sake, try to forget me!''
Ross Desmond caught one Of her
trembling hands in a tiercely passionate
grasp, his face paling at her words.
My God, Claudia, don't tell me
this he cried wildly, that my love is
Knocked and refused! Don't wreck my
life! True, I believe I once loved an
other, but when you rose on the hori-
szon, I then realized the folly r was
about to commit; 1 told the woman of
my error and she gave me back my
freedom. Oh, Claudia, if you only knew
how have yearned for this moment,
to hear from your lips that you would
be my wife,
Torrents of agitation rushed through
"Clandia Eerne's veins like molten lava,
and 4 hopeless, maddening pain was in
.her eyes
Ross, have mercy on me, pity me-"
she cried, for, alas! can give you no
Ahope! You have Wrung from me the
confession Of my love for you, but I
lid wrong to acknowledge it, and now
! beg of you to forget it and--me!
Don't tempt me further from the duty
with which a cruel fate has burdened
inc, for that secret locked in the
wretched history Of a poor working
girls past will ever come between us!'
YOn shall not give me up thusr' he
ipanted. You shall not suffer this sac
rifice. It would kill me! Claudia
>CIaudia, for Gods sake, be merciful!'
We must part; it is your honorary
duty to do this!'-a world of anguish
and despair in her dark eyes as she
rose from her chair and held out one
ticycold hand to him. God help me
NOW, the tragedy of my poor life is
surely closing in about me, and L.
a1er voice deserted her; she turned
away and strove to leave him. when
he suddenly caught her to his throbbing
breast.
But she struggled gaspingly from his
arms with Il face as white as the sheet
ed dead, and glided away, a little wall
of agony that seemed to cleaye in
twain her very SOUL leaving her pale
lips as she fled wildly up to her own
room.
my heart is broken!' she cried. :'Oh.
love him so madly, but dare not tell
MIN the miserable secret of my life!
He would spurn me from him! Have
mercy, God, and don't let me suffer
like this! With this agony at the be-
ginning. what will it be as the days go
on, and I all alone in my misery? Oh,
iii i were only dead!'
The fire burned itself out in the crate.
the wind shrieked and tore about the
mouse, and the rain beat against the
windows with spiteful force-descla-
ton without and sorrow witliin-true
type, indeed, Of the awful shadow
fbrOodlng over one womans life
While down in the library, Ross Des-
'mond still stood where Claudia had left
him, like one whose very life had gone
out in utter darkness, when suddenly
there was the faint rustic Of a Woman's
garment, and he turned to meet a tall,
graceful young girl, in flowing, SHIN
merlng robe of azure blue-LOra How
ard, heiress and beauty (his future
hancee, so the world said)-who had.
alas! that stormy night been standing
behind the heavy crimson portieres of
an alcove near by, silent and uns,1s-
pected witness of his interview with
Claudia Verne.
pardon me-" she said, in low, sib-
liant voice. rs Miss Verne still here?
No? We were waiting for her in the
mushroom. But, Ross, I hope I did
mot interrupt your charming tete-a-
,tete?"
You did not" he answered coldly, a
flush dyeing his handsome face
She laid her jewcled hand upon his
arm.
Ross, she said, hestatingly, IL
have heard all tonight! Don't censure
HE for my impudence, this effrontery,
in thus confessing it to you We are
5riends; let me speak frankly. What
Sou SNC ~ dLLldCIlVc ABOUT MISS
Verne. the governesS, for strange ru-
snors are already coupling your proud
name with hers? She is peculiar
~crea ture-so sad, so evasive There is
really something too mysterious about
her.
why" she went on, Significantly.
while Ross Desmond clinched his teeth
over some angry reply, "even dear old
Mrs. Creighton admits that when she
engaged her in New York as governess
to her two neices, Miss Verne would
tell very little about her antecedents.
She is an utter stranger to us all here:
but now, after your interview with her
tonight it is quite safe to say that she
has some wretched and disgraceful
secret linked to her past life gu
Ross Desmond wheeled about and
and faced her almost fiercely. 49,
You are mistaken, Miss Howard, ~
he cried, his eyes flashing. Eyes, she
mas secret, poor girl, yet am certain
~ III