The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-10-12
CHAPTER III.

LII ~ Ulls
CHAPTER III.
<"Thfs life is very dull and stupid"
tan the girls thoughts; chow I wish
something would happen! u If only Lord
Langholme was handsome and not lit
tie, we might fall in love with each
other; at least don't suppose he would
aall in love with a. simple little country
girl like me after he's been used to
elegant, weu-bred London women-not
that there's an older OF better family
than the Huntingdons anywhere" con-
tradicted the little maiden's family
pride. Il shouldn't mind being very
miserable. I'd rather die Of broken
heart than go on living in this utter
:Stagnation. But if he were only hand
some and fell in love with me q may
AS well imagine it all perfect, as it
will never happen), how delicious it
would be! We should meet and meet,
and at last papa would find it out, and
be furious, and we should be forbidden
to see each other any more. Then he
would take me in his arms, and kiss
me once like Launcelot kissed the queen
the last time, and when he was gone 1
would grow paler and paler, and at last
Il should die, and have white lilies laid
upon my breast and in my hand, like
Tennyson's Elaine. Then papa would
relent, and send for Lord Langholme,
and he would come and hang over me
br0ken-hearted; and then, when it was
too Late, the old family quarrel would
he made up, and they would plant
blowers together on my grave"
And the foolish little maiden, touched
by Ter own pitiful story, let the big
tears gather in her sweet brown eyes,
and brim over in great diamond drops
from their long lashes. Presently, be-
coming more cheerful, she raised her
eyes, and they lighted kindling up q
great mass of heaven-blue forget-me-
.nots on the opposite bank.
OIl, if l could only get them!' she
cried, stopping short in suitable cpl
9aph she had been composing on her
alntimely end; but the attainment Of her
desire seemed hardly compassable.
since the stream ran between her and
the coveted treasure. True, it was
very shallow, for there had been no
rain for weeks; but it was quite be-
.yond a jump even for such agile feet
as Miss Nellys. II must have Them -
'she said to herself. Il never saw such
beauties. Oh, if they were only this
sside.''
The difficult is not the impossible;
and so the young lady whose thoughts
had just been conferred on earthly death
and white lilies began to reflect on the
ways and means of obtaining the tempt
EDg cluster of forget-me-nOts on the
sloping bank.
There's no one about" she said, look
ing round mysteriously why should
not To-
OF course she could not see that just
behind a clump of alders on the oppo-
site side a very handsome young man
was stretched at full length, watching
her with keen admiration through the
branches. Slowly she drew of one
of the Cindrella-like slippers and the
dainty silken stocking thereby exposing
to the Watchers enchanted view thu
aoveliest little rose-pink arched foot
and the conquest was complete. Oh
course he ought to have rushed away
dixie Damon, leaving 4 little note or
the bank to say he was gone to keeI
all other intruders from the sacred
spot; but perhaps he had not read
Thomson's lines, and the idea did not
occur to him, or perhaps he feared
to scare the pretty apparition away
forever, or perhaps he thought it was
no harm; and I'm sure very few meI
would have acted differently under thu
circumstances. So he held his breath
while two little slippers came off, ant
the dainty little feet were plunged
half shrinkiEgly on the pebbly GROUND
of the little stream. Three steps, ant
"a then eager hands stretched toward thu
coveted flowers and uprooted them from
their Nesting security. But, alas! jus
Nfn11x t,,,,,
GUS hole in the sandy bottom, and on,
little foot slipped into it, and got
wrench that made her cry out sharpl,
and fall back against the bank. In ;
second the young man had started from
his hiding place and was beside her
Poor Nelly would fain have the hol
'Dig and deep enough to swallow he
mp altogether; the pain of her foo
was as nothing compared to the anguisl
of having, been seen trespassing, witt
naked feet, too, upon Lord Langholme'
" property.
Are you hurt?" he cried, eagerly
without more ado putting one protect
ing arm round the terrified little form
and standing heedlessly ankle-deep il
the water.
You won't tell Lord Langholme :?
she uttered, beseechingly, looking III
with such terror in her eyes that h
almost laughed. Visions Of this tres
pass being made the occasion of anoth
er lawsuit through the rancorous hatre
of the two families fitted agonizingl
across her innocent mind.
Il won't, indeed" he answered. reas
s,ringly; but don't think Of him; te
nile if you are hurt.
My foot! 1 can't move it," she sale
with look Of ,beseeching in her eye
aike wounded deer might give.
The stranger took her up in his arm
and lifted her quite gently on the hig
Hank.
Let me look" he said pleadingl,
only anxious now about her hurt; bl
she blushed wildly, and hid it ava
under her dress. But the pain mac
her utter a sharp little cry. -,~-~.. +:
II did not know ony one was Their
oh! what will papa say!" she mu
INJURED, turning a wiStfrll look INC