The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-03-23

older than himself, somewhat light
headed and given to reading slushy
novels What on earth could have
possessed the old man? szI... sz
Then he remembered how lonely it
must have been for the poor, saddened
old fellow, and concluded, presently
i that he was hardly to be blamed after
all So he sat down and proceeded
to gladden. the old mans heart with q
kind, tactful letter Of blessing and con-
gratulntion 3<3
I'll When Mark came back to the ranch
next year, there were many changes.
The house had been refurnished, there
was q new piano, and last, but, Of !
course, by no means least, q bouncing
girl baby, a few weeks old! Mark did
not stay at the ranch very long. II Il
was not much to his taste. He did
not like babies, and this one engrossed
everyb ody's attention, SO he ESCAPED"
as he termed it, as soon as he could
Marks course during the next year
was so much worse than his previous
career, that he was requested, at COM
mencement time, not to return to col
lege. This grieved Lord Byron deeply,
but he said little about it. It was de-
cided that after he had remained at
home while, he should go to Pueblo
to study law with an old friend of his
| late father. For the present he was
satisfied to stay at the ranch and have
| bit Of recreation. s
They had a pleasant time that sum-
| mer. There were a number of visitors
! at the Springs, only dozen miles Or
so distant, and they and the 'sB H.
| people got on very friendly terms.
Then there were drives, and dances,
and picnics, and all sorts Of excursions.
| not to mention the excitement OF the
August roundup. s
Naturally, Mark and Sophie were
| thrown together much of the time.
Lord Byron was entirely wrapped up
in Bess, the baby, and paid little atten-
ton to the goings and comings Of the
rest of the household; SO Mark and
| Sophie were free to amuse themselves
as they chose; and, for the most part,
they amused themselves in each others
company. Lord Byron was only too
glad to have them enjoy themselves,
and smiled on their rapidly strengthen
ing comradeship, until one day, early
in September. ~
| He had just returned from a ride
to one Of the neighboring ranches, and
was coming around the house to look
for Bess, when he happened to glance
in at one of the long windows of the
big parlOr, and saw something that
fairly stunned him. 5
Sophie-his wife-sat at the piano, and
Mark Dunton, half kneeling, with his
arms clasped about her, was passion
ately kissing her and murmuring sweet
words in her ear. They did not see
him; he turned and staggered back to
the dining room door, which he en-
tered. He went to the sideboard and
took a heavy drink Of whisky, and
stood staring for several minutes at
his reflection in the mirror before him.
Then he turned and went through the
house, noisily calling for the baby, in
order that he might not surprise the
guilty ones. When he reached the par
lor. Sophie was gone, but Mark sat in
the corner nonchalantly turning the
leaves Of book. - I
Come yere, Boy" said Lord Byron,
pleasantly. II want t. talk t. ye.''
Mark rose and followed him Lord
:, Byron led the way to a secluded spot
*'Mark, think ye'd better pack up
. an go t. Pueblo in tn mornin' Hol
> on, Boy, no questions want We t
go-an' stay ontell send fr We.
. ''Wh-what Is this for, Uncle By'?'
: stammered! Mark, getting red in tbs
face 4:
II don't reckon need t. tell ye," an
: swered the old man, shortly. ''Ye
know. Ye know we've went back OF
, y'r frlen's mOre'n once; but I dom
= want ye t do it again. Better pack ny
this afternoon, so We en- start when
= do, In tn mornin'. I'm goin' t Kan
= sas City,
That evening, Lord Byron started Il
:, drive to Chloride Flats, to attend II
|, some errands; but had gone only ;
:, - part of the distance when he remenl
bered some harness that needed
mending, and he turned bacl
' to get it. AS he neared tn
e house, he glanced up at Marks room
/ where, short time since, a brigh
a light had been burning. From his sea
t in the buggy the old man could Sc
l. that the lower blinds were drawn an,
/ that the light was burning very diml
l. but he could see, too, by a shadoy
It on the opposite wall that the room wa
occupied. He leaped to the ground
ran to the house, and sprang madl
r. up the stairs.
> In the parlor of the great house,
r. woman, pale as death, stood wiring
:, ing her hands in agony, and strainin
=. - her ear for sounds from withou
= Down in the road two men-one youn&
;, the other old and gray faced eac
: other. The young mans face shove
= CHASTITY white in the dim moonlight
: and the others looked wild and strang1
The old man spoke, evidently wit
il some effort:
= ..Mark, I've ben like father to y
= hain't Il" Il
= The other bowed his head, and til
= speaker continued:
- - 1--WE ben far an squar, an give y
= ey'ry show t do y'rsef some good??' ~
- Eyes.
-, - .'An' we've went right back on m
~ spite O. my Warnin' We. Now, 30,
- look yere: You've took advantage
- me, but won't take none o. you. -
a-goin' t. kill ye, but Z
Il Dunton sprang back in horror, vii
- an inarticulate cry.
!, - ssBut I'm goin' t. give We far shoy
70 = o0rN