The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-11-09

dismal subject, to be sure a theme Of
despair and death-but perhaps that
was all the better. She could put
more soul into it as last effort.
She had worked for an hour and
succeeded in completing four-line
stanza, when the door opened and
Jack came in.
She looked up eager, in spite of her.
self, fora single tender word or glance
But there was none. He threw his
hat aside and went into the bedroom;
where he fell heavily on the bed.
Had he been drinking? She could
not believe it of her Jack.
She tried to go on making the
verses. Tried, and tried and tried, un-
til after midnight. Then, worn to ex-
haustion, she was compelled to give
up the effort.
Her husband was sleeping heavily.
She did not awaken him. She run-
dressed quietly and drew the coverlet
over her and fell into exhausted
slumber.
But as the quick dawn of a mid
June day approached she began to
awaken and doze off again and re-
awaken, with torturing thoughts of
money that must be had and pages
that must be written. Oh, the un-
speakab BILE torture that grew upon her!
In her half-slumber she seemed trying
to scream in order to let something
out of her brain before it should
split. There was such horrible inner
pressure .'.."a
At last, in struggle she fully
aroused, sat up and looked around
her. It was not yet 7, but she arose
and dressed and sat down to write.
But what should she write? She
had no thoughts, no ideas, but those
of her own present misery. Well, she
would write those -w-'
And she did.
One hour, two hours passed. Jack
still slept
Lucy was writing her own story
the misery of her own heart. Her
heroine was also young wife, faith
full and devoted, ready even to die, if
| need be, to fulfill her part. She had
become so interested in the troubles
of this other woman, this reflection of
| herself, that her heart had forgotten
| to ache except vicariously.
And as she wrote on toward the
| close she began to pity Adela. the
heroine, and to feel first regret that
the poor woman should die, next a
desire to help her from her fate.
Poor, poor Adela! Itwould be wrong,
wicked to let her do such a foolish
thing, when by patience and just a
little struggling and all would come
right. Adela's husband, George? No,
no! he must not be struck down with
this climate of misery. Poor George!
He had all the sensitive, impulsiye
qualities of Jack. But how. how, how
to save the young couple? We're there
no rich relatives to appear. oppor-
timely? Absolutely no helping hand?
| Lucy drew long, deep breath.
Ting-a-ling! Ting-a-ling. The bell
the street bella shrill whistle blew
in the street. She came back to her
own identity, lost for the time being.
'The postman," she said dreamily,
fetched the key and ran quickly down
the several flights to the entrance
There were three letters Two for
her husband, and one for her.
She tore open her own and scanned
the contents hastily. Then she turned
and ran-ran without stopping
surely never anyone ran so quickly up
SO many steps Of stairway.
Gaspiug she burst into the room and
rushed to her husband still slice ping.
Jack, Jack, dearest, wake UP, Jack.
They have taken my story-lhey have
sent me a check. Oh, we are saved,
saved, saved!''
And then she. broke down and sob.
bed for jov.
The story of Adela was made to end
pleasantly. And Lucy will always
have a peculiar tenderness for tina,
particular child of her brain.