The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-03-30

The outer door was closed DeMnu4
him, and his firm footsteps run G the
stone pavement below before ~. ssie
stirred from the statute-like immo-
bility of her attitude before s1f, fairly
realized that he was gone and why
he went. Il
When she turned to Beverly Il 4Arcy,
there was something in the white face
and strained eyes which warned him
that he need be cautious in his beha-
vior in the immediate present.
And, besides, he had no reason for
feeling injured. 8
Bessie had told him frankly in the
beginning that she did not love him
that she should wed him only to pro-
vide comforts for her dear ones and to
save their home 1t was his own con-
dition, and she had agreed to it.
She had promised to be his Wife;
but he did not dare urge his laims
too imperatiye ely lest the beautiful cr,a-
ture should break her bonds aud he
should lose her altogether
He was an accomplished tactician;
and he perceived it would be best
| to ignore the little incident altogether.
He even pretended not to notice her
agitation.
He paused at one Of the windows
and appeared to have no interest for
nything further than a row Of hya-
cinth glasses which held odorous
spikes of the growing bloom.
You have wonderful fine specimens
here, Bessie, and the hyacinth is rather
a favorite with me. / am sorry have
so little time to admire them at pres
ent,' he remarked, without glance in
| her direction.
/ He meant to allow her plenty OF
time to gain her wonted composure.
| No one could have seemed more
! gentle and considerate.
| He bent over the flowers for few
minutes, inhaling their perfume, and
now and then brushing an atom Of
dust from their glossy, lance-like leaves.
Then suddenly he glanced at his watch.
II must be going, Bessie" said he.
" 1t was an errand that brought me at
this early hourI should like you to
select the material and color for the
hangings Of our drawing room. The
samples have been sent for your in
spection. Can you come over to the
house-say about luncheon time?" S-
Certainly, if you wish it," Bessie
replied coldly.
"Of course I wish it. wish to please
my bride in every thing. And if there
are any alterations you would like in
the new furnishing of the house, beg
you to mention the NATTER; said
DARCY.
He advanced as if about to EN-.
brace her, then stepped back as il
fearing a repulse, and then, with visit
full expression, turned toward the door
1t was all exquisite acting, and the
girl knew it. She could picture the
sheer of the sinister lips, the evil gilt
ter Of his black eyes, when he had
Withdrawn from her sight
The Darcy mansion, which it's owner
;, was newly furnishing for his unloyins
i and unwilling bride, was Scarcely more
than q block. distant, from Bessie's
home.
! The two families had been, on init
; lna+e terms for many years; and BESSIE
did not mind going over TO the house
alone, especially as D'Arcy's house
keeper was a dear old lady who hat
always been fond of her.
!; 1t happened through some misunder
standing in the appointed time, tina
Bessie reached the house before he
| coming was anticipated. It happened
) too, that some sudden business affai
had summoned Darcy away, and tina
t he had locked the drawing room ant
) had taken the key with him.
Bessie was ushered into the ibrar,
= by the busy, bustling housekeeper, an
J there left to herself. -. ....
''YOu sit right down in Bev's hi
} chair. There's a lot of new maya
l zines on the desk to help you pas
5 away the time. And Bev, won't b
l gone more'n half an hour anyway,
the excellent old lady admonished. hel
and then hurried away. .-.zs ...s +:
r The girl seated herself as directed
l and reached for a society journa
r which topped the pile of the month
4 just issued periodicals. -.s..
But the extended hand was abrupt
!, drawn back without touching it.
S At that instant she caught a sudde
e glimpse of her deceased fathers sis
= nature affixed to a paper on the desl
+ With an impetuous, and yet involul
tary movement, she snatched the ps
j! per and glanced over it.
It It was a bond for five thousand do
|! lars.
n But it was paid-canceled!
o 1t was among a quantity Of old, We
: lowed, documents, which darcy ha
evidently been on the point of destro
G ing when he was summoned away.
h A strange, prophetic feeling bes'
y the girl. Her cheeks flushed, and hi
Il eyes glGwed like stars; her hea
u beat with almost s,lffocating throbs
u One by one she examined the papers
I, some old memoranda and bills of sal
u But the remaining few were all not,
1t or bonds for varying sums, and vii
her fathers signature affixed.
l. Every one was marked paid-w:
cancelled long ago, and was now abs
II lutely worthless!
= And how did these papers happe
l. to be in the possession of Beveflt
Darcy?
m The girl recOllected that he had BET
lg alone many nights with her father
he the latter's fatal illness:
~ Instinctively she knew the trllt
n She was as certain that he had ]
genuine claim against their proper
.d us she was that she was living. a5
" He had used these worthless pape
Re to brighten two simple women
force an nntaught child of seyente,
ne into an Odious marriage.
ad He had cunningly arranged II the
e. cHncnIG6 nntaS. intfS 81 IN