The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-08-17
THE LOVE THAT WAS LOST.

cake a fatal mistake! do not care
a0r Delaney ST. John as I ought, and
n doubt ever shall learn to care for
lhina!''
Idalia Lysle thus meditated as she
walked quickly along the shady street
OF the little seaside village, her big
blue umbrella held daintily between
her and the pelting rain, her gray
storm cloak glistening in the wet like
a robe of woven silver. ' ia> sA
when promised to become st.
Johns wife 1 did not know my own
!" aleartr' she sighed. HE is handsome,
polished, fascinating; his ardent devo-
tfon charmed me, and yielded to his
eloquent pleading. But noW-ih, WE'LL
4 am bound! 1 assumed my letters
OF my own free will, and [ must make
the best of it!' -.0. -pa
She well knew why she had become
SO indifferent to Delaney st. John. She
knew that the image of another-a
form more manly, a face more noble
WAS before her mental sight too often
nor her peace Of mind
She knew it was the bonny dark eyes
sFnd Wins0me smile of Paul Maltraver
which had lured her from her allegiance
80 her betrOthed husband.
She knew that the feeling so tardid-
ay aroused i'll her soul was Love-Love
the C0NquerOr! Love the Immortal!
She was very miserable in those days.
There were times when she hated her
self for her disloyalty to her affianced,
when she felt that she was the most
wicked creature on earth, and deserved
the severest punishment heaven could
dnftict upon her. ..
VoI Lo
an me SO entirely! It is 4 living lie he
will lead so proudly to the altar she
TVGi1d wall to herself, in an agony Of
Iem0Esc.
And then again there were days when
Mer conscience ceased to reproach her,
when she was oblivious to everything
save q wild eXultation in Maltraver's
Move, when she regretted nothing save
the fatality of having loved too late.
"Oh, why did you not come to me
before, my king? We could have been
so happy, beloved. Oh, love, dear love,
how can [ live all my years without
You:' she would weep in an anguish
almost greater than she could endure
and still retain her reason.
But it was mostly the remorsoful
Ets0od which predemlinated.
She would not willingly deceive any
!nerson, nor cause pain to any human
creature.
And was she not deeeiving st, John
every moment she permitted him to
believe her faithful to her betrothal
vows?
And to undeceiye him would cause
Ellim grief, of course! For ST. John
Moved her! Oh, she was certain he
E0ved her!
1t was here in this little seaside vii
sage year ago that she met him
first
During that first season he had been
attentive to her; but he had not really
disclosed any tender partiality for her.
although he had apparently parted
from her with regret.
She had not seen him again. nor had
she heard from him in any way. until
she again met him here at the begin
ming Of the present season.
Amd how rapturously happy he had
iTappeared to be in renewing the olden
pleasant intercourse!
His seeming delight in her society
his devotion, and his tenderness had ali
h1eeia very agreeable to her
EGr idalla Lysle, although an heiress
had never possessed many intimate
friends, and had never before encOul.
aged suitOrs.
She was shy and reserved girl, and
with her refined tastes and poetic fan.
cles, only a few people could be really
~lcongenial to her.
With her stately, willowy figure. hel
;Tair, Madonna face, and silky blacl
hair, her dreamy eyes Of pansy blue
and her exquisitely nodded lips of uewy
rose-red-she was beautiful as an art
3 ast's vision She might have been ;
H. young queen of society had she CHI sen
9 RI ri 11,~
.,AlFed Tier own quiet life in her quiet
e4astant home, and the fashionable worlt
Knew her not
"Bnt we will change all that whe1
# you are my wife, Delaney st. Johl
once said to her. 'I am rather fon(
soI sorIesy myself, and 1 shall eXpec
you to reign q queen among queens"
.s# st John was an impatient wooer
and he had persuaded her to appoin
i. an early date for their marriage
She had never once suspected him O
anything selfish or mercenary.
She was certain he loved her truly
adoringly, and for herself alone
@ That morning while she was watkins
III down the village street through tn
l1eating rain, st. John was sitting il
the smoking room of his hotel, chat
sfing with couple of chums.
AAf@ IooL ulCu Opcueu upon one O
! the lower corridors was affair." and hi
seat was only a few steps from it.
Presently he heard the tap of daint
heels on the tessellated marble hoo1
and he glanced around just as ther
fitted past a tall and willowy tigur
NH silver gray rain-wrap
He saw q furled blue silk umbrella
sle noted the small and elegantly plat
straw bonnet framing a proud, fair fac
and a surprised expression appeared 0
a,is rather characterless features.
One Of his companions noticed b
n glance and his altered expression.
"Oh, that's Mrs. Waltons secretar
or amanuensis. Mrs. Walton came hel
Aast night from the Ocean View ho,1s
you know. And this young woma
'reads to her every forenoon" the yom
man remarked. ...l'. T. ~
St John stared, and his paly stee
aE5E .faofnrnH eynS oittapa6 with noo,,I;.