The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-03-22
when the sea is apparently as smooth
as could be desired.

den Gate park, summing herself against
a background of brilliant coloring, the
fairest thing in the great garden about
her. She glanced up from her book,
in surprise, but with a pleased smile,
and Melton seated himself beside her.
The air was exhilerating, the flowers
seemed never to have exhaled such
fragrance. They chatted with free
dom of feeling they had never known
in the Hetherington parlors, or over
| the shining glass and silver of the
Hetherington dining room, where
walls had ears to every square inch of
space, and eyes were omnipresent.
He picked up, Ben-Hur, which had
slipped unnoticed to the grass.
"You find great enjoyment in books
do you not?' he said, turning the
leaves to Tirzah's love song, and read
ing the lines with charm of inter-
probation that had" held many pretty
listener spellbound.- 1t was his COL
den opportunity and he meant to i'm
prove it.
eyes," she said, answering his ques-
ton as he closed the volume. ''When
I am alone I read almost incessantly."
''Alone," he repeated, tone of pro-
tecting tenderness creeping into his
voice. 'Mrs. Van Gildar-Eleanor-
if only were blessed with the right
to be always near you, I would not
neglect you as your husband-''
She turned toward him with a. ges-
ture that stopped the words upon his
lips.
Il know what you would say" she
interrupted, her voice trembling, "but
I have too much respect for my hus-
band to listen. If he finds his bust
ness more engrossing than you find
yours, he at least is not guilty of pre-
Stunning upon the friendship of a
woman. enjoy your conversational
powers, Mr.. Melton, but your love-
making is beneath my contempt"
She had risen and turned toward
the nearest of the park entrances: but
her companion caught her wrist and
held it while he poured fourth tor
rent of words expressive of his infat
uation. His nearer was far more an
noycd with herself than with the man
whom she had deemed worthy of more
1AouO1. L hC VI d. pdILy u
: strollers interrupted them and to her
great relief she succeeded in boarding
| cable car home without her admir-
er's assistance.
That evening Mrs. Van Glider sur
prised her husband by suggesting that
; they go to housekeeping.
? A few weeks later Mr.. Van Glider
was called out of town on business.
His wife, who was alone in the house,
| was about to retire to her boudoir,
? when she was startled by slight
r noise within.
The gas burned dimly in the pretty
perfumed apartment, but not too
family to enable her to see the figure
of man sitting at his ease in the
4 rocker near her dainty dressing table
He rose and came toward her with {
triumphant and diabolical smile upo1
d his face. The figure of the intruder
s was that of Howard Melton.
est down, my DEAR" he said, coolly
II have a great deal to say to you. L
}. you had not treated me with such dra
II matte scorn a month ago, you NIGH
t have spared yourself the inconveni
i ence of this unexpected call. 1t wa:
an easy matter getting here--a boil
or two are mere bagatelles when {
man is in love. I know your devoted
husband is out of town; I've taken care
to keep myself informed about tn
Van Gilders, you see. You are to,
sensible a woman to make any disturb
! ance, for, of course, to etray my pres
ence in your bed chamber at this hou
is to blast your reputation forever
You had better come over here and 81
on my lap, my dear Eleanor, as Nv
taken the precaution to lock the door.
Mrs. Van Glider, who had sunk me
chemically to the cushions of chat,
rose suddenly, and before her visito
could intercept her, had slipped he
hand beneath the pillow of the be
~ and covered him with neat little IT
volver. Her glance was as cool an
o. daring as his own.
f. II am an excellent shot, she sai(
at calmly, land if you make the lea:
a move toward me 1 will prove what
e. say. If 1 kill you the world will lno
re- t was done in self-defense. I wou]
RS advise you, Mr.. Melton, to leave N
he house,
b They stood for full minute
lie which no word was spoken. Then /
Mt turned the key in the lock, made h
re way along the hallway, down tt
err stairs and through the front doc
lis Mrs. Van Glider followed him wit
US steady aim. When he had turned tt
:es corner of the street she locked tt
he door, pl aced the pistol under the p
nd low, and tainted quietly away upe
ls. the bed. She was brought back
of consciousness by her husband, who
Jed arms encircled her with a tenderne
of of which she had not thought hi
to capable, and whose kisses were rain
ng with lovers warmth upon her fac
it Il was so uneasy about you, DE-
to ling" he was saying. II had a pr
nd sentiment that something territ
Mt had happened and SO got off at I
lid thrOD and came back Oh Eleanor