The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-07-19

CO4A OuSuu. OGA0Io Oi10o w WoO AOl,
but she turned away from them all and |
gave me the wealth of her young af- |
fections. For a time fought against
loving the child, or rather against al
lowing her to discover that love. I
was nearly ten years her senior. and
she was so beautiful that it seemed
presumptuous to allow her to think of
me as a possible sutton. But what
mortal could have resisted such a i
temptation long? Suffice it to say that
L won her.
She was not very strong, and night
work soon told upon her most seriously.
She was so young-not yet eighteen -
that5it would have been wrong for me
to marry her then. And yet I could
not bear to see her fading away before
my eyes. I persuaded her to resign
her situation and attend a young ladies'
seminary for a year, under the plea
thata course of instruction would prove
advantageous to us both, as it would
enable her to assist me in my literary
work after we were married. She was
a proud little mite, and for time COM
bated my arguments on the subject. I
finally won the battle, however. She
has now been attending the seminary
for nearly eight months, and does not
suspect my innocent deception
'stWhat deception?' interrupted.
"'Why, bless you, Will, do you sup
pose that ever mean to let her daub
her pretty little hands in ink? Let us
go to bed .
'sAnother month rolled by, and Jack
still worked on like a machine, in spite
of my earnest protests. I noticed that
he was growing thin, and his shoulders
dropped perceptibly, but there was a
continual smile upon his lips. One
evening I saw him place his hands
upon his heart suddenly, while his lips
grew strangely pale; but in an instant
he recovered and laughed away my
solitude.
ssNearly a week sped away, when
early one Sunday morning he came
bounding into our room, gaily waving
a letter in his hand. ~-G g..
asBehold, Will, Beauty is still true
to the Beastn was his salutation, as he
Shutdown and broke the seal. @e s2;$g,ss.
II was busy and merely nodded in
reply. A minute later I heard a gasp,
and turning round quickly, found Jack
lying unconscious in his chair. With
out waiting to put on coat or hat I
rushed out and secured a physician,
but medical science awaited not, for in
thirty-six hours my friend was dead.
He was conscious part of that time,
however, and during one of his lucid
intervals called me to his bedside and
handed me the letter he had received.
It contained only few lines, which
were as follows:
! "'DEAR JACK-I have changed my
mind. [ have seen Prof. Budd, and to
see him is to love him. Forgive me.
! I shall be married in few days. Don't
be angry. If you we're to see the
professor know that you would &C
knowledge that no girl could help
worshiping him.
HE saw the hot anger in my eyes
and hastily said:
I" Not word against her, Will, if
! you love me! I was never worthy of
her. and she has found a more fitting
mate. My last prayer will be for her
happiness
'sLater he said:
will, she lives far from here, and
will not be likely to learn of my death
except through you. Promise never to
let her know, for it might cause her
to regret. There are no others to in
FORM
! HE then placed an old-fashioned
gold ring upon one of my fingers, say
ing. @ s..-~a w.. d
"'Wear this in remembrance of your
promise. Now send me a lawyer
II complied instantly, for although I
did not think him hopelessly i'll, I felt
that it would ease his mind to have his
earthly affairs arranged. That night
he was seized with another spasm, and
just as the gray dawn of morning was
creeping into the windows his spirit
passed away.
/ y ~ - 8 b b. h = "r
IT saw poor Jack laid away to rest in
a quiet spot, and was returning home
with sad heart when the lawyer
whom had summoned at his request
informed me that my friend had made
/ me his heir and his executor.
~ L did not know Jack had any
money! I said.
s There is not much-about $500:
but even that must be looked after,
1 said the man of law.
'sAfter paying Jacks few debts and
ordering a handsome tablet to mark
4 his grave, found that there was still