The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-03-29

my son 8 QeVln one, TOO. lou 0duu
orter, neither"
"Your son is your son till he gets
him a wife," said the old lady; NOW
7 don't know whether or no you're sin
gular or married ma'am, but anyway,
eff ever We hev a son, the day he tells
y. u he's goin' to marry away from you,
will be day of sorrer.''
every likely" said Esther. Gy-@
"A woman understands" said the old
lady; 1--WE hev been poor all our lives,
but we squeezed and saved and eddicat-
ed Billy. He got took in a lawyers
Office, and he does seem like he'd been
riz in the White House. Nobody can
beat him for style, nobody;d think his
folks was like us-lnd he's as good
to us. Comes up Sundays, gives us all
he can spare, and now he's goin' to
n-arry-that's the end"
'He is going to marry sgood, mar"
said the older man. "A gal that's got
money, one of them heiresses, and
you see eff he don't help US on bettern
ever. Pay off our mortgage, give you
black silk, likely. Eff she keers for
him she'll let him do what he wants ter.
Why, I guess she's nice-mebbe you
know her, ma'am, Miss Guilder is her
name, Esther Guilder."
II know her? Well, yes" faltered
the heiress.
"Is she pretty?' asked the old man.
NO" said Esther.
us she stuck up?" asked the old
lady. Esther gave a singular smile,
but made no answer.
II guess she isl said the old lady.
"For my part wish he'd choose girl
that wouldn't despise us. Rich folks
are always like that"
ooh, you cannot TELL" said Esther.
engagements are often broken. Per
haps this one may be. Try to comfort
yourself with that"
They had reached the depot, ana the
footman opened the carriage door.
I'm glad Jou were not hurt" said
Esther. "Good-bye."
The old couple shook hands, and
thanked her warmly and toddlcd away
together.
When the carriage reached the door
of her own home, Esther was glad
that it was dark, so that no one could
see her face. She had been weeping
violently. In her own room she dis
missed her maid, locked the door, and
sobbed as though her heart would
break. She felt as though her lover
had deceived her. The old mans talk
of her money suggested to her that he
might have taken her wealth into con-
sideration But, without that, she never
could marry into such 4 family, and
she was firmly resolved tC break with
William Clinton at once. She sat down
to write him, blotted the paper, con-
fused her sentences, tore the sheet in
two, end as she did this to Il third
c,Iy, the maids knock came upon the
door.
"Mr. Clinton, MISS" she said. 81
knew you'd see him."
And Esther Guilder said to herself
that she would do so. 1t would be
easier, quicker.
Whatever she would say, she would
at all events be firm. Fancy thai
worthy, but frightfm old LAZY, he1
. mother-inlaW!
She allowed her maid to brush N1
, hair and went down to meet him. HI
! was standing before the CRATE, his face
r was pale, his expression grave.
}, He took her hand and touched her lip:
with his, and no words came to he
( in which to forbid him. It was he VIII,
: spoke first.
ESTHER" lie said, my father ant
E mother came to see me to-day. I neve
: realized before how plain and ignoran
r they were, or what common people
e came from. You have never met them
= I know enough of you to know tina
you are at heart an aristocrat. Yo
t despise the lower classes very much
d I spring from them. Education ha
improved me, that is all. Now, Es
Y Their, I want you to see my people bt
s. fore we have gone too far: they ma
!, shock you, and if they do-well, W
l. should not be happy. I love you wit
all my heart and soul, but love tia
n dear old mother and good old fathe,
Is I shall always cherish and honor then
1t know t]fvir good qualities. and N
1t wife would have to understand tina
I'm horribly afraid you could not, eve
d for my sake, and I want you to me-
II them and tell me the truth. I do n
see how I have strength to do thi
y but should hate myself if put n
d. mother i'll the way of being despise
I by my wife, because she used be
grammar, and all the rest Of it,
le He paused.
st Miss Guilder had listened with h
"a eyes cast down.
er Now was her opportunity; she cou
to say:
Il have met your parents, Mr.. Gil
11 ton, and you are right we had bett
IS part"
=, But suddenly, something came ov
> her, q tumultuous rush Of tenderne
as such as she had never felt before.
l. She knew that whether he came
~ well or ill-born people made nj matte
IL! or whether his mother was grammat
Ill al or not, she knew that she loved h
>, so well that she could bear anythi
10 for his sake and that the only real W
H. that could come to her. would lie
y. be parted from him forever. She lift
Sc up her eyes to his and gave him be
~ her hands, and never had her voic be
ny so low and sweet as when the said:
49, william, met your parents tod;
- Your mother loves you dearly, and
rs rs mean to try to make her love me
~ showing that good wife never wisl
to rob her husbands parents of
49,, heart"
w She could say no more for he b
=, smothered her with kisses.
I'LL N,l,o ho;~occ Miss N,,;1Ho,. n hoco ~,