The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1895-05-23

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| but If you will intrust the message to
me, I will deliver it Immediately, if
you will be kind enough to take my
| place while I run around to her
home"
His GOODNESS nearly distracted me.
II must see her." l exclaimed, eX-
citedly.
But you cannot" he said coolly
81 have strict orders not to let any one
know her whereabouts for day or
two, until these .prepara tons are we'll
under way.
l was on the rye Of tears, and,
with husky yc ca, cried out, sink
ing into clmir md holding up my
hands deprecatin ely:
Don't say another word! You will
set me wild. II you will not tell me
where to find Nellie" l went on, in
desperation, twill you please tell her
l have been a bad, wicked woman,
Standardization is no such per-
son as Ned Clayborn. 1t started in
fun, nd-and-and-please let me go
to her. She will understand me so
much better than you can explain it."
mo such person rs Ned Clayborn?
My dear woman, l must beg leave
to differ with you. That is the name
of the young man who, in three short
weeks, is to marry Miss Merton. Sure
! ly, he is, not dead?" he added, in con-
sternation.
ooh, will you not understand? 1t
was all joke at first. l thought it
would be great fun, and so I-Well
am Ned ClaybOrn, and after time we
became engaged-all in fun. too;" here
I laughed historically; II tried to
stop, but was so wicked I could not,
and now poor Nellie will break her
! heart, d-and-and-" and I broke
down and began to cry in a misera bic
way.
Unlike most men, my companion
was not in the least disconnected at
my tears, but simply laughed loud and
long.
Presently the laughter ceased; then
l heard uneasy movements in the
! chair occupied by my companion; then
he got up and paced about restlessly.
Pretty soon a light touch fell upon
my arm, and his voice, very gentle
and kind, said:
Nellie is here to receive your con-
fession and render forgiveness
I dried my eyes and looked up, but
saw no one but the tall young man
who was looking at me very earnestly.
"Where is she?" I asked, ready to
cry again.
Here" he said, holding out his
hand
Instinctively I put mine into it, and
it closed over it firmly.
II also have a confession to make"
he said, earnestly. Il thought you
were another young fellow like my
self, and, wishing to relieve the to-
dunn of these long, monotonous days,
struck up a Irritation. intended some
day to meet the young man and have
it out with him, when you came with
your strange confession. In Short
he ended abruptly, 81 am Nellie Mer-
ton. And you are Ned Clayborn I?
Come, dry your eyes, Ned; your Nellie
is not broken-hearted at the turn of
AFFAIRS
After staring at him in silent amaze
ment for the space of five seconds, the
truth of the whole matter began to
dawn upon my confused brain. My
face grew hot with indignation.
snatched my hand from his and sprang
to my feet.
"You are a contemplate fellow" I
cried.
He did not reply, but stood looking
down at me from his superior height.
1T was a hundred times meaner in
you, because your object was a
woman. I will never forgive you if 1
live to be thousand"
|'asn't that rather paradoxical, con-
sidering the fact that you thought I
was woman, and you were enacting
the role of the sterner sex?' he asked
irr1,%
swered, severely.
''But did not" he said.
Here is my train," said, shortly.
ASGood-by," he replied, assisting me
on to the train, despite my independ-
ence, and lifting his hat as it pulled
out.
I travelled back to Brandon a sadder
but a wiser woman.
''You are a fool,'' said I, to my re-
Election in the little mirror as l re-
moved my hat.
A year rolled by. 1 had entirely re-
covered from my chagrin, and buried
in the darkest chamber of my men,
DRY was a vivid recollection of the
voice and manner and appearance Of
the tail young operator at Danwood.
One morning I was arranging and
copying some night messages when a
long shadow fell across my, papers.
a glance upward told me who it was.
The door of that secret and darkened
chamber of my memory flew open, and
| knew that the tall young man whom
l had met at Danyers was not as vet
quite consigned to oblivion. Standing
with hat in hand and without preface
of any kind, he said:
"OT'er year ago you asked me to
marry you, and consented. I have
come to-day to ask, will you come?
Or Shall l enter suit for breach of
promise?'
What could l do? And, after all.
perhaps he would not have made me
a better husband had I met him in the
old, conventional way and waited for
Hmm ito propose to me.
The stevens Lot in Mount Auburn,
The body of Mrs. Paran Stevens will
be laid in it's final restig place in what
is certainly the most conspicuous lot,
SO far as location is concerned, in
Mount Auburn cemetery, Cambridge.
The Stevens lot is situated just to the