The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1895-03-21

Bond street jeweler. The box was
suggestively minute. He hastily un-
packed it, Then he said something
about Cecilia Dolce even more uncler-
ical than his last observation concern
ing her. There was an excuse for his
thus forgetting himself. The valentine,
Of which she she had prayed his ac-
! ceptance, was Il small locl>et such as
man might hang upon his watch
| chain. And such a locket! An opal
heart set in gold, and outliDed with
pearls. On the back was an inscrip-
tion-the significant wor'' rI. ~
To say that Stephen EndacOtt was
AghaSt at the unblushing effrontery OF
this valentine would be feebly to eX-
press his SENSATIONS. He pushed the
thing from him savagely; he crumpled
up the note with energetic rage; he
threw it into the fire. He would have
liked to see Cecilia herself consuming
in the blaze Of that contlagrmtion; he
had. indeed, already consigned her to
hotter flames.
Then he took speedy resolution.
This time he could not let things slide.
There must be no mistake now. He
must not keep that obnoxious valen-
tine an ho,4, unless he was willing to
let himself be compromised. He
caught up the locket, thrust it into it's
box, and repacked it. 1t was going
back to Cecilia Dolce by the next post.
The vicar had rarely before been so
angry. He did not even concern him.
self to answer Cecilia's note. He just
sent the locket back in whitening 81
lence. II that did not crush her and
choke her off forever, nothing ever
oil no
she had laid herself open to this crown-
ing snub. The vicar took the locket
and posted it with his own hand.
But he had not yet done with Cecilia.
When the evening post came in at
o'clock it brought him another packet,
larger thar the last, bearing at the
head Of it's label the address of local
bookseller. The vicar opened it. 4
visiting card fell out. He could hardly
believe his eyes-'With Miss Dobee's
compliments" Was it possible THAT
after that tremendous snub which he
had inflicted upon her by returning
her locket, she had the face to send
him another present? 1t seemed in
credible. But perhaps she had not re-
ceived the locket when this book was
despatched. He glanced ait the work.
Life Of st. Athanasius,' elegantly
bound in morocco, with a gilt cross
upon the cover. An unexeceptionable
present in itself. But under the cir
cumstances any present was an insult.
He tore up the card and tossed it into
the fire, impatiently. He left the book
lying upon the table
He then lighted a cigarette and sat
back in his chair meditating The
vicar did not feel quite comfortable.
An idea had suddenly crossed his
mind. Supposing, by any remote
chance Fla! The front door bell!
What visitor was going to worry him
now at this hour of the evening? 1t
was too provoking Of people to come
after dinner. The wears language
was again unclerical. 1t was nearly
being still more so-only he checked
himself in time-when the parlor maid
threw open the door and announced:
"Mr. and Miss Dobee!'
The vicar sprang from his chair in
hurry. He colored, and both looked
and felt embarrassed. There were no
two people in the world, at that mo-
ment, whose presence could have made
him feel more awkward. Lawyer Do
bee, however, appeared to be quite at
home. He advanced and shook the
vicar cordially by the hand.
Good evening, Endacott.. I must
apologize for our intrusion. This silly
girl of mine said she must come and
thank you at once for the handsome
present you have sent her. And as l
could not let her come alone so late,
here we are both together. you see!''
"I-I-" began the vicar, with a
very red face, "I-I-'
ooh. 1 knew it was you, dear MI
Endacott,' broke in Cecilia. with her
most unutterable look. 81 recognized
your handwriting on the address. 1t
was so good of you. Such a lovely
locket. See! have put it on. Doesn't
it look nice?"
TO judge from the wears face he did
not think that the locket looked ait all
nice-thNt u.s. if he saw it, which, in his
present daZed condition, he probably
did not. The sudden shock of this ap-
palling TRUTH that he had been too pre-
cipitlte in returning to Cecilia Dolce
a locket which she had never sent
him, had almost stunned him. In the
face Of an awkward situation he never
showed much presence of mind. On
this occasion-Which, it must be ad-
mitted, was particularly awkwurd-he
was simply bereft of his senses.
d." he stammered, "that isl
-mean-there- there has been a mis-
take''
'Eh!' said Lawyer Dolce, suddenly
becoming less cordial. "A mistake?'
/ don't quite understand you, Mr.. En-
dacott.''
81 ought-ought to tell you," num-
bled the vicar, more confused than
ever. Il mean to say-the fact is-it
is rather-rather difficult to explain"
$50 it appears" observed Lawyer
Dobee dryly. The wears confusion,
his embarrassment, his hesitation
about speaking out, suggested an alb
sence of straight orwardness in his
conduct which made Cecilias father
eye him queerly.
'"IThe truth u.s." the vicar blurted out,
trying, without much success, to pull
himself together, "that the whole af-
fair has-has arisen out of a pure mis-
apprehension. Lift you will hear
me out I will-will explain it to you"
IF you please, Mr.. Endacott," said
Lawyer Dolce, regarding him with a
| grim stare.
The vicar told his tale. He did not
| tell it at all we'll. 1t was perfectly
|