The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1895-08-15

use 1t yourself, perhaps you can spare
me my pipe now" suggested the
stranger, smiling.
''Oh, it is yours, is It? Here you are"
she said, handing it up to him..
"Thank you very much. l ought to
explain. My intrusion must otherwise
seem rather unaccountable. l got out
at the last station for Il paper, and
| jumped back into the wrong cOmpart-
ment. Recollecting that had left my
pipe-an old and valued friend-upon
the seat, stood up to look for it over
the partition. I was reioiced to find
that it had fallen into such apprecia-
tive hands,
ooh. I know lot about pipes" said
Minnie. Then. as the train pulled I'D
she turned to her cousin, exclaimins:
''Elilloa! here We are; Gloucester road.
Out with you Maud"
The stranger raised his hat by way
of farewell.
II shall never forget that so great il
connoisSeur in pipes as yourself has
pronounced mine to be regular clinl-
err he said demurely.
When they hid alighted from the
train Maud, who had been frowning ut
her cousin all through the above con-
| verSatiOn. at once took that young lady
| to task for her encouraging the stran-
gers familiarity. But Minnie treated
these circumstances very lightly.
All right, dear old Proprety. No
harm done. Only a bit of joke. What
do you think Aunt Agatha will say
when she hears about it?"
Surely you won't tell mamma; she
will be terribly angry if you do" eX-
claimed Maud.
''Oh, I'll tell her. certainly, if only for
the sake Of watching her face during
my recital. 1t will be better than 4
play" answered Minnie.
And Minnie did tell her. And Aunt
Agatha's face-a genuine study of emo
tions-was decidedly better than a play.
No actress could have reproduced that
horror-struck expression.
"Margaret," she said scathingly. II
do not know which to condemn the
more, your outrageous conduct with
that impertinent stranger, or your flip
pant manner of relating it. 1t IS hard
for me to believe that you can be my
own sisters child"
\ few mornings later the two girls
were sitting in the little up stairs
room, where they painted and messed,
and practiced untidiness to their hearts
content.
a maid entered.
"a message from misses, please, Miss
Maud. Will you so down to her in the
drawing room?"
. Maud sprang up and smoothed her
hair with her hands. Then she ran
down stairs to obey her mothers o.
der. with very nervous, frightened
expression upon her, face.
1nf Ch
came back. Minnie looked up at her
thing unexpectedly good had happened
wonderful to tell you. MI. Bidding
Charles-has had an extra ordinary
piece Of fortune. He has come into
two thousand a year! And mamma
has allowed us to be engaged. She was
so kind, Minnie, and said such beauti
full things about my happiness being
her one consideration. I think have
misjudged mamma, Minnie
Just for second a queer, quizzica
twinkle flashed in Minnie's eyes. The
idea Of Aunt Agatha saying beautiful
things was rather novel. However, tina
was soon forgotten in her genuine de
light at Maud's happiness. With al
her harum-scarum ways, Minnie was
'Warm-hearted unseltish little creature
She Rugged and kissed her cousin ;
dozen times. She used every term O
ngratulatiOn-Of endearment. Had i
been her own engagement she coul(
not have displayed more heartfelt an(
unaffected joy over it. Maud found he
sympathy very delicious. Girls in he
condition are particularly susceptible
! of sympathy. 1t adds on Is Der cent tt
( their bliss.
,, At luncheon Aunt Agatha was NOR
than agreeable. Her face was wreath
ed in smiles through1 u the meal. Mil
ME indulSed in many vulgarislns unrc
:: buked. 1t was altogether an unprec,
dented luncheon in that house. Aun
Agatha said some more beautiful
: things and Minnie managed to kee
. her countenance. 1t was an effort. Blu
she did it,
In the afternoon the elder lady wen
out alone to pay calls, and, no doub
> to discuss Maud's engagement with he
friends. 1t was 5 o'clock before she II
turned. She came into the DRAWN
}, room where the two girls were havin
tea. They saw at once by her face tina
something had happened in the interim
. She had gone away in a sunlight G
= smiles and good humor. She came bac
+, in a storm of angry scowls. Eve Mau
4 had never seen her mothers face NOR
.: ominous. The poor girl shuddere(
- What could it mean? Could it hay
anything 20 do with her engagement?
:. But it was not against Maud that he
2 mothers anger was directed.
L "Margarat!' she said in an awfl
voice, "Margaret!'
g Eyes, aunt" replied Minnie.
L 'I-I-hardly know how to addres
. yorl-you shameless girl. Do you kno
u what have been told of you this afte
. . noon? That a few evenings ago yc
. were seen after dark in a deserte
street near here walking arm in ar
with a man."
= "Quite true, aunt" answered MINI
in low voice. Her eyes were bel
upon the carpet. She was altogeth,
. very shame-faced and confused.
;e "And strange nlan!' continued h
n Aunt Agatha, her voice rising with i
~ crease, anger.
If eyes, aunt At least I had new
seen him till I picked up his pipe tt