The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1895-10-31
UNNA AND HER LION.


1t Is not often that we hear of a man
retiring forest, poor and in difficulties,
rising in the morning rich and indie
pendent Yet such was my experience
q few years ago, when, on sitting
down to my frugal breakfast, 1 found
a letter on fine table which Informed
me that distant relative was dead
and had left me the bulk of his prop
erty.
With what satisfaction did / now
look forward to my next and final In
teryiew with certain small creditors,
whose claims, enforced with a peril
nacity, worthy Of a better cause, had
long filled my heart with bitterness
and made my life vertible burden.
Now all was changed, and awaited
with complacency the weekly visit OF
my landlady and relished in antlcipa-
ton the Niagara Of words she was
wont to let loose on my devoted head,
as, with endless iteration, she an
nounced as yet further deficiency III
her rent roll, and her determination 10
'stand it no longer
Never after to-day should be dis
tressed with my tailor's demonstra-
tons Oh the doorstep, or my cobbler's
antics in front of the house; from
henceforth they became creatures OF
the past, and the lodging that knew
| them would know them no more lat
least as far as l was concerned).
But after time I found the mono
| tony of my new existence rather ink
some, for unfortunately, I had no hob
| by to fall back upon, and l did not
| care to embark in business. l soon
wearied Of visiting the various places
of amusement, and of walking up and
down the streets and squares of Lon
don, with other devices for killing
time.
1t was while takirg one of these aim
less Journeys that an accident occur
red which entirely changed the whole
course of my existence. and rescued
me from the life Of uselessness into
which l had drifted.
One morning l found myself in the
booking office Of st. Pancros Station.
A young lady was just taking ticket
for York, when she dropped her purse.
In STOPPING down to pick it up for her,
the thought flashed across me, "Why
not take ticket for York, too:' The
next minute I had done so, and soon
found myself in the same colnpart
ment with her. She sat close to the
window, anxiously scanning the faces
of all who passed. Presently the
the guard blew the whistle, and just
as we were about to start. two meI
rushed past and scrambled into thu
train, higher up the platform.
But what a change had come Over
my fair companion. She was DEATH!
pale. and was evidently struggling
against fainting fit that I made NJ
scruple about proffering my assis
lance. After time she came round
and we gradually got into conversa
ton, and she proved very communica
tive, I soon learned the object of he
| journey.
II have" she said, "inherited law
, suit, in which a large estate is involv
ed, and the only thing that stand
between ME and my rights is the proc
of certain marriage, and that I hay
!, not as yet succeeded in obtaining. Yes
! terday 1 received message from a:
: old lady in York. who. it appears
J now lying on her death-bed, who beg
I that I will see her at once, as she ha
4 to tell me, and that something I fee
certain is the very information am j
search of. With that in my poke
the suit is won. and l become the mi
tress Of Wetherby Hall and estat
l which for many years have been
the possession Of my cousin, job
= Hardy, who was one of those men VII
just ran past the window
The interest I felt III my companio
r was in no way diminished by the fac
that she was very pretty, being tai
f fair and possessed of the most laugh
ing gray eyes that man ever locke
i. into to his souls undoing. I begge
she would allow me to assist her
! any way that lay in my power, as
p was only but too proba BILE thu
. Hardy's presence on the train .bode
+ no good to her. even if it was not
/. source Of positive danger. I also II
y minded her that she had already,
= some extent. given ME her confidence
n which I looked upon as an assuran(
that. although perfect stranger. ST
r felt that she could trust me. This Sd
:, assured me she had done from tt
9 first. and said how glad she felt Whe
n I entered the carriage. We exchange
q cards, and I then learned that he
y name was Una Wetherby. So. afte
q some laughing and pleasant chat,
= was agreed that we should assume tt
q characters of Una and the Lion"
t After studying the position for
r short time, l came to the conclusio
q that the first thing to be done was
f ascertain, if possible, what Hardy
4 movements were likely to be- Accor'
8 ingly, when the train stopped, I mac
my way to the carriage where he an
his companion We're seated. Fort
nately, as it happened, the compar
ment was full, so I took my seat
the next one, which was empty. II
- carriage was one of nearly obsole1
class. in which a single lamp, whe
I. lighted, did duty for the two cor
e partments: consequently the openin
+. made for it's reception formed a co
venient ''Juda s-hOle' for listener
y At the next station many passenger
II alighted and Hardy and his frien
T. were left by themselves.
l. "Alone at last said Hardy, Ear
n we must make the most of our oppo
% tunity for quiet talk. AS soon as "
S. reach York, We'll leave the train, al
e I'll run I'D into the CITY to see aDO1