The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1896-01-16

retreat 1Ltte Meta running AFTER him
as far as the basement door to sip the
big red apple slyly into his basket.
just like Meta" said Eloise, scorn!
fully land here She IL have no apple for
her lunch 7
= don't want one, said Meta, stout
", and her father patted her GOLDEN
head with an approving touch that was
worth many apples to her.
But when, on the succeeding Sunday
the good man looked around on his lit
tie flock, ] ohm Piper was not there. 1t
was as might be expected; he had seen
\ the last of that youthful guerilla of the
streets: Sunday schools were not to
Master Piper's taste, whatever might
be said Of silver forks and big red an
pies HI
4 am sorry" said the Rev. Mr..
BreWsford, very sorry. I had hoped
; to sow new seed on the soil of his OBJ
durate heart; but shall have no OPP
5portunity now, I am afraid y
am sorry, too, papa" said Meta,
softly.
The sorrow Of years had whitened
the Rev. Mr.. Brewsford's llMuriant
brown hair, and little Meta was Miss
Margaretta BreWsford now, while
=Elolse had grown into a dark. spark
ing beauty, who loved to heighten her
JeWlsh-like style with scarlet flowers
and an Oriental splendor Of costume.
1t was a summer evening twilight,
when the two girls sat together, enjoy
ing the cooling freshness of the air, but
a little silent, withal, for of late weeks
Slight colGness had risen up between
them, and for a reason as singular as it
was all-sufficient, they We're both learn
ing to regard with more than ordinary
feelings the same man.
MI. N1ontresSOr was handsome enough
to Justify the infatuation of any young
lady-tall, dark and handsome, the fact
of his being the heir to a West India
uncle's wealth served to reflect addl,e
uonal brllliance on his graceful ease OF
manner. 1t was only a brief while ago
that he had been introduced to the are
ma of New York society, but during
these few weeks he had signally made
his mark" Half the young ladies' who
moved in the circle of the Misses
Brewsford were in love with Mr.. Mon
tressor, and poor Eloise and Meta had
somehow caught the infection. ~
While they sat chatting idly in the
twilight the door bell rang, and both
co1ored crimson to hear Mr.. Montres-
sor's voice. The next instant he was
shown into the room.
With one or two pleasant words Of
greeting he sat down beside Meta.
Eloise half rose, as if to leave the
apartment, her cheeks burning with fe-
vered glow, born of the bitterest
pangs of jealousy.
Mr.. MOntressor watched her with a
curious light in his dark eyes. -4...-
Miss Eloise, I beg you will not leave
u.s. he said -
EloIse resumed her seat with a toss
of her jet-b1ack tresses. t. -
= @Oh, l thought did not know but
that you had something particular to
say to Meta" -- 49,
Il have; but it is nothing but what 1
would rather you, too, should hear.'
Eloise looked puzzled, but relieved,
nevertheless. Meta colored until her
soft cheeks looked like sweet, pear
blossoms newly opened to June SUM-
rise
Il wished" deliberately went on Mr..
Montressor, to ask Miss Meta Brewsl
ford if She would become my wife,
There was an instant Of utter silencei
in the dusky gloom of the room, but
then Eloise rose up. q"
is it necessary that I should stay
here to be longer msulted o. she asked,
in a choked voice.
1nsu1ted, Miss Brewsford! I am mott 2
sure that I entirely comprehend you,''
echoed Mr.. Montressor
And the tropic fervor of CLOSES ma
ture broke through the bonds of maid
emily reticence. =
.0ll, John, loved you! have vast
n6 fT no cSf 4o,rI or~,
upon you; but now =:
"Stop!" interrupted Mr. Montressor;
"every word you speak now will be-
bitterly repented in the future. Be ST.
lent if you respect yourself. Meta he
said, turning to the shrinking figure at
his side, you have not answered me.
WITT you be my wife?'
And Meta, trembling, yet infinitely
happy, answered:
Yes
Ihe reason l wished your cousin, as
well as yourself, to be present." said
MI Montressor, is because my love is
no new thing of yesterday. 1t dates
pack more than ten years, when first
met you and your cousin, Eloise.''
Both looked up in surprise.
NO, dearest, 1 am not mistaken.
rake your memory back over the lapse 4
OF years to bright winter afternoon.
See If you remember two little girls j.
playing with their dolls in asunny din I
ing room window, while their father
was busy over his sermon for the fol-
lowing Sunday, just beyond. And then
conjure nup before your minds eye an
elf-like boy, who returned their gener-
Gus kindness by pocketing a silver
fork
Il do remember it, said Meta, smil.
ing, 'for he carried my red apple away
in his basket. Poor fellow, he was half
starved, I suppose. But what Of ito"
am that boy
s'You!"
Eyes. Ny uncle, who had never for4
given my mother for contracting a rash
marriage against his will, and who had
steadily refused to see me when I was
left a penniless orphan, adrift in the s.
streets Of New York. finally relented.
and few months after [ was begging
my bread of kind-hearter strangers,
saw me the heir of wealth of which my
Widest dreams had never conceived
o. 81 n - Il,,xT