The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1896-02-20
a STRANGE STORY
OF THREE.
CHAPTER I.

He was a stalwart young farmer, a
grandly built man, with handsome
bronzed face, broad shoulders, feet
(. which stood squaray upon the earth,
and a pair of fearless eyes. Frank
Maxwell, aged twenty-five, owner of
broad acres, a physical frame in per-
feet condition, and a well developed
mind, was man to be envied.
She was a dainty maiden, with a.
graceful figure, complexion of min
gled roses and lilies, and eyes as
bright and blue as the summer lakes.
Daisy Springfield, aged nineteen, own
er of beautiful face, a glad-hearted,
OF a beautiful face, a glad-hearted,
sunny disposition and countless pretty
dresses, was a woman to be loved.
1t was something less than a man,
but more than an animal, with a face
OF satyrlike hideousness, misshapen
back, bo~ed legs and pair of arms
so long that the hands hung low like
those OF a gorilla. Dumb Dick, of age
unknown, owner of half-witted mind,
4 body OF abnormal strength and ugli-
ness and fierce and ungovernable
temper was a creature to be Stunned
and distrusted. ..m -sg
These were the invariably judgments
of everybody who knew all three Of
them.
Frank was an orphan, living on his
own farm, understanding his business
and capable of conducting it in thor
oughly efficient manner; just the sort
g Of man who would be like to cut
very respectable figure in the world,
and end by leaving his children more
money and more acres than his father
had left him.
Daisy was the only daughter of
prosperous lawyer, a little inclined to
be vain Of her good looks, but good by
nature and thoroughly pure-hearted;
just the sort of woman to make an
aHectionate wife, careful of her home,
a comfort to her husband and friend
to her children-the model British ma
iron. 49,,
Dumb Dick was presumably the or
phan child of gypsy woman who had
brought him long years ago to the
workhouse and had died there He
was wild and unmanageable, had run
away and refused all control and lived
how and where he could, picking up
odd jobs and scraps Of food, but shun-
ming all human society; just the sort
of creature to commit some awful
crime; and it was shameful that he
should be allowed to wander at large.
These facts and deductions were the
common talk Of everybody who knew
all three Of them.
Frank and Daisy stood together in
the path of little wood. Dumb Dick
was also in the wood, but he was hid
den by thick screen of haZels. Frank
M 10 70 oth nd 1.-TWO, II
held both of Daisy's little white hands
in one of his brown palms. They both
looked very happy, but their happi-
ness showed itself in different ways.
Franks happiness overflowed in light
from his honest, brown eyes; Daisy's
eyes were bent toward the ground and
her happiness could only be guessed
by the smile which trembled upon her
lips, and the pretty blush Pickering
over her cheek. Dumb Dick, all I'M
seen, clenched his fist and ground his
teeth in fury, crumpling up his face
into the new ugliness of mingled rage
and misery.
The little wood was very still, save
for slight rustling among the dry
leaves, OF the crack Of twig beneath
the swift foot of squirrel, or the oc-
~citsional fall of ripe nut. And in the
silence and the shadow Frank bent
forward and kissed Daisy lightly OH
the lips.
Then the lovers walked away togeth-
err, hand in hand like a pair Of happy
children.
And, all alone behind his screen Of
hazels. Dumb Dick flung himself down
.at full length, clawing at the brown
earth with his hands and giving vent
to his feelings in inarticulate growls
of rage, and dry choking sobs of mis-
cry.
OF course there was no reason why
the sight of a pair Of handsome and
happy lovers should have made this
misshapen creature either angry OF
Wretched. But he was bad as we'll as
mad.
At least, so people said.
CHAPTER II.
Frank bought a new dog cart, a
light and delicate turnout of the latest
pattern, painted black and picked out
with red; and with it's polished lamps
and new silver-plated harness and it's
bright bay it looked rather a smart
and snowy affair. He drove round in
triumph to Squire Springfelds, and
his pride redoubled when he saw
Daisy's delight. But when he had
handed her in, dressed in her latest
and p1ettiest costume, and had sprung
up in his place beside her. he felt that
his pride and happiness were almost
complete.
He gathered up the reins, clicked en-
couragingly to the bay, and off they
went, Bowling along the lanes in splen-
did style, laughing and chatting, as
only q happy pair of lovers can when
the course of their love is smooth and
prosperous.
The first slight chill of autumn was
i'll the air; the hedgerows were brown
ing, and the perfume Of the flowers
had given place to fain scent of de-
cay; but it was summer in the hearts
of the lovers, and in the selfishness of
their bliss they were needless Of the
first sight Of the years approaching
death.
On a piece Of common land which
skirted the little wood in which Frank
had told Daisy of his love there were.
many clumps of bracken, now in pro-