The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1897-09-23

II
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/ " (S@AallNNk9M young friend and
| 49,, + tH@Z godson, came to me
k\Hsag1T NE\S to help him out of
|M \}TMNM WN the 'scrape with
FAVWpAA w Jones" that cost
. VIM him the tidy sum
of $4,000 before it
was adjusted to Jones satisfaction? Or
was II when Frank began to get into
ullncultles" and had to compromise
Win his various creditors? Or was it
"nen the sheriff hung a red flag from
MS windows and flew to the rescue
OF MS Lares and Penates?
ne was a good fellow, honest, frank,
'neer1ul and industrious, with no more
u tne get-along ability than six
lllonlns baby. More times than I can
count did he start in some small bust
ness to sink all his capital and fail
IL LIS enterprise. He had a hopeless
faculty for muddling his accounts, let
Ting his bills run up and his stock run
uo"h' that l never saw surpassed by a
man whose whole intention was hon
est.
Wnen he married Laura Haywood 1
nelo up my hands in amazed horror.
Laura Haywood, of all women, to take
the place of active partner to one of
lhe great army of incapables! She was
the tlniest woman I ever saw-pretty,
"lnsome and gentle, with waving
Drown hair, large, blue eyes, shy and
tlmlo' always yelled by snowy lids and
long brown eyelashes, hands and feet
that might have been stolen from
queen NAB, and voice that was low,
sweet and slightly plaintive.
when 1 would call upon Frank to
try to adjust his many and varied busi-
ness complications and he would sit
rumpllng his curly brown hair, and gaz-
ing helplessly at me, I always found
Laura with her pretty hands clasped
over Franks, her soft, blue eyes look
lug appeallngly into mine, and her
tender voice cooling consolation, as if
her husband was baby to be soothed
and petted.
Well, well, so he was-a grown-up
child!
1ney were pair of babies, and
should have gone to housekeeping in
Dig nursery, with a dolls tea set
and candy and cake enough for a per-
petual feast. Sunshine was their ma
tive element, and they covered under
a storm.
They lived upon hope and a touch
ing faith in good times to come. To
see them when Frank had just started
IN some new business that was to make
his fortune, and they invested in some
utterly useless inery, was a sight to
make the prudent shudder. She had
no more idea of economy than a but
tertly, and her housekeeping was onlv
to be compared to that of Dora Conner
field. 49,. p. - .:.. = - c.
But If she f1uttered in the sunshine
the wee, blue-eyed wife, she never
complained for herself in the storms.
For poor Frank" many tears were
shed, many means made. She sold all
her small finery with cheerful Wiling
ness to give Frank good supper or
help to 'pacify an enraged butcher.
Being an old bachelor and a wealthy
one, l came to regard these two a.
adopted children, and to make # NV
mission" to set Frank on his feet as
often as he knocked himself down
Laura, who was half afraid of me At
first, with vague apprehension of the
dreadful things might do to annihil-
ate Frank if he displeased me soon
became coniding, and would nod her
pretty head to enforce my prudent ad-
wise in manner bewildering to see
She learned that my most severe Loo.
ture was followed by some removal of
the last difficulty, and would nest1a
her tiny white hands in mine and
whisper, How good you are tn usr,
with all the loving confidence of a child
for an old uncle or grandfather
But one dreary,, dreary day she sent
for me by boy, who said:
There's something awful the matter
at 70 E. street, sir, and the 1adv
says please come as soon as Won can
She's all white and shivering, sir. and
couldn't hardly speak. I'd hurry up if
I was you, sir!'
shivering! looked at the street
scorched and dusty in the blazing An
gust sun, and seized my hat. Some
thing awful! 1t must be worse than
usual or Laura would have written one
of her dainty little notes.
. Hurry as I would, I was too late
Upon the sofa, where we had settled 40
much momentous business was stretch
ed the unconscious form of nv dear
godson, his face rigid and white his
kindly eyes closed, his merry smile
gone forever. Two physicians were
gravely watching him, and Laura hung
over him, fearless, mute, utterly hor-
ror-stricken,
! "Sunstroke!' one of the doctors
whispered to me.
t Not dead?" said.
eyes! Can you coax the wife awav ?
She does not understand yet
&. It was no time for the indulgence
OF my own grief. I gently touched
Laura's trembling hand.
My DEAR" I said, softly.
| No word answered me, though my
touch had broken the spell holding her.
One look into my face, one long, shiv-
,ering moan, and she dropped at my