The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-12-21
CHAPTER VIII,

faculty was that of holding his peace
and letting matters take their course,
especially where women were con-
cerned. It was enough for him that the
two who represented all the world to
him were well married. He started for
Europe with his daughter, and Stanton
reached San Francisco none the wiser
for what the old banker knew.
The young lawyer had almost week
to dispose of before the sailing of the
steamer. The thought of it was hor-
rible. He knew no one. He did not
wish to know anyone. If he had seen
a familiar face approaching he would
have fed from it.
He was unknown in California, and
the common civilities accorded to- a
stranger were responded to by him so
coldly that they were rarely repeated.
Very soon he found himself in his ideal
condition of being let alone. And yet
it was not his ideal.
He called in vain on common sense
to help him. He upbraided himself.
He denounced himself. I'm making
an idiotic fool of myself" he groaned.
But between fact and philosophy the
unfortunate shuttlecock was merciless-
ly battledoored, while a very common
disease developed, in accordance with
very we'll known laws.
If he could only have realized that
he was desperately in love, the case
would have promised much more salts
factory recovery. He insisted upon
considering his symptoms the upheav-
ais of remorse for having cruelty
wronged 4 woman. He felt that she
must despise him.
He knew that she was his wife.
a few business kilograms arrived and
were quickly answered. A few friend
]y inquiries were forwarded, and were
utterly ignored. A letter came from
DR.. Borden, requiring a reply, and
Stanton struggled with it.
The good doctor wrote:
MY Dear Boy:-I trusted you that
night. and I trust you still, but am
greatly troubled by reports and lack of
facts. II you led me into marrying you
to blank, simply that you might Sc
cure your uncle's fortune (however
wise that step might beg, you betrayed
my love for you. It was crime. If
she was a woman whom you are
ashamed to acknowledge, I have still
done you an injury rather than which
| would willingly have sacrificed both
my hands,
Il shall land in the insane asylum be-
fore the steamer starts" Stanton
groaned, as he walked the room with
DIR. Borden's letter in his hand.
Passing a mirror he paused, folded
his arms, and stood, for time, calmly
looking into it,
ROBERT Stanton, you are a disgrace
to humanity" he muttered. Throwing
himself down at the table, he wrote
to DR.. Borden:
Il am leaving for Japan, and must
answer you briefly. You did not marry
me- to a blank or to woman 7 am
ashamed to acknowledge. She was pre-
cisely what represented, a true wom-
an and would that were as worthy
OF my wife as she is of me-
With a thrill of supreme delight
Stanton hailed the first motion of The
wheels as the steamer started, but it
was OF very short duration.
He looked about the deck with =
shudder. 1t was crowded with the
promlscuous company always to be
found on the Pacific.
Before the land had disappeared
Stanton discovered that it had been all
mistake to imagine that the starting
OF the steamer would better his condi-
ton. 1t had only changed it for the
worse.
AS the dark fringe sank into the
eastern horizon, he clutched the rail.
by pure muscular resistance to prevent
himself from leaping into the water;
not to suicide, but in an overwhelmin
desire to get back again to that fading
fragment of America. s ,
The thought of imprisonment in that
steamer while She crept over the thou
sands of miles of blank ocean was more
horrible than anything he had suffered
on the land. w e, .aa -, @,
E oh. Stanton, you FOOLS. he qasped.
Turning his back upon the east, he