The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-04-25

49, y 81 ~ PAOPAISGJ duu l5uluDtl
INSIST llsa that you explain this most re-
~ ma arka bic occurrence, Do-not force.
meato ask assistance Of the police, and
thus thus make the matter public The
girl did not finch. s=s
am not afraid that you will do
that that Mr. Holbin; you have too much at
s1ake DR.. Brodnar, besides, has told
You that he was in this room, and
Rich Rich lmond will want to know why, If
theresis any thing wrong afoot, you do
not hold him responsible. No one has
been in this room-until now-except
by my consent, and if any crime has
been committed, the criminals are
probably better known TO you than
anyone else. I am totally in the dark;
l Ina have no idea why anyone, especially
q woman, should attempt to shoot a.
friend of mine here" - $50 : :
woman! Who told you a woman
did it?'' 81. - J + 1
M own eyes. I saw her tracks; and
now, SIT, who told you? Was it the.
woman?" 49, - sar 81
81 Holbin laughed silently. @ 4
You play that as thought were
trump" he said. Perhaps 10 woman's
tracks have ever been there but yours.
It's your garden :, =
Only, saw them before made any
tracks there" she said, quietly. : -:
I don't question your honesty, Miss
Brookin, but others might; and if peo-
pie were disposed to judge you kindly
they would simply suggest that you
had powerful motive To this she
disdained reply. She had picked up
Brodnar's letter from the table and
moved away, seeing which he said per-
sistently: You will please answer my
question. l dislike greatly to annoy
you, but my duty is imperative. Your
secret will be safe with me; and I
must protect the name of my future
wife-that--you will admit" ~ :
"Your wife? Haveyou supposed for.
moment, sir, that shall ever become
your wife," Frances came back and
stood before him. why, Mr.. Holbin,
there is not wealth enough in Virginia
to bring about that!" 49,.
Miss Brookin''-and Holbin sank
his. voice to the most courteous of
tones, and met her glances without en-
barrassment-''why is it that you dis
Like me?"
Il have not given the matter
thought, sir. I simply accept the fact"
He was silent moment, his eyes cast
down. -. -,
"You hate my mother he said, sad
ly and bitterly, land am included;1
understand that. But admitting that
you have cause to hate her-and I do
not-you have none to hate me. Con-
slider the injustice. Let me say now
I did not expect ever to say it, but
man is no man who will not defend
himself-let me say now that, so far
from having cause to hate me, if pro-
found respect, if, sympathy for your
Loneliness, if genuine affection and the
tenderest love count for anything with
a woman, you have more than sufficient
cause to think we'll Of me-" Frances
looked upon him with amazement,
touched in spite of her resolution. He
was not slow to perceive this. My
mother he continued, lis not from the
worlds standpoint a lovable woman,
but she is-my mother; and am her
son. She is self-willed; but she is just.
Shall I ad limit it toyou? She has made
my life unhappy; she has been the
cause of. my living abroad" -
:. "Who was Louise, then? And why
should the mention of her name-have
killed my father?" She covered her
face with her hands, and gave way
gently to her tears. He waited a few
moments until she regained her COM
posture. <-,-~ "
There are turned down pages in
the lives Of. all men, Miss Brookin-
and in the lives of some women. An
other time I shall tell you the his
tory Of Louise, and let you Judge me
if you will. But swear to you now
as though I stood in the presence of
God, that did not lead her off by
means of a mock marriage-I did not!
You may not understand it, but there
are times when the man is not alone
to blame in these matters He is in
volved through his chiyalry; and in
trying to protect woman he some
times ruins both the woman and him
self. I have sinned, but if you knew
how suffered you would pity, not
blame me. Complete reparation was
impossible-but IGhave done my best;
and to-day my life is as free from
evil as most mems"
2 In no other way could Holbin have
so touched the girls heart. At the
moment she did pity him. Recent
scenes in her own life rose before
her as he had spoken. She turned
to him, generous and impulsiye.
Forgive me if l. have misiudged
you" The words surprised and
alarmed her He was not slow to see
his opportunity and take advantage
of II. - .s. - ~ = = = =
IF you misjudged me, it was nat
ural; for never was a man more UNI,
fortunately situated to achieve the
dearest wish of his heart than / am"
= Your dearest wish" she began. :
The wish to make you my wife,