The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-03-28
CHAPTER XVII.

CHAPTER XVII.
That afternoon Blanche, who re-
NAMED at home, had encountered an
experience more thrilling than any
thing which had ever befallen her
She had tried, after the major had
left for the city, to pass the time away
with various amusements She had
poured out her complete happiness to
the sympathetic pages of her diary;
she had, when that joy had spent it.
SELF gone to the piano and played her
guardians favorite airs. sung his IA
vorite songs, imagining him in his
smoking jacket and slippers in his usu-
al seat on the great leathern lounge.
Then a small cloud rose between her
and the sun of her present happiness.
1t was the memory that such short
time had elapsed since another had
occupied her place, and that thought
had frequently beset her Of late, but
seldom with such persistency as now. .
She: tried to fight against it's influence,
to tear herself from it's grasp, but in
vain. One of the most tantalizing of
these thoughts was that Jeanne God
dard's room still remained just as the
absent woman had left it, just as
Blanche wildly remembered it on the
night preceding Mrs. Goddard's de
parture. It's door had not been opened
since its occupant had left. Blanche
supposed it was locked, as she had
once, in passing, seen the key to the
door hanging on nail outside.
Perhaps thought our poor her
oine, IF I could put down my objec-
tons to seeing the room again, and go
there, might not think of it so fire.
quently; and really must be more
generous. But Blanche shud-
dered as her thoughts ran on I'M
checked, II cannot bear to think that
she once had all his love. she-when
God had made us for each other!''
She would not have been the woman
she was if these recollections had not
stung her proud nature to the quick.
II certainly have a goou opportunity
now" she thought, remembering that
both the maids had asked for leave
of absence that afternoon, and
through the window she could see
James leaning over the wall at the
foot of the lawn engaged in deep con-
versation with an acquaintance. So
the outcome of her mental arguments
for and against this step was that she
bravely assembled the stairs, went
along the fern-decorated corridor to
the door of the room which had haunt
ed her. SO much of late. To her sur
prise she missed the key from the nail
where it usually hung. Then she no
ticed it in the lock, and that the door
was slightly ajar. Thinking this was
perhaps due to the negligence of the
servants, the young wife entered and
stood in the center of the room-a tar
get for sharp memories which were
shooting into her heart from several
objects in the boudoir-Jeanne's couch
and chair, the divan where she had
once seen her husband with his arm
around his wife. Blanche's face was
set with keenest- suffering as she
turned her back on the canopied bed
with its lace coverings, rich tapestries
and down-illed pillows. She was
wondering if, after all, the visit was
going to be productive of good when
she heard a slight rapping noise about
Mrs. Goddard's escritoire, which was
hidden from her view by a tall screen
of painted silk in a frame Of mahog-
any. Blanche advanced and looked
over. it. 70 her horror she saw man
trying to fit key into the lock of the
desk. Happening to glance upward
at that instant his startled eyes met
hers. -.
Blanche uttered a scream of fright
and shrank back. =
"For Gods sake, don't! I am not a
thief, MISS" exclaimed the man, ris-
ing head and shoulders above the
screen, the key falling from his
hands. e
Blanche paused. The thought that
she was alone with him in the great
house showed her the futility OF flight,
but it was the earnestness of his dec
laration of innocence which detained
her. Besides, now that She had the
man fully in view, there was some
thing in the regretful expression OF
his rather sad face which inspired con
fdence. He was well dressed, his hair
and short beard were white as snow. 2
though his face did not bear testi-
mony to more than so years Of age.
II began Blanche, but She was
unable to steady her voice.
know appearances. are dead
against me, . said the intruder, .bnt
I hope you won't Judge me too harsh
" II