The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-01-17


Yes, but she will not be my conf
dant,'' said l.. wondered how much
she had heard of the one sided dia-
logue. '.Will you answer the question
just put to that squirrel of yours ?''z9e
"And what was the question? ~ with
| innocence not feigned ==z
Perhaps it was, Why should Greet
chen not revoke the promise to which
! she holds me?" -. e.. = e
"You should know, herr said
Gretchen gently. Sc 80. -
"But L do not. only know that a
| man is human and that beautiful wo-
man was made to be loved" Every
| thing seemed solved now that Gret-
| chen stood at my side. But she turned
| Us if to go. -..~ : =. =. :. =. =,
"Gretchen," l called ''Do not 20.
Forgive me. If only you understood"
Perhaps I do understand" she re-
piled With a gentleness new to me-
| do you remember why I asked you
to stay?' .--- .---
+ Eyes; was to be your friend'' s
This time it is for me to ask wheth-
er go or stay" =
"Stay, Gretchen. But was a hypo-
critic when I said it.
II knew that you-would say that"
simply.
"Gretchen, sit down and I'll tell you
| the story of my life, as they say on the
stage" knocked the dead ash from
my pipe and stuffed the bowl with
fresh weed. Lit it and blew a cloud
of smoke into the air. do you see
that, Gretchen7'
Eyes, herr" sitting down, the space
Of yard between us.
1T is pretty, very, but see how the
wind carries it about! AS it leaves nv
throat it looks like a tangible sub
stance. Reach for it, and it is gone.
That cloud of smoke is my history"
1T disappears" said Gretchen.
And SO shall l at the appointed
time. That cloud of smoke was a for
| tune. reached for it, and there was
nothing but the air in my hand. It
was a Woman's love. For five years I
watched it curl and waver. In it T
saw many castles, and the castles were
falr indeed. strove to grasp this
love; smoke, smoke. Smoke is nothing
given a color. Thus it is. with our
dreams. If only we might not waker'
Gretchen's eyes were following the
course of the languid river.
once there was a woman l thought
loved, but she would have none of
1t. She said that the love I gave her
was not complete because she did not
return it. She brought forth the SUBJ
]ect of attinities and ventured to say
that some day might meet mine. I
sco1fed inwardly. have now found
what she said to be true. The love
l gave her was the bud. The rose
Gretchen said 1, rising, II love you.
l am not hypocrite. 1 cannot parade
my regard for you under the flimsv
guise Of friendship"
"Go and give the rose to her to
whom you gave the bud," said Gret-
| chen. The half smile struck me as
dlsdainful. "You are a strange wooer.,'
Il am an honest one." / began
plucking at the bark of the tree. ssNo.
l shall let the rose wither and die on
the stem. I shall leave tomorrow.
| Gretchen. l shall feel as Adam did
when he went forth from Eden. What
ever your place in this world is, it is
TAR above mine. l am, in truth, a pen
niless adventurer The gulf between
us cannot be bridged"
NO." said Gretchen, the smile leav-
ing her lips, ''the gulf cannot be
brldged. You are a penniless adven-
turer, and I. am a fugitive from-the
law, the king or what you will. You
are a man. Man forgets. You have
just illustrated the fact. His memory
and his promises are like the smoke
they fade away but soon. l shall be
sorry to have you go, but it is best
so.''
"Do you love any one else?''
Il do not. love no one in the sense
you mean. 1t was not written that
should love any man.
"Gretchen, wha are you, and what
have you done?''
"What have done? Nothing! Who
am I? Nobody!'
els that the only answer you can
give?"
1T is the only answer 1 will give"
There was something in Gretchen's
face which awed me. 1t was power
and resolution, two things man seldom
sees in Woman's face.
"Supposing, Gretchen, that l should
take you in my arms and kiss your"
l was growing reckless because I felt
awed, which seems rather remark
| able statement. II know you only as
barmaid. Why not?"
She. never moved to go away. There
was no alarm in her eyes, though they
| narrowed.
"You would never forgive yourself,
| would you?
I thought for a moment mo, Gret-
chen, I should never forgive myself.
But know that if ask you to let me
kiss your hand before I go you will
| grant so small a favor -
There" and her hand stretched to-
ward me. "And what will your kiss