The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-07-25

over"
Julia looked wrathfully at her and
quoted:
Il think we had best not get excited,
dear, or furried."
Here white frilled cap was project
ed into the low voiced confab.
Girls, he's just splendid-a great
big, handsome, manly fellow, with the
sweetest smile. Remember, he is here
to fulfill prophecy. Now, don't let my
sacrifice go for naught." She was
pouring out a glass of water. Hes
been used to white capped mattresses.
Called me my good girl with the most
urbane composure. After Eve watered
him Pm going to take him into NAM
mas room and give you girls chance
to primp.'' -
Miss Mellicent protested. -
but l haven't said a word to Aunt
Jolif about dinner"
Nanny stamped her foot in a man.
ner out of all keeping with her cap and
apron.
leave Aunt Joliff and the dinner to
me. There must be some ladies to do
the entertaining"
With which she disappeared, carry
ing the tray with it's glass of water
upon it as deftly as if her experience
of maids duties had extended far
beyond the boards Of the private the
atricals she so ardently affected
Miss Mellicent often declared in aft
er years that she felt that day as if
they were all playing in private theat-
ricals, or, as Jack lucidly put it, CIV
erything was so exactly as it wasn't"
Their inconvenient guest alone was
calm, self possessed, well groomed
reality when they all assembled around
the dinner table, with Nan standing de-
murely behind Miss NIellicent's chair,
tray in hand, ready to pass the soup.
Later on, when, after an evening de-
voted to reminiscent talk chiefly, Mar
ston had followed Jack to the stately
chamber assigned him, that young
man briefly summarized his own view
Of the situation.
II tell you we're a lot of frauds He's
got enough man in him to take US in
the rough"
"No one can take US in the rough,
jack"
"Well, then, just as we are. Some
body's going to let the cat out of the
bag
(which cat?'
man there. don't like it, tell you
girls"
Miss Julia was delicately darning a
hole in the fine damask tablecloth
which Nanny had exhumed for the oc-
casion. She gently pricked Jack on the
shoulder with her needle
my dear little boy, what you like or
don't like doesn't concern us just now.
Did you tell our guest to put his shoes
outside the door, so that the boy could
get them in the morning?"
eyes, confound himr'
Nanny was carefully folding up her
apron.
'There is where your narrowness
comes in, Jack. If you could only ef-
face yourself for the good of the fam
lily, as have done! There is no sense
in confounding Teddy. He's just per-
fectly splendid, and if Mel and Julia
between them don't carry out his dear
fathers wishes l shall have to inter-
vene."
''He's not the sort of chap to fail in
love with a waitress. He's a gentle
man."
eyes, butch, WE'LL I'm not pining to
appropriate him. simply want some
body to marry into this family to keep
us from falling to pieces from sort of
dry rot. l am so dreadfully tired of
living on nothing a month"
$50 am l." said Jack, yawning so
portentously that his sister Julia ad-
vised- his going after Marston's shoes
before slumber should overtake him
irreyocably. He stretched his arms
and got up obediently.
81 say, Nan, we are in for this mas
Querade. Let's make it a bowling sue
cess"
Marston had been the guest of the
Hendersons quite two weeks when he
felt the necessity Of explaining himself
to some trustworthy friend laid mex
orably upon him. He selected for this
purpose the chum he had left behind
him in Berlin.
Nobody knows better than yourself,
my dear Holbrook," he wrote, chow
entirely in accord with my dear ia
theirs wishes for my settlement in life
I was when started for America.
1T all seemed to dovetail beautifully.
The proximity Of the estates, the wish
es of our elders, the beauty and good
ness Of the Henderson girls, all pointed
to the fulfllment Of the prophecy ut
tered over my cradle by my black
nanny, who declared it was writ on
the stars I was to fetch home bride
from this house, "
"But now let me abase myself.
can only do so with comfort while seas
roll between us. The Henderson girls
are all that my father painted them
handsome, cultivated, dignified, proud
as Lucifer and bearing poverty, which
cannot be hidden with a pra ciO11s dip-