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

SuHeaslneSS@ and#Vagues alarm. he was
mo longer lonely. In some mysterious
way a burden seemed to be slipping
away from him, and in its place came
a sense1of companionship sweet and
comforting Most men discount mar
rled life in their dreams, and few ever
realize the fullnesss Of those dreams;
but with him it had been different.
This strange experience preceded the
dreams: Without a days warning. he
had been plunged into the privacy of
a young and modest woman's life, had
become the guardian of her honor and
in a measure of her future; and in
mysterious way the divine sweetness
of her soul had issued forth and en-
veloped him.. In the chiaroscuro of
the still room he could just determine
the outlines of her bed and upon=its
whiteness the outlines of her slender
figure. He was glad that she slept;
In that quiet falling asleep was for.
him the finest tribute ever paid to his
manhood, A glad, quick pulse leaped
from his heart as he realized this
truth, and the words of the girls
mother, So artlessly repeated, ~came
back to him. :, .-.:-.,.
Then in the desert of his life "a
stranger came before his tent and
asked for shelter. He babe him enter.
Why should not this scene be fixed
and real and lasting? Would it be
possible? Would the girl some day
accept it as such, yielding still the
trust and tenderness she had brought
to the counterfeit? Was she trusting
Brodnar? Or was she trusting him?
The trust. was in him. He felt it in-
stinctively; and her little white hand
seemed to steal forth to his again,
her arms to enfold him. What a
child she was! And yet--and yet
An irresistible impulse seized him to
be near her, to touch her hand, her
hair, and to pass within the electric
radius of her presence again, # but
for moment. He was her guardian
whether she slept or awoke. :......s. =
A strange curiosity to be near
sleeping girl, to enter further into
her life and absorb the sweetness of
its Innocence, possessed him. She
would not know, she would never
know, perhaps; and why should he
not snatch from fate this one brief
moment of happiness? : A doubt as
sailed him and brought hesitation;
but with an impatient gesture The
threw aside the hesitation. He would
not let even himself doubt himself.
And 81 he oorna ,rI e4ooJ ol,or. A..
sleeper, and presently, entranced, he
kneeled and saw her lying there
vague, dim and unrecognizable, but
girl asleep. Her face was towards
him upon the pillow and one hand lay
upon the edge of her bed. So quietly
did she sleep she seemed not to
breathe. He watched her until a
tremor shook him from head to TO ot,
and never before experienced con-
fusion seized upon his mind. Instinct.
lively he leaned above her hand and
touched it with his ips-lightly, rev.
erently. She sighed and spoke his
name, and, overwhelmed with sudden
dismay, he would have withdrawn, but
she seized his arms and cried OUT :.
Light! light" And then, broken
ly: "Oh, sir, for the: first time-I am
II am-frightened!" He sank his
face beside her, overwhelmed with
shame.
1T is half-past three" he said, brok-
emily; II must soon say farewell to
YOU" , : '.r' -'.-~
ooh, sir, will you not light the gasp"
Seeing that. she still trembled, he
arose and went to his chair. - -
NO." he said, calmly. "But sleep
on. / shall mot disturb you again"
And then presently she came, and,
kneeling in sudden, abandon before
him, placed her hands upon his Shout
ders, her face close into his. - "
II shall not let you leave me think
ing that do not trust you," she said.
"Oh, sir, kiss me now, my hands, my
hair, my lips if you will trust i'm
plicitly! I trust you-yes, and
more, T." T.
"Child, child, you do not know what
you are saying!" He covered his face
with his hand. 1872
Child! No, woman! You do not
understand; IT. is you who are the
child. Listen. I was not asleep when
you struck match and, turning YOUR
face from me, looked at your watch.
| was awake, and l saw your face in
the glass across the ROOM"
"You should not
1T was an accident, and I thanked
God, for it has given me a living mem
DRY of the kindest friend since mother
died. It is not the first time, for your
picture is in the doctors office. He
did not know that I have hung over it \
fixing it in my mind-many-many
times--oh, will you, will you say that
you wish to see me? Have you no
wish to remember me ?"= =.
Remember you? shall carry with
me forever the sound of your voice.
thA touch OF your hand, the perfume
of every curl upon your head S. zzs "
But my face! Will you look upon
that? I release you from all your
promises" c-..1.-. - -. = = 20