The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-03-07

apartment across the hall and turned
on the electric light. His first thought
was that he would change his dress.
before joining the others, but his inn
patience to see his wife defeated this
Idea and he hurried downstairs.
! He looked intosthe. library, large
coy apartment opposite the drawing
| room. A-coal fire was burning warm
land red in the CRATE, but the room
was empt v. just then the butler,
wilkins, opened the folding doors and
a view Of the electric-lighted dining
hall in its vast splendor of white
cloth, silver and cut-glass met God
dard''s rowing eye. 8 .. 81
| Has Mrs. Goddard come down %
the major asked. > a.. 81
81 did not know she had returned,
|.sir.'' SIS - = 81. ,-s.-
Returned! from whereof - .,s.-
From the city, sir. She went in
this afternoon R.. - r.. f.
ITO the city! at what time?''
"She caught the lao train;" it was
| ]
contained note of startled concern
|"she said she would go direct to your
office and return with YOU i
II have not seen her; my God! what
can have happened to her?''
Blanche motioned the butler to re-
tire, and he did SO, discreetly closing
the door.
The major was deathly pale and his
hands quivered as with palsy. For a
| moment he could only stare into the
| sympathetic eyes of his ward. who
like a shapely pillar of consolation
stood before him.
blanche, do you think-think she
has gone?'' he asked
II can't say, dear, dear guardian. 1
hope not. Don't give up"
He seemed to have sudden inspira-
tion.r
"Come into my study" he-said. -
: She followed and stood in the dark
as he fumbled with the electric light
fixture. In a moment the>little room
was illuminated. He pointed to big
iron safe in the corner, and said,
huskily:
"She could not go without means.
She saw me put $4,000 away yester-
day. She has always known the COM
bination.''
"Oh, she wouldn't dare to take your
money!" exclaimed Blanche
'She knew I had deposit in the
bank" he said; "besides, what is mine
is hers. She knows that"
With trembling fingers he turned
the combination bolt. In. a moment
the heavy door was opened. He drew
out strong box from one of the COM
| partments in the safe and raised the
lid.
The money was gone.
THAT settles. it," Goddard said
this with more calmness than Blanche
had expected, but it was the calmness
of utter despair. He closed the box
| almost with scrupulous exactness,
then shut and locked the door of the
safe. He went back into the library
and stood before the fire. his limp
hands clasped in front of him.
''Tell me what to do, Blanche" he
said, plaintively. II can't give her up.
I simply cannot! I have been under
bursting shells and whistling lead as
! thick as hail and not cared so much as
that Che snapped his fingers), "but
can't face life without her.
A door opened cautiously Wilkins
put in his bald head, fringed with
gray locks
"Shall serve dinner?" he asked.
Eyes, but I shall not watt" said his
master. II am going back to the
city"
Just then there was a ring at the
door. Goddard drew himself up and
listened, a light of sudden expecta-
ton in his eyes.
"Sign here" boyish voice said to
the footman who had opened the door.
"A telegram" cried the major, and
he went to the door and brought it
back, tearing it open excitedly.S
Detained in town. he read, tri-
umphantly. perhaps you ought to
come to the Palace hotel to see me.
Will return in the morning. Jeanne"
Thank God!" he exclaimed. joy
ously; then his eyes snatched a
thought from the depths of his wards
great staring orbs which made him
glance towards his study, and she
saw the joyous light in his face flick
er as if strong breeze of suspicion
had blown upon it. "Ah,' he sighed,
"but she intended to go, Blanche; she
intended to leave MEL
- He dropped his hand heavily on the
old-fashioned silver bell on the table.
my overcoat,- and the carriage,
James, was his husky command
Blanche linked her tapering fingers
over his arm.
But not before you~have eaten your
dinner, dear guardian" she pleaded.
when you get to the city: she will
have dined and, you may be the worse
for it, 49, -,
BE waited till James had>left the
room; then he said: =
Il could not eat a bite right now if
my life depended on it, - - 20