The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-05-09

would hardly have troubled himself to
wade through score of farewell pages
from soldier to his mother, and would
have promptly destroyed the whole
collection, but that the remaining en-
velope, addressed to Richard Somers.
lay before him, and upon it his eve
caught the Brookin crest.
This is very different" he said to
himself with interest. "Let US see
what Frances has to say to the fellow. )"
He broke the seal and read:
II send you back, we'll and free. the
| man who saved your life; I found him
| grievously wounded-a prisoner 1t is all
| that have been able to do in return for
| your Kindness to me, a stranger, and for
| the wound you received in my house Think
me not indicate when I say that the
| sweetest memory my heart carries is in
the memory of your face beneath the
match that night and of the words
| Frances, my wife, which you have en-
| graVed in your locket, and over which I
have placed message to you. Forgive me;
| 1t can never matter much, for sea of blood
| rolls between US. Good night. God be
| with you till we meet-ln Heaven.
| "FRANCES."
Holbin sat gazing blankly upon the
lines. His head was in whirl.
'Her husband! her husband!
Pshaw!" he exclaimed with an uneasy
laugh, springing to his feet and begin
ming to walk the floor, "this comes of
the damnable work out yonder to-day;
my nerves are simply unstrung" He
took bottle from his dresser poured
out stiff drink, and tossed it off with
one gulp. Then he went back to his
table and, picking up the letter, read
aloud: wound received in my house"
your face beneath the lighted
match" AS he stood thus the letter
| slipped from his hand. "Louise!'' he
| whispered, ''the man whom Louise
| shot" Not in all the vicissitudes of
his wild career had Holbin received
| such shock of SURPRISE His mind
| dazed and bewildered, could not ar
range a deduction beyond the discov
cry that Richard Somers was the man
around whom SO much of mystery had
gathered, and that Frances referred to
| him in the tender word 'husband." He
laid his hand upon the bell-cord and
| hesltated; then his wicked smile came
back again as he pulled it.
Tell your mistress l shall be glad if
she will favor me with her nresence
here,' he said to William. When. a
few minutes later, Mrs. Brookin came
into the room he failed to hear her.
what is it, Raymond o. she asked.
He reused himself and spoke rapidly.
"Frances got her wounded soldier
pass through our lines, and to please
her l carried him to the front. After
ne left me l found these papers in the
buggy where he had dropped them.
Inc fellows captain is Richard
Somers."
"Richard Somers!"
And now, madam, read the note
from Frances to him and let me con-
graduate you upon"
She read it rapidly, and when her
amazed face was lifted he added:
Your son-in-law''
it mean?"
Answer that question for me, moth
er; my head has ceased to be of anv
assistance. Undoubtedly, however, the
woman who you lead me to believe gave
you her promise to marry me some day
is already in point of law Richard
Somer's wife and has forfeited her
right to any part of her fathers es-
tate. Madam, fortune favors the bold;
l congratulate you'll" His manner be-
trayed an intense excitement and bit
terness
"Wait, waltz said the woman. oui-
city, her eyes riveted upon the letter.
1T seems that he was her husband
that night. Was not that night prior
to the signing of the will?"
Yes, the night before" The son,
looking upon his mothers face, could
find no evidence of satisfaction there.
1t was CHASTITY. "Why, what is it
| now?"
"A stronger will and a clearer head
than we ina ined has been at war With
us. I do not know the law, but they
were trying to defeat the will in adj
vance. 1t does defeat it in some way.
or our enemies would not have taken
the risk. If Frances were really mar
ried before the will was signed, she
cannot comply with it's requirements,
and the law will not demand an impos-
sibility."
"Well!" He bent forward. his voice
reduced to whisper.
eve have lost, you and I. Except
for my pittance, we shall be beggars
upon the day that Frances comes of
age; and that day is near at hand"
A long silence followed, and then the
eyes of mother and son met.
| do you not share alike if the will
fails?"
'No. The intention of my husband
will be operative; only the condition
fails There is no hope that way" His
mother looked from him and spoke
slowly.
els there no remedy?" he asked.
eyes. If Richard Somers is not liv-
ing when Frances comes of age, or
should Frances"
Mother, mother, take care!" The
words burst in sudden energy from the