The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1902-05-22

Il shall not stay here. Ny post
of duty is Concord and Mr.. Whit
taker is going to take me there In
the morning.
From the way the Concord people
treated you,'' she said, her eyes
glowing resentfully, II shouldn't
think you'd ever want to set foot in
the place again. "
retrospective of the feelings of the
Concordians," he smiled, "there is my
financial interest. I cannot abandon
those 1900 lots.''
What are 1900, or $4,000 lots to
the son of Mr.. Montfort Herbert?'
she returned. "A mere bagatelle!
know perfectly well that it isn't the
money at stake, in your case, nor is
it in mine. It is the excitement of
the contest" She threw back her
shoulders and tossed her fair head.
"A stout heart, fair fight, and the
rigor OF the game! The end of our
plots and our counterplots is now
at hand. Either success or defeat
will prove equally glorious and you
can learn the worst, or the best, at
Willowview just as well as you can
in Concord. Please don't keep me
waiting, Mr.. Herbert"
Evidently she thought the son of
Mr.. Montfort, Herbert had a compe-
tence in his own right! No one had
informed her of the real condition
OF Guys fortunes and he was not
the one to lay bare the truth.
Guy reflected. He might do more
harm than good in Concord if he
went there during the crisis He had
no vote, anyway, as two weeks in
the territory would not give him the
right of franchise. Besides, had he
not, in quiet way, gained a strateg-
ic advantage which would keep the
county seat at Concord?
Every well, Miss Vlandingham," he
said. 1T is kind of you to come for
me, and if you really care for my
company at Willowview I shall be
most happy to return with you'
He went into the house for his
satchel and then started for Har-
mony with snap of the whip and
jingle of chains. Very shortly they
passed Mr.. Whitaker, at work by
the road, and there was brief halt
while Guy explained matters. Mr..
Whitaker said little but smiled in
knowing way, and they could see
him lean on the handle of his shovel
and watch until they were out of
sight.
Only the pen of poet could fit
tingly describe that wondrous ride.
A sentimental journey it was, every
step of the way from Whittaker's to
the squire's; delicious faring across
the sunny plain, through a drowsy
odor of wild flowers and under such
skies as smile over the Fortunate
Isles. Touched by the spell, neither
of the two young people wasted
much time in conversation, and the
long lapses of silence into which
they fell were rhythmic intervals
wherein their hearts echoed back the
melody of a song as old as the days
of man. Arrived at their destina-
ton Guy heaved sigh of regret.
The calends of his love had lifted
white stone to mark a passing
hour, and he was more securely q
captive if that could be-
Guys sojourn at Willowview was
very brief. Both Miss Hetty and her
father exerted themselves to the ut
most to make his stay enjoyable, but
he was i'll at ease. His negotiations
with Mr.. Landy had certainly won
the county seat for Concord, and it
seemed to him as though he were
acting a double part. When the re-
turns came in, and when the genial
squire and the adorable Miss Betty
discovered how willy and tactful he
had been, he feared that there would
be an upheaval and that they would
deny him their hospitality, and send
him forth in scorn.
1t was all very well for Miss Betty
to talk of 1.-THE rigor of the game.''
The prime incentive in every game
is success, and when the ballots were
counted and it was found that Am
ityville had cast deciding vote for
Concord, he would see then whether
Miss Betty would take defeat as
"gloriously'' as she would have taken
better fortune. It would be bit
ter triumph for him if it cost him
her favor. Yet if she had not spoken
those words in spirit of raillery-
in short, if she really meant them
how incompatible she would be-
come in his eyes! AS Pettibone had
said, he could 60 to her and offer
her a "dower" interest in his town.
And then, if she would accept! His
heart leaped at the thought and his
mind winged skyward in sweeping
dreams.
That night they were in the coy
parlor just as they had been exact
ly two weeks before. Miss Betty
was at the piano and Guy stood be-
side her turning her music. The
squire was engaged with his paper.
Since the young man had come to
the house that second time the coun-