The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1903-04-16


PRECIOUS as May day, but it was love
! love as plain as the sun at rising.
| She sought Brandon upon all occasions
| and made opportunities to meet him
| not openly, at any rate; not with Bran
don's knowledge, nor with any conniv-
ance on his part but apparently caring
little what he or any one else might
see. Love lying in her heart had made
her little more shy than formerly in
| seeking him, but her straightforward
way of taking whatever she wanted
made her transparent little attempts
at concealment very pathetic.
AS for Brandon, the shaft had en-
tered his heart, too, poor fellow, as
| surely as love had dawned in Mary's.
He knew the hopeless misery such a
passion would bring him, and helped
the good Lord, in so far as he could,
to answer his prayer and lead him not
into temptation. AS soon as he saw
the truth he avoided Mary as much as
possible.
AS said, we had spent several even
ings with Mary after we came home
from Windsor, at all of which her pref
erence was shown in every movement.
Some women are so expressive under
strong emotion that every gesture, &
turn of the head, a glance of the eyes,
the lifting of hand or the poise Of the
body speaks with a tongue Of elo-
quence, and such was Mary. Her eyes
would glow with soft fire when they
rested upon him, and her whole person
told all too plainly what, in truth, it
seemed she did not care to hide When
others were present, she would restrain
herself somewhat, but with only Jane
and myself she could hardly maintain
seemly reserve. During all this time
Brandon remained cool and really
seemed unconscious of his wonderful
attraction for her. 1t is hard to under
stand why he did not see it, but I real
~ believe he did not. Although he
was quite at ease in her presence, too
much SO, Mary sometimes thought, and,
strangely enough, sometimes told him
In fit Of short lived, quickly repented
anger that always set him laughing,
yet there. was never a word or gesture
that could hint of undue familiarity.
After these last two meetings, al
though the invitations came frequent
ly, none was accepted. Brandon had
contrived to have his duties, ostensibly
at least, occupy his evenings and did
honestly what his judgment told him
was the one thing to do-that is, re-
main away from fire that could give
no genial warmth, but was sure to
burn him to the quick. saw this only
too plainly, but never a word of it was
spoken between us.
The more saw of this man the more
respected him, and this curling of his
affections added to my already high es-
TEEN. The effort was doubly wise in
BrandOn's case. After a time Mary
began to suspect his attempts to avoid
her, and she grew cold and distant
through pique. Her manner, however,
had no effect upon Brandon, who did
not, or at least appeared not to, notice
it. This the girl could not endure, and,
lacking strength to resist her heart
soon returned to the attack.
Mary had not seen Brandon for near
~ two weeks and was growing arx-
lous, when one day she and Jane met
him in a forest walk near the river
Brandon was sauntering along read
ing when they overlook him. Jane told
me afterward that Mary's conduct up
on coming up to him was pretty and
curious beyond the naming. At first
she was inclined to be distant and say
cutting things, but when Brandon be-
gan to grow FESTIVE under them and
showed signs of turning back she
changed front in the twinkling of an
eye and was all sweetness. She laugh
ed and smiled and dimpled, as only she
could, and was full of bright glances
and gracious words.
She tried hundred little schemes to
get him to herself for a moment-the
hunting of a wild flower or a four
leaved clover or the exploration of
some little nook in the forest toward
which she would lead him-but Jane
did not at first take the hint and kept
close at her heels. Mary's impulsive
nature was not much given to limiting
she usually nodded, and most en-
phatically at that-so after a few fail
ures to rid herself of her waiting lady
she said impatiently: "Jane, in the
name of heaven, don't keep so close to
us! You won't move out of reach Of
my hand, and you know how often it
| lncines to box your ears!'
Jane did know, I am sorry for Mary's
sake to say, how often the fair hand
was given to such spasms; so with this
emphasized hint she walked on ahead,
half sulky at the indignity put upon
her and half amused at her whimsical
mistress.
Mary lost no time, but began the at
tack at once.
Nov, sir, want you to tell me the
truth. Why do you refuse my invita-
| lions and so persistently keep away
from me? I thought at first would
| simply let you go your way, and then
l thought IL would not. Don't deny
it | know you won't. With all your
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