The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1903-12-31

''Jim Lamoine," replied the young no.
man.
orchard rose toward the house. an or.
DERBY array of fine old trees, wide
spreading, snarled and sturdy.
In the midst Of it 1 could with diff
tlculty descry the lodge, picturesque
and inviting, built round giant apple
tree and shaded by the incredibly
broad expanse of it's branches. There
seemed to be rude veranda on the
side toward the lake, a place where
man might sit and smoke and forget
any girl that ever existed.
That's where l live" said to the
horse earnestly and contidentially;
under that tree. My meals are
brought out to me by gagged slave
and any boarder who calls upon me
gets Shot
The farmhouse itself might have at
tracted me in rdinary conditions. It
was a series OF low houses that had
grown with the demand. They were
connected, but each seemed to have it's
separate entrance, with spacious Dor
Of it was that not a human creature
was in sight. The house had many
windows flung open to the sweet June
air and beyond doubt was we'll ten
anted, yet no one was visible. | fan
cled the people to be wandering in
the grove beyond the house or in the
trees that bordered the lake, each man
or woman solitary, absorbed in gentle
reflection.
AS drove up TO that entrance which
seemed to appertain to the managing
part Of the establishment for the
Kitchen was back Of that section of the
house, and it looked to be the Oldest
very quiet boy came out and regard
ed me without interest or curiosity. I
set him down as model child.
My friend,' said l, will you tell
Mrs. Witherspoon that l would like to
see her?'
He turned without a word and went
into the house. Presently a young wo-
man came out to say that Mrs. Wither-
spoon was in the garden, and she made
gesture which indicated that that
was far away. She spoke with a hush
ed voice appropriate to the place, and I
could have thanked her for it.
If it's anything about living here"
said she after a restful pause, Il can
give you information. I'm Mrs. With
erspOon'S niece
I dismounted from the carriage and
took seat in the porch. Immediately
the quiet boy appeared from nowhere
in particular and led my horse under
the shade of an apple tree that stood
beside the fence which marked off the
orchard from the field. I observed that
the path leading down to the lake was
beyond the fence. The orchard show
ed no sign that any one passed through.
There was faint path leading to the
lodge, but it seemed not to go beyond.
THAT'S a very nice boy" said I.
Who is he?"
lin Lamoine,' replied the young
woman.
half rose from my seat
'Lamoine!' echoed.
"Yes," said she. ''He's an orphan
He and his sister are almost all that's
left of the family
His sister,
Anna" said my companion in that
calm, emotionless voice which suited
so we'll with the rural calm of the
scene
1T isn't possible l said, that he is
Anna LamOine's brother"
why not?' asked the girl gently.
Il beg your pardon" said l. 1T hap
pens that l have met Miss Lamoine.
James doesn't resemble her."
II always thought they looked very
much alike she replied.
mo more than l look like that apple
tree" l protested. 81 met Miss La
moline in New York recently"
Visiting the Cushings?" murmured
Miss Witherspoon.
Yes" said I. 'She was there.
They've friends Of mine By the way.
where is Miss Lamone now?'
II don't know was the reply.
"Of course her brother knows?''
II don't think so. You can ask him."
Somehow she spoke as if there were