The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1904-01-21
By.
HoeOQrd
Fielding

you don't like Miss Jones very well,
! do you?" said I.
But Lucy Ann protested that she
| thought Miss Jones was one of the
loveliest girls ever created, an object
Of envy to all others and quite unap-
proachably perfect. Yet my opinion
was mistaken, and began to feel a
certain animosity against Trask.
care they sweet on each other?" I
asked.
Lucy Ann shook her head, not mega
lively, but as one who considers the
whole question.
II don't think they're engaged" said
she at last. do you?'
The last two words had notable force.
though they were spoken softly.
"They might he married." said L,
they're so blue"
Il don't think they'd be blue if they
were married." said she, as if my
worn joke were worthy of serious con-
sideration. They're very handsome,
both of them. Don't you think 500"
Beauty soon fades" said I, "espe-
cially under the conditions which you
indicate. But between ourselves I
don't think Trask is so much He's got
a fine head, of course, but his eye is
cold. Under certain circumstances I
think he could show himself selfish
and heartless"
Il guess you're jealous of him. said
Lucy Ann, with laugh, but discreet
ly refrained from making any guesses
of my own.
Mrs. WitherspOon came up at this
moment, having gathered vegetables in
several different states during her alb
sence. I presented my plea for Lucy
Ann and carried it, though with diff
Guilty.
AS result we walked down the long
path that afternoon and embarked in
the very boat that had behaved so bad
~ with me on the previous evening.
Lucy Ann took the steering ropes and
sat up primly against the blackboard.
She had exchanged her gray garb for
what I took to be her best summer
gown. It was white, with white
sunbonnet to match, somewhat more
coquettishly designed and worn, too,
than the gray one.
care you going to give them to her
yourself?' she asked.
1t was the first utterance on either
side since we had got into the boat,
! and it had an effect of suddenness
which prevented my understanding it.
"Give what to Whom?" said I. "Oh,
the roses. I'd almost forgotten them"
"Well, you're a nice one!' responded
Lucy Ann. II thought this was very
sentimental
1T is very romantic" said 1. ''These
roses are for a young lady whom 1
never saw-that is, I don't know wheth-
er ever saw her or not"
''That's queer" said she, with height
ened interest. 'You don't mean
And she waved her hand toward the
orchard, which was coming abeam. I
nodded aft1rmatively and then instinc-
lively glanced in the direction she had
Indicated. The fair artist was almost
in the precise spot where I had first
seen her at work, but on this occasion
the umbrella planted in the ground OBJ
structed my vision. even more than it
had done before. I could see the green
skirt, but not the pretty hand that
welded the paint brush until in rest
ing, she let it fall by her side.
II wonder what's the matter with
that GIRL said Lucy Ann. sit doesn't
seem healthy to me to live like that. all
alone. Goodness! She won't be young
again! should think she'd want to
get out where there are lots of people
and where she can have a good time.
I'd have fit living the way she does.
I'd feel like the poor, lonesome calf
that's tethered up in our back pasture
so that the boarders can think we raise
our own milk
perhaps she sees enough people in
the winter" suggested.
I've got no patience with girls that
NOPE" said she, NOR with any kind of
people that get tired of the sight of
humanity. don't see enough
That's why you're so tolerant" I
replied, "and SO much Interested Yet,
between ourselves, think you're right.
l came out here to be alone; I wanted
to live in that house, as she does, and
yet I'm glad didn't. I'm glad to have
met Trask and Scovel and Derringer
and you, of course, and your aunt, who
Is the greatest creature of her kind ever
born.'
I'm glad to hear you talk SOL
answered Lucy Ann "Our boarders
as rule are an unsociable lot. We
make speciality of that sort, but I
wouldn't wish to catch their ways.
I've been afraid of it,"
"Don't," said I. 'There is nothing
in 1t. Be frank, sincere, earnest, un-
selfish, busily employed, and then you
won't nope"
THAT'S good advice" answered Lucy
Ann, "but can't help remembering
that you are going to get roses for
another kind of girl.''
Il will give you one," said I; more,
if you want Them
'"That isn't fair" she reioined. II
shall accept no fee for being your pilot,
But how will you send the roses to her,
and what mt tho idoo into vo,,r hoo 4