The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1904-01-07

Charming girl said he, .'for as
much as one may see here
when photographer takes the
back OF a girls head,' said l, ''the cir
cumstance is suspicious
1--WE seen her somewhere said he.
"Would it lie intrusive to inquirer
"Not the least in the world. She is
Miss Sibyl Wayne. She has been my
fathers ward from her youth"
Derringer shook his head.
81 can't have had the honor of meet
ing her, he said. Il always remember
names much better than faces. She's
not staying here? Well, that's odd
He turned to his study of the picture.
ITS a matter of perfect certainty"
he went on, that I've seen this young
lady recently within day or two,
should say, yet the times uncertain.
She hasn't keen out here? I would
have said'-
He paused and stared up at the cell
ing.
strange how one forgets'- he be-
gan.
''The picture doesn't show much ex-
cept an ear" said I.
He tapped the print lightly with his
finger.
Its the hat" he said. pretty bit
Of millinery, isn't it? 1 have an eve
for such things, though you'd hardly
believe it. Yes, sir,'' he added slowly,
"I've-Seen-that-h
He seemed to take a deeper interest
than the facts warranted BY my way
Of thinking the matter was of impor-
lance to me rather than to him. How
ever, he was not in possession of all
the facts, and could not know my mo-
tive for treasuring this picture. 1 had
contented myself with explaining to
him that there was young woman in
the world whom wished to meet with
perfectly free heart and mind, and
that therefore I had come to Mrs.
Wltherspoon's for the purpose of shak-
ing off a certain fascination, spell Of
modern witchery, under which I had
fallen.
Was Derringer right in believing that
he had seen Sibyl recently? Was she
among the guests of Mrs Witherspoon?
II concerned me much to know
Derringer and l became so much
absorbed, each in his own reflections,
that we were unfit for conversation,
and he presently withdrew.
l lit fresh cigar and sat down by
that window which gave the best view
down the orchard. The slender cres-
cent of the moon looked bright against
the darkness of the sky, but could not
light the earth. I pictured the girl
locking out upon it from the veranda
OF the apple tree lodge, and upon the
lake and the rough hill, both as God
made them. She might we'll imagine
herself in the primeval wilderness. 1t
was pleasant to think of her there,
clarifying the scene with her own
sweet fancies. And yet it must be very
lonesome and not altogether safe.
did not then know that the Wither-
spoon estate was patrolled by night, so
that faint cry from the orchard
would have brought swift rescue. 1t
came into my mind that 1 would per-
form that duty as volunteer, and
under the influence Of this idea I went
out to the road again, for an invader
OF the orchard would probably be no
worse than a homeless wayfarer seek
ing shelter. A thief would not look for
plumber there.
A well kept path ran beside the fence
toward the shoulder of the hill that
bent the road. had scarcely set foot
upon the path when I perceived two
suspicious characters lettering near by.
Advancing boldly upon them, I discov-
cred that they were Derringer and
Trask, and it was thus came to know
the artists name.
II have thought" said Derringer,
when he had made us acquainted, 'that
there might be tramps along this way
in the early part of the night 1t seems
that the same idea occurred to Mr.
Trask. l met him here'
Then we began to speak of the
warmth and sweetness of the night, the
excellence of Mrs. Witherspoon's cui-
sine, the advantages of the country in
hot weather-many things, indeed-but
not the girl.
We walked slowly down toward the
break of the hill, and having reached it
3KKD