The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1904-01-14
Ho6UQrd
Fielding

/
passed from the lodge to the road with.
out being visible from any part of the
house, unless perhaps the roof.
He paused just outside my window
and seemed about to deliver a remark
of tremendous Importance; then he
changed his mind and went on without
saying anything. This was one Of
Jimmy's favorite methods of making
himself obnoxious; it was rite in his
grieved me sorely when he thus an
noyed me to be reminded of his sister.
As for the physical resemblance be-
tween them which Lucy Ann had men-
toned, had never been able to see it.;
but I was beginning to be painfully
aware that there was a certain similar
ity in their ways.
It was grotesque-the likeness Of a
fearful caricature. That which was
with Anna pretty air of reticence, the
yelling Of some sweet fancy, a delicious
riddle, appeared in Jimmy as arrant
trickery. Thus will a family trait often
disclose itself in varied form in the diff
ferent individuals, and beyond a doubt
the prudent may now and then gain
valuable warnings in this way. But
did not wish to be warned; I did not
believe that it was necessary, and
many time I could most willingly
have laid a hand upon James not in the
way Of kindness when he performed
before my eyes this dire mockery of his
sister.
| Not long after he passed the window
l saw him going down into the orchard
again, this time accompanying Lucy
Ann and carrying in a big basket the
luncheon for Miss Scott and the girl
I observed that Lucy Ann took out the
portion that was Miss Scott's and that
Jimmy then carried the basket around
to the other side. So Lucy Ann did not
serve the girl; did not see her at all.
What could this mean? Obviously that
the girl was some one whom Lucy Ann
would recognize if she should see her
at close range.
l jotted down this point for future
reference. l had not yet made up my
mind that the girl was Sibyl; that is, I
had said so to myself, but something
within me had refused belief Really
l could as easily believe that Miss
Jones was Sibyl. The basis of this
confusion was that elusive memory
such as drives one distracted when a
name dances upon the tip of the tongue
for hours, even for days, and will not
be uttered. The girl reminded me of
| somebody, and it seemed that if 1
could but think Of that person all doubt
would vanish. 1t did not vanish when
I thought of Sibyl.
l spent the afternoon in the woods
alone, "a book of verses underneath
the bough,' no loaf of bread, no jug Of
wine, no girl. Yet, though lacking the
best part of old Omar's prescription,
did not waste the hours. The trees
sang we'll in the wind. and the odors of
the wood were heady as wine. They
lured me away from my book; they
made me walk many miles without
WEAKNESS, indeed with an access of
strength for every step, and when at
last l strobe across the fields toward
Mrs. Witherspoon with the western
sun giving me a half mile of shadow. I
viewed that part of the house which
held the kitchen with a certain uneasi-
ness. At that distance it did not look
big enough.
But no man will starve at Mrs. With
erspoon's, no matter what his appetite
may be. She fed us amply and well
that evening, and went forth after the
meal exceedingly content The breeze
had gone down with the sun, and the
lake seemed to be smooth as a mirror
when l viewed it from the head of the
long path. 1t invited me, and not in
vain
There were half a dozen boats on
the strip of beach, and chose the one
that pleased me best. It was a rule at
Mrs Witherspoon's to follow ones i'm
pulses in such matters. judged that
person whose impulses proved to be
defective would be gently eliminated
from this idyllic spot and that the dis
covery Of his unfitness would be
prompt. Such was my confidence in
this notion that at the end of the first
week would have gone into the With
erspoon stable and saddled a horse
"AeA LILY eyes SuuI, sure LQdC Q8Q i
been the sort Of fellow to take the
wrong horse l should not have re-
NAMED so long a guest of the house.
| l padded out into the lake. There
was still trace of color in the sky, and
Ill the air seemed to be most delicately
rose tinted. The mere eye could not
see this, could not watch it fade into
the faint gray of the ashes of roses, but
it was none the less visible There were
whispers from all the shores. The rough
hill spoke in it's own way; the low
ground where the willows grow had
very different story and the orchard
another. was naturally most inter-
ested in the orchard, and 1 propelled
the boat to a favorable position, keep
ing my distance, however, as I had
been taught
Suddenly became aware Of a light
upon the shore. The lake meanwhile
mad clothed itself with indistinctnesr
that was not the dark, but scarcely
more penetrable. That light had red