The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1904-12-08

ting cOmmonplaces, and then Alice
said, did you meet the island girl
last summer that you told me Bert had
fallen in love with?"
"Only once. Bert invited her and
the old lady on board the Gypsy and
introduced them. They remained only
long enough to look the yacht over. I
left that day"
what did you think of this grip
asked Alice hastily. "Tell me what
she looks like
''She has beautiful figure and eyes
like yours, which you know are what
admire, only they are not so full of
mischief. They have faraway look
that makes you think her thoughts are
thousand miles away"
Glow was she dressed?"
ooh, I haven't the least idea," was
the answer. ''She might have worn
calico for all I could tell. The only
thing can remember is that her dress
was tight fitting and very plain
Alice smiled.
'Those faraway eyes must have en-
tranced you, your description is SO
lucid,' she replied sarcastically. GLOW
long did Bert stay there after you came
away"
"Only few days. never asked
him. I told him to keep and use the
Gypsy as long as he wanted, and then
I cut stick for Blanch and-Sandgate.'
He seemed to dwell upon the little
outing, and Alice, noticing this, fought
shy Of the subject.
swell, how do you like my naughty
mother now" he asked, ''if that Is a
fair question:
81 think she is the most gracefully
charming hostess I ever met, and you
ought to be proud Of her. You CON
veyed a wrong impression of her to
me the first time met you"
II am sorry if did," replied Frank
II did not mean to. Mother fell in love
knew she would. That is why I al
most begged you to sing"
When the hills of Sandgate were
visible he said, II have an hour before
the returning train and just time
enough to see you safely home" 49,
Alice looked at him with surprise.
Sand that is your idea of my hospi-
tality," she exclaimed, ito let you go
away like that? The morning train is
the earliest one you can escape on,
and if I am not good enough company
for you this evening, you can go and
call on Abby Miles,
What surprised and glad old lady
Aunt Susan was when the two stepped
off the train.
"Don't mind me, Aunt Susan" Frank
said with easy familiarity. 81 am not
& visitor, I am a big brother escorting
lone sister home"
How kindly that wrinkled face
beamed on him behind her spectacles
while he insisted that she stand By
and let him unharness and see to the
horse as she directed. And how will
ingly he carried baskets of wood in
and started the parlor fire.
Il did not know you could make
yourself so useful" Alice observed.
When supper was over he asked her
all manner Of questions about her
school, when she meant to open it
again, how the old miller was, what
had become Of the boat, how the mill
pond looked in winter, and had she
been there since the day she gathered
lilies. always back to that spot" she
thought
When he asked her to sing "The
Last Rose Of Summer" she exclaimed
with pretty pout: 81 do not want
to sing that. 1t reminds me how scared
I was when 1 sang it last"
'But you brought tears into most Of
our eyes that night
do you want to weep again?' she
asked archly, looking up at him and
smiling. IF you say you do, I will
sing it,
NO." he answered, and then hesitat-
ing moment added: II do not feel
that way tonight. I may when train
time comes tomorrow"
Her eyes fell, and rising quickly,
like scared bird anxious to escape,
turned away
But strong hand clasped one Of
hers, and then she heard him say: cam
to go away tomorrow happy or mis-
cradle? You know what I came up
here to ask. You know what I have
worked and studied and waited for all
the long year since first saw you and
for whom have tried to become a
useful man in the world instead of an
tdler. 1t was to win you and to ask
this that came here today"
Then she felt an arm clasp her waist
and voice that trembled little say:
answer me, sweet Alice, is it yes or
no?"
And then he felt her supple form
yield trife, and as he gathered her
close in his arms her proud head
touched bis shoulder.
CHAPTER XII.