The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1904-02-11
CHAPTER XIV.
WHAT NIGHT uAur or

In FL OhNlNG to my room, met
III Derringer in the hall, and it
6@3I struck me that he would like
| S to hear my news, since he had
known the young lady in New York.
Lucy Ann tells me that Miss La
moline is coming" saidI.
He was taken by surprise, but he. re-
covered in a moment.
"Coming" he echoed. "Shes here"
had just opened my door. He pass
ed me and entered the room.
"Here?' exclaimed. "Why, it wasn't
two minutes ago that Lucy Ann told
me-
Never mind what Lucy Ann told
you, said he. "She and your friend
Jimmy are merely two wheels in the
machinery. Listen to me, and you will
learn that Miss Lamoine was here be-
fore you or came'
l looked closely at him to make sure
that he was not the victim of a half
digested idea. His manner was COM
pletely satisfying.
1T is uncomfortable to me-" said he.
that you should not have recognized
her."
Il haven't seen her."
you have not met her face to face"
he rejoined, ''but you have seen her.
was on the point of telling you the
other day when you were writing to
your father, but for certain reasons I
| thought best to wait. In one particular
l was not quite sure of my ground"
"Derringer," said 1, walking up to
him and laying hand upon his arm,
you don't mean to tell me that Miss
Lamoine is the girl in the orchard?"
How can you doubt it," he return
ed. II recognized her almost imme-
diately.'
II can't believe it. Why. the girl is
| a blond"
Glow do you know? Did you ever
see her head? I mean, have you seen
1t here? Doesn't she always hide be-
| hind an umbrellay'
Its her Clothes" l protested. "She
wears colors BETTING the blond COM
plexion. I'm an ignoramus in such mat
tiers, but there are a few little hints
that fellow can't help getting. Still,
you know her better than do. I never
saw her except in New York.
"Nor l." answered he my acquaint-
ance is only few days longer than
yours. But it mattered more, perhaps"
"Derringer," said l, this thing has
come to a point where we must speak
straight out. Sentimental condolences
| between men are painful absurdities,
as a rule, but we seem to have acquir-
ed the habit. Is it possible that Miss
Lamoine is the girl you mentioned to
me when we first met here?"
II will answer yes" he replied,
though the main fact of the whole
matter remains still to be stated. From
the moment when I met the young
lady, at Cushing's house, had but one
| wish or hope in the world. Such things
do happen, you know"
Il am the last man to express doubt
of it, said l. ''Yet I think 1 was not
hurt so badly as you were.''
! Il wasn't hurt" he replied. do you
imagine that I regret it? No, sir. am
twice the man I was before, for any
useful purpose in this world. Do you
think have come out here to pine
away and die? Far from it, my friend.
l came to get bit Of grip on myself,
and I've got it, and now I'm going back
among the workers to show what can
do for the love of a woman who is
worth it,
my dear fellow" said l, why 20
back so soon? Upon my word, you
amaze me. If ever saw a man who
didn't look like gutter you're the
Individual. How can you give up like
this? AS l understand it, you haven't
given the lady half a chance You have
| had no refusal"
"She needs no question" said he sad
~. You have met her. Tell me- is it
necessary to speak word to her? Does
not she see straight into your heart as
easily as I look out of that open win
down.
Il used to think So" said l, "but
now. to be frank with you, have my
doubts. She has an innocent delight
in mystifcation. 1t pleases her to play
pretty tricks. Have you observed her
| brother?"
Derringer smiled a strange, sad
smile.
''She hasn't any BROTHER he said
| was pacing the floor and had pass
ed him. Turning quickly at this speech
Of his. looked beyond him through
| the window, and there stood Jimmy
Lamoine on the driveway. Without
replying in words pointed to the boy
Derringer's eyes rested for moment
upon James and then met NINE
"He is not her brother" he said. 'DO
you see any resemblance between
them2 No; and there isn't any. re-,
member your telling me that Lucy Ann
mentioned to you how much the boy