The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1906-11-08
CHAPTER. XVIII.

more worldly wise than he was he
would have gone at once to Captain
Il Will Hallam. He would have told
that shrewdest Of shrewd men of the
world all that had passed between him
self and Tandy, and he would have
asked Will Hallam's advice as to what
course to pursue.
Instead Of that Guilford Duncan
went at once to Barbara. He had a
need Of sympathy rather than a need
of advice, and he had learned to look
to Barbara, above all other people in
the world, for sympathy.
He was still good deal disturbed in
his emotions when Barbara greeted
him on the little porch, and it was
rather confused account that he gave
her of what had happened.
II don't quite understand" said Bar
bara at last perhaps if you have a
cup of tea you can make the matter
clearer" and, without waiting for as
sent or dissent, she glided out to the
kitchen, whence she presently returned
bearing fragrant cup Of Oolong.
"Now," she said after he had slipped
the tea, "tell me again just what has
happened. You were too much excited
when you told me before to tell me
clearly"
"Well, it amounts to this" answered
Duncan. 'That scoundrel Tandy''-
"Stopw said Barbara in an authorita-
tive tone. "Never mind Tandy's char
acter. If you 60 off on that you'll nev-
er make me understand"
In spite Of his agitation Duncan
laughed. "How you do order me
aboutv'
"Oh, pardon me!' exclaimed the girl
in manifest alarm. II didn't mean to
do that. I would never think Of doing
such thing. I only MEANT
my dear Miss Barbara, I fully IN
derstand. I need ordering about to-
night, and heartily wish you would
take me in hand"
"Oh, but I could never presume to
do that!
II don't see why" answered Dun
can. "You are my good angel, and it
is the business Of my good angel to
regulate me and make me behave as
should"
but, Mr.. Duncan
"But Barbara"-it was the first time
he had ever addressed her by her CIV
en- name and without the "Iiss'-''you
know love you, or you ought to know
it. You know I want you to be my
wifo Gov thof
shall be free to tell you all my trou-
bles and to take your advice In all of
them. Say that you love me, Barbara!
Say that you will marry me!''
All this was in contravention of
Guilford Duncan's carefully laid plans,
as declaration Of love is apt to be so
long as women are fascinating and
men are human. He had intended to
put the thought Of his love for Bar
bara into her unsuspecting mind by in
genious trick and Device" It had
been his plan presently to escort her
to church, to the concerts that now and
then held forth at the Athenaeum, to
Mrs. Hallam's for a game of croquet,
to Mrs. Galagher's for the little dances
that that gracious gentlewoman gave
now and then even in the heat Of a
southern Illinois summer. He had
even chartered a steamboat and plan
ned to give picnic in the Kentucky
woodlands below Cairo, to which he
should escort Barbara. He had thought
in these ways to set the tongues Of all
the gossips wagging and thus to force
upon Barbara the thought of his love
for her
All was now spoiled, as he thought,
when he so precipitately declared his
love there in the vine clad porch.
Barbara was obviously surprised.
Duncan could not quite make out
whether she was shocked or not,
whether his declaration Of love pleased
or distressed her, for she made no an
swer whatever. Instead she nervously
plucked honeysuckles and still more
nervously let them fall from her hands.
Duncan was standing now and in
torture lest he had spoiled all by his
precipitancy. He waited as patiently
as he could for the girls answer but
it came not. Her silence seemed ON
nous to him. It seemed to mean that
she was shocked and offended by
declaration Of love for which he had
not in any wise prepared her.
But Duncan was a man of action.
1t was not his habit to accept defeat
without challenging it and demanding
Its reasons. So presently he advanced,
nassed bis arm around Barbara's waist
and gently caressed her forehead, as a
father or an older brother might have
done.
She accepted the caress in that spirit,
seemingly, and then she turned toward
the hall door, saying:
Good nightv'
But Duncan was not to be so baf-
fed. He had Numbered upon a dec
laratlon Of love-as most men do who
really love-and he did not intend to
80 away without his answer.
Don't saw 'GO0d nipht, votv ho