The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1906-04-05

that she ought to, but that was only
because l masQueraded in your his.
tory. She wanted to tell me before 1
went away that there was no chance
for me. She was telling me that when
he called from the window. It was
at the dance, the night before, that she
knew. think there has been some one
else from the first-God send it's you!
Did you speak, to her that night or she
to you?"
"Ah, no." said Tom vanrevel "All
the others.'
Mrs. Tanberry and Betty and Mr..
Bareaud waited in the library, the two
women huddled together on a sofa,
with their arms round each other, and
all the house was very still. By and
| by they heard prolonged, PARKWAY
| cheering and the steamers whistle
and knew that the boat was off. Half
an hour later Will Cummings came
| back alone, entered the room on tiptoe
and silently sank into chair near Mr.,
Bareaud, with his face away from
Miss Betty. He was to remain in Rou-
en- another week and join his regiment
| with Tom. None of the three appeared
to notice his coming more than dimly,
| and he sat with his face bowed in his
hands and did not move.
Thus perhaps an hour passed, with
only a sound of footsteps on the gravel
of the driveway now and then and a
low murmur Of voices in the rear Of
the house, where people came to ask
after Crailey. And when the door Of
the room where he lay was opened the
four watchers started as at a loud ex-
plosion. It was Mrs. Bareaud and the
old doctor, and they closed the door
again softly and came in to the others.
They had left Crailey alone with Fan
chon and Tom Vanrevel, the two who
loved him best.
The warm day beyond the windows
became like Sunday. No voices sound
ed from without in the noon hush,
though sometimes little group Of peo-
pie would gather across the street to
eye the house curiously and nod and
whisper. The strong, blue shadows of
the veranda pillars stole slowly across
the white floor Of the porch in less
ening slant and finally lay all in
line, as the tall clock in a corner of the
library automatically coughed the hour
Of noon. In this Earring discordance
there was something frightful to Miss
Betty. She rose abruptly, and, imperi-
ously waving back Mrs. Tanberry, who
would have detained her-for there
was in her face and manner the incip-
lent Wildness of control overstrained to
the breaking point-she went hurried
ly out Of the room and out of the
house to the old bench in the garden.
There she sank down, her face hidden
in her arms; there on the spot where
she had first seen Crailey Gray.
From there, too, had risen the sere-
made of the man she had spurned and
insulted, and there she had come to
worship the stars when Crailey babe
her look to them, and now the strange
young teacher was paying the bitter
price for his fooleries, and who could
doubt that the price was a bitter one?
TO have the spirit so suddenly, cruelty
riven from the sprghtly body that was,
but few hours ago, hale and alert,
obedient to every petty wish, could
dance, run and leap; to be forced with
such hideous precipitation to leave the
warm breath Of June and undergo the
lonely change, merging with the shad-
ow; to be flung from the exquisite and
commonplace day Of sunshine into the
appalling adventure that should not
have been his for years, and hurled into
it by what hand-ah, bitter bitter price
for harlequinade! And, alas, alas, for
the brave harlequin!
A gentle touch fell upon her shoulder,
and Miss Betty sprang to her feet and
screamed. 1t was Nelson who stood
before her, hat in hand, his head deep
ly bowed ...
SIS he with you?" she cried, clutching
at the bench for support
'No'm," answered the old man hum
bly,. II reckon we all aim goin' see dat
man no no.
"Where is hep
ION de way, honey; on de way"
'"The way-to Rouen!' she gasped.
Nom; he goin' cross de big water"
He stretched out his hand and pointed
solemnly to the east. Him an me we
cotch de boat, an yo' pa mex 'em taken
de bosses on bode. Den I'VE git off at
Leeville, five mile down de rivuh, an
yo' pa hop de boat whiles ride back
alone an git de news, an what de tale
is you all is tole, fun ole Mist Chen
eth, an Mist Chen'eth, he rid back
wild me an see yo' pa at Leeville, an
dey talk in de shed by de landin', an
yo' pa tell Mist Chen'eth what range
ments he goin' make wild de property.
Den he git on de boat ag'in an dey
sto't her agoin', an he aim wave no
goodby, ner say no mo- wu'ds.
"N1ist' Chen'eth rid back whens de
light come, but he res de bosses an
come back slow, case I ponduh on de
worp, an l mighty sorry fer yo' pa,
| missy. He ain comm back no mo-,
honey, an Miz Tanberry an me an
Mamie we, goin' take keer er yo'. Yo'