The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1906-09-20
THE SPENDERS
A TALE OF THE THIRD GENERATION
By HARRY LEON WILSON,
By HARRY LEON WILSON.
Copyright, by Lothrop Publishing Company.

| among other things l had out this old
diary to burn, and I had found this,
written on my eighteenth birthday,
when 1 came out-the fond, romantic
secret ideal or a foolish girl-listen:
The Soul of Love wed the Soul Of
Truth and their daughter, Joy, was
born; who was immortal and in whom
they lived forever!'
"You see-that was the sort of moon
shine I started in to live. Two or
three times I was a grievous disap-
| pointment to my people, and once or
| twice, perhaps, was disappointed
myself. I was never quite sure what
I wanted. But if you think was con-
sistently mercenary you are mistaken.
II shall tell you something more
something no one knows. There was
man I met while that ideal was still
strong and beautiful to me-but after
I'd come to see that here, in this life,
1t was not easily to be kept. He was
older tran l. experienced with women
"a lover of women, l came to under
stand in time. I was a novelty to him,
a fresh recreation-he enjoyed all
those romantic ideals of mine. l
thought then he loved me, and wor-
SHIPPED him. He was married, but con-
stantly said he was about to leave his
wife, so she would divorce him. I
promised to come to him when it was
done. He had married for money and
he would have been poor again. I
didn't mind in the least. l tell you
this to show you that I could have
loved a poor man, not only we'll
enough to marry him, but to break
with the traditions, and brave the
scandal of going to him in that COM
mon way. With all I felt for him
should have been more than satisfied.
But I came in time to see that he was
not as earnest as 1 had been. He
wasn't capable of feeling what l felt.
He was more cowardly than Tor
rather, I was more reckless than he.
l suspected it long time; l became
convinced of it year ago and a little
over. He became hateful to me. I
had wasted my love. Then he became
funny. But-you see-1 am not alto
gether what you believed me. Wait a
bit longer, please.
Then l gave up, almost-and later.
/ gave up entirely. And when my
brother was about to marry that wom-
an, and Mr.. Shepler asked me to marry
him, I consented. 1t seemed an easy
way to end it all. I'd quit fondling
ideals. And you had told me 1 must
do anything could to keep Fred from
marrying that woman-my people
came to say the same thing-and
So"
IF he mad married her-if they were
married now-then you would feel free
to marry me?"
"You would still be the absurdest
man in New York-but we can't dis
cuss that. He isn't going to marry
her"
But he has married her,
what do you mean?"
II supposed you knew-Oldaker told
me as I left the hotel. He and your
father were witnesses. The marriage
took place this afternoon at the Ar
lingham."
you're not deceiving me?"
Come. come!-girl!'
'Ch, pardon me! please! Of course
I didn't mean it-but you stunned me.
And papa said nothing to me about it
before he left. The money must have
been too great a temptation to him
and to Fred. She has just made some
| enormous amount in copper stock or
something"
81 know. she had better advice than
l had. I'd Ike to reward the man
who gave it to her."
And l was sure you were going to
marry that other woman.
How could you think SOP"
| "Of course I'm not the least bit jeal-
ous-it isn't my disposition; but 1 did
think Florence Akemit wasn't the
woman to make you happy-of course
liked her immensely-and there were
reports going about everybody seemed
so sure-and you were with her so
much. Oh, how 1 did hate hertz
81 tell you she is a joke and always
was"
| IL 1uuuy-ludl CAdCLly WQdC
told Aunt Cornelia about that-that
man."
Lets stop joking, then"
How absurd you are-with my
plans all made and the day set@'
| There was a knock at the door, He
went over and unlocked it. Jarvis was
there.
'Mf. Shepler, Miss Avice.'
They looked at each other.
Jarvis, shut that door and wait out
side.'
Eyes, Mr.. Bines.''
"You can't see him.
"But 1 must-we're engaged, don't
you understand ?-of course I must!"
II tell you l won't let you. Can't you
understand that I'm not talking idly?'
She tried to evade him and reach the
door, but she was caught again in his
arms-held close to him.
III YOU like he shall come in now.
| 6scsN ~ ~ o0inr IN fol ~,@,,