The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1906-03-29

Carewe's fingers shook even more yio-
lently than before as he released the
3oy's shoulder and gave him a friendly
tap on the head, at the same time smil-
ing beIevolently.
There, there" he said, bestowing a
wink upon the youngster. "Its all
right. 1t doesn't matter; only 1 think
I see the chance of jest in this. You
wait while read this little note, this
message that you found!' He ended
by winking again with the friendliest
drollery.
He turned his back to the boy and
opened the note, continuing to stand in
| that position while he read the two
| messages. It struck the messenger that
after this there need be no great
| shame in his own lack Of this much
vaunted art of reading, since it took
60 famous a man as Mr.. Carewe such
length Of time to peruse little note.
| But perhaps the great gentleman was
i'll, for it appeared to the boy that he
lurched several times, once so far that
he would have gone over if he had not
saved himself by lucky stagger. And
once, except for the fact that the face
that had turned away had worn an ex-
preston of such genial humor, the boy
would have believed that from it is
sued a sound like the gnashing of
| teeth.
But when it was turned to him again
it bore the same amiable jocosity of
! mouth and eye, and nothing seemed
to be the matter, except that those fin
gers still shook so wildly-too wildly,
| indeed-to restore the note to it's en-
| velope
'There," said Mr.. Carewe, ''put it
back, laddie; put it back yourself
Take it to the gentleman who sent
you. see he's even disguised his hand
tritle-ha, ha!-and I suppose he may
not have expected the young lady to
write his name quite so boldly on the
envelope! What do you suppose?"
II d'know," returned the boy. II
reckon L don't hardly understand"
mo, of course not" said Mr.. Ca
rewe, laughing rather madly. "Ha,
ha, ha! OF course you wouldn't And
how much did he give your
"Yayw cried the other joyously
'Didn't he go and hand me a dollarv'
"How much will you take not to tell
him that stopped you and read it?
How much not to speak Of me at all?''
"What?"
''It's foolish kind Of joke, nothing
more. I'll give you S. never to tell
any one that you saw me today
Don't shoot, colonelv' exclaimed the
youth, with a riotous fling of bare feet
in the air. cpl come DOWN.
you'll do it?'' .. H
''Five!' he shouted, dancing upon the
boards. Give! I'll cross my heart to
die never hear tell of you or ever
worldr'
Carewe bent over him. "No! Say,
God strike me dead and condemn me
eternally to the everlasting flames of
hell if ever tellv"
This entailed quick sobriety, though
only benevolence was in the face above
him. The jig step stopped, and the
| boy pOndered, frightened. 2 T.
'Have got to say that!'
Mr.. Carewe produced bank bill
about which the boy beheld a halo.
Clearly this was his day. Heaven
showed it's approval of his conduct by
an outpouring of imperishable riches
And yet the oath misliked him. There
was SAVIOR Of the demoniacal con-
tract. Still that was to be borne and
the plunge taken, for there fluttered
the huge sum before his dazzled eyes.
he took a deep breath. "'God strike
me dead,'" he began slowly, "'if I
ever i
mo. And condemn me to the ever
lasting flames OF hell - =
"Have got tor
Eyes"
"'And condemn NE toto the ever
lasting flames of-of hell if I ever
tellv"
He ran off, pale with the fear that he
might grow up, take to drink and some
day tell in his cups, but so resolved
not to coquet with temptation that he
went round block to avoid the door
of the Rouen House bar Nevertheless
the note was in his hand and the for
tune in his pocket
| And Mr.. Carewe was safe. He knew
that the boy would never tell, and he
knew another thing, for he had read the
Journal, though it came no more to
his house-he knew that Tom Vanrevel
wore his uniform that evening and
that, even in the dusk, the brass but
tons on an officers breast make good
mark for gun steadied along the
ledge of window. AS he entered the
gates and went toward the house he
glanced up at the window which over
looked his garden from the cupola.