The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-04-01
Written for the Pioneer.
AFTER MANY DAYS.

Good Heavens! Caroline, what is the
matter?" cried Mrs Grey, as her cousin,
white and trembling, LEANED Tor support
against the frame Of picture, the merits
of which che had been discussing in the
most animated manner moment previous
to the opening of our tale.
Receiving no reply Mrs. Grey led, al
most carried, her companion toward an
open window, where, by the aid of fresh
air and glass of water procured by an
attendant, Miss Fenton, after the lapse
of few moments, was so tar recovered
as to be able to reach without assistance
the carriage which was in waiting.
An hour afterwards as the two ladies
were seated at their sewing in the pleasant
morning room of Mrs. Gray's luxurious
mansion. that lady, after lengthy silence,
asked suddenly, "What could have caused
You such sudden faintness, Caroline ?"
"It must have been the heat of the
room, Think" replied Miss Fenton, but
she colored deeply, and did not raise her
eyes 10 meet her Cousins enquiring glance.
"And I think, :" answered Mrs. Gray de-
cidedly, "that it could not have been the
heat of the rooms, for there was no crowd
and the rooms were delightfully."- cool. In
deed. l had no idea that u Academy
could be such l)unging place-it has al
ways been perfect jam since the first open-
ing" Receiving no reply, she continued:
If it were not 80 very absurd should
say that your emotion was caused by the
sight of that tall, handsome man who
passed us as ] was expatiating SO elo-
quently upon the color of Cleopatra's
robe. was sure that your eyes followed
him until he passed ont at the upper door,,
then you turned white and faint, and l
thought you would have fallen to the
floor"
Miss Fenton made no reply. but the
blush which once before had lent a richer
bloom to her cheek and lip, now deepened
and spread until it dyed the blue veined
temples and white forehead with crimson,
and tinged the small ear and delicate
throat with its ensanguine1 hue.
"Why, Caro-" cried her ccu>in 81
must have guessed secret. "A hidden
romance! Who could have thought it of
my staid Cousin Caroline!' Then seeing
that the eyes of her friend were suffnsed
with tears, she dropped her bantering tone,
and bending ever SO that her arm might
clasp her cousins waist, she said in tones
of loving entreaty, "Do tell me, Caro-
line, have l guessed aright?"
eyes, Mattie," was the gravely spoken
reply. "Bu: do not question me. Some
time / will tell you all; but not now,
darling, not now," and gathering up her
work Miss Fenton sought refuge in her
own room.
That evening Mrs. Grey after many re-
monstrances left her cousin to attend a
party given by mutual friends, but to
which Miss Fenton, still suffering from her
Mornings indisposi'ion, felt herself unable
to accompany her.
Later in the enening, fatigued with dan
eng, she left the crowded ballroom, and
retiring to the library joined group who
were discussing some foreign views which
iay upon the table. Singly or in pairs her
irlends mad at length all left her, and fam
cying herself alone in the room. she lean
ed back In the corner of the sofa. and her
tnoughts reverting to her cousin. sick and
alone, she tell to speculatiDg upon the ro-
nance to which she hal that morning
found the key; Gradually she became
conscious that she had for some time nast
been the object OF prolonged i1 store e@S, on
the part OF some one near her. Ra;s;na
her eyes suddenly, she beheld leaning 1 on
tne man,lesnel', 1sa ne ana attentively regarding
hoop fhinRiuO cnO Aou