St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1864-12-29
COLDER f1rfIxs.

~ OLDhN rlrrlNs' n
"Now, Ray, seriously, you ARE not
vcxed with me- +, You yourself would
have been the htstst to bid tnc Co." a
I Far down the prccipitous ledge Of
the ,nountain path The valley .eethed
to swim 10 mists Of gold. while here aud
there, among the ovethangine tTstses, >
aeep.dyed sumach tossed its crest Of
crimson pla",es in the spicy aif. Of n'id
Octubsr and the coral.fed berries Of the
dogwood g,owed like burning Goals in
the tangled wilderness of the weods =
1t was . very pretty background for
wood ny'nph Or ha'nadryad, and R.ch.
sel Martins attitude WAS ,,nconsriously
artistic as she plnycd with the Wild
blue astcts that covered her little bas.
ket Of hickory nuts, spoils from tho
great old tree whose giant branches
overtopped the whole forest. L.. rs
She was plump and pretty, viii,
round wondering blue eyes and mouth
like magni6ed cranberry, while the
roses on her cheek seemed to come and
60 with every breath she drew, and the
faint touches Of sunshine on her brow
gave additional charm to her fresh rus
tic beauty. Mark Douglas leaned over
the twisted beech. root that separated
them, aud tried to take the brown hand
in his, but it vas drawn away with de-
cided quickness. '.'
cray, dearest - .>, 49,:
Ah, he did not see the blood mant,
ling to her cheek under the envious
shadows Of the atrocious Shaker bon
net"-he did not hear tho quick,
stormy throbb,ng Of the pe.ulent heart.
"Dearest l." ~" iudeed' When Ke.iah
Truman's beau never so much us went
to Boston without asking her leave,
and Charley jenkins had distinctly in.
tlmatcd that the whole programme of
his future existence was to he indicated
solely by Miss Martins wish Yes. 1t
was all very we'll for Captai" Mark to
stay ut ho'''c, officiating in the Home
Guard department; she liked the uni.
form, aud didn't object to the martial
ec'at. But to 90 down among the reb-
els without SO much as consulting her
inclination, the spoiled beauty though,
that was altogether different thing.
II see you are in no mood to discuss
this matter impartially just now, Rnch.
aeI, Captain Mark said, gravcly, Il had
thought, [ had hoped to find you feel
ing differently"
ain no mood T. Rachael colorcd no,
scarlet. What right had Mark Doug.
las to treat her like naughty child2
II beg your pardon, Captain Doug
las," she said, petulcn,ly; ut isn't a
all necessary to discuss matter 50 per
fcctly Indifferent to me-" H. 1.,u44J
! . Now Marx Douglas was only man
with all the io6rmities incident to man
kind. H. bit his lip, and his bro,
grew dark. ~
~-"Rachacl, you seem to have forgot
ten the engagement" .
! enlargement" she repeated sharp
y. Il am tired of m engasemcn
that only letters vne party while th'
other is free As air." *a.N
"Tircd !" He hesitated moment
Is, if vainly striving to command hi
voice: '.Do yol wish to be released
Ray ".~ -: p:
She did not -answer-perbaps. sh'
was not quite prepared for this pbas
Of affairs.
+ : "Tell me-yes or no" he demande,
sternly.
"Yes," she answered, with pettisl
abruptness. !
"Then good.by, Ray"
Gone? y Yes, ho was gone. Sh,
: watched him descending tho mountai,
side with quick, even strides under tb,
i scarlet ;draperies Of clinging vine,
through patches Of deep, still shade,
\ into belts of golden sunshine, until th,
: oxerhangius ',rock hid him from. he
view !; yet, i seemed % "di@oalta Is be
Iieve that be vas really gose.1l q 4 81
I She looked down at the tiny engage >ennlg.e;e
ment-ring that sparkled on bcr fore6n
!; ger simple turquoise set, in <yirgi,
1gold, whose blue gIimner shone diml,
through her tears-and she could no
but remember sthe tender words viii
which, he had placed it on her finger
3,"Let it. be 4 token between us. dear