The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1866-09-13

ulted, giorled IN the tnoQgot OF the
goodness and sacredness Of its. object.
Now he, beheld her, degraded past
making herself. conspicuous
in most unwomanly manner, guilty
of . frightful weakness, the center of
and laughing assemblage. He
groaned, like q persoa trying to throw
off nightmare. No one heard him
fortunately the attention being direct
ed in another direction: He looked
about to see Why the friends of Miss
Marshall did not take her away, and
prevent her condition from being so
publicly proclaimed. Then he remem-
bered that she: had told him, earlier in
the evening, that her mother was pre-:
vented, by severe headache, from act
ing as their chaperone, but that her
cousin Annie and herself had come to-
gether in the carriage, and the coach
man was to call for them at one o'clock.
He saw Annie, standing, like HIMSELF.
a little apart from the crowded circle,
gazing at her cousin with sort of fas-
cinated, intensely riveted stare, as if
too much astonished: to more or speak
Her eyes never left their fixed, singu-
lar gaze, upon, the i: face Of
the girl, who now provoked fresh
burst of merri,nent, by taking off the
pyramid Of macarooas, shaking it, and
setting It back saucily ON her head, af-
ter the manner of clowns at the circus {:
then drawing her face down to the. In
tesssab 1sss@bls le1edit4, 5asking # she did not
!: '"My God if that had been my
pife p He caug ght his breath, as if
cold water had been dashed over him.
Then and there, in his heart, he dis
owned any further acquaintance with
Miss Marshall. That beautiful face
would have tempted some men to for
give almost any fault, but he could not
forgive. Making his way to Miss Kirk
land, he spoke rather sternly.:
- "Why do you not get your cousin
out Of the room, Annie ? Persuade her
to 70 up stairs, if possible"
."Oh, Mr.. Thornton" replied she,
turning toward him that dark, peculiar
face, which he had never liked, II was
50 overcome I didn't know what to say
or do. What ,oiH her mother say when
she hears of it? She never liked to
trust her out alone! but to night she
was bert upon coming (because ssoes
were to be here, I SUPPOSE and this is
tho consequence s'-with an air Of great
distress.
"You do not mean to say that Helen
is in the habit"
"No; oh no! I did not intend-1
would not, for the world, be the first to
awaken your-oh, dear! what am I say
ing2 Yes, Mr.. Thornton, I will coax
her up to the dressing room"
: AT that moment Miss Marshall put
her hand TO her forehead with a bewil-
dered air; the spectators thought it part
Of the performance, but she stepped
down from the pedestal, removed her
crown OF sweets. and. pressed forward to
her: cousins side. = :..-
"Aunie, what have I been doing7"
'"Amusing your friends, Helen, shall
We 60 upstairs 7" l-:..'.
She answered with 4 laugh SO silly
that Thornton turned away from the
vacant, foolish couutenance, with dis
gust too deep tor words.
Aanje took her by the arm and hur-
ried her UP to the dressing room, where
she sunk into . stnpid slumber upon
the bed, from zhieh she was with diff
entity aroused when the carriage was an-
nounced: The hostesi herself came up
and helped her on with cloak and hood,
summoned MIR. Kole Oyl to conduct
the ladies to their carriage, and did what
she could to conceal the lamentablc
state of the young lady. But gossip
had seen enough, and too much Miss
Marshall was the favorite topic the rest
Of that night, and for the next mine
days. The name which had been spo-
ken only with admiration and respect,
was mentioned in that Blasting whisper
which withers whatever feminine repu-
tation it breathes upon. Mr.. Thornton
was obliged to hear a great deal more
than he wished. Any .allusi on. to Che
subject in 'his presence made him writhe
With hidden haln. until hA ceased To- 90
out, con6ning himself to his business
or bis toarding-house. :: i ;
:" A fortnight passed, and he had not
yet called upon Miss Marshall to give
her a formal release from their engage
ment. He could not; he was tortured
by love more than pride. When he
tried TO call up coutemptito wrestle with
affection, he. could only picture her as
on tho evening Of, thoir betrethal, g,v-
ing heiself to him ssgally, Nth infiaite
love, and sweetness, ret with the reserve;
Of tho purest, ,mai4enly dignity. FremI
that later vision Of the yine. e.orowned
reyeli he turned sway With shudderipgs
One morning he received = note direct:
ed in the hand ho knew: 50 well it wai
: briei request from his a6anced that
he would call on her that Safe esynoon Il
four gelopk He determined o. 60,