The St. Cloud journal., 1867-11-14

l.
lat home"
| She had brought out her books ard
arranged them before hc moved from
his desk. Coming at length in silence,
he drew seat beside her, and took the
open book out of her hands.
| "What have you prepared?"
"Those two pages.,,'' --~ - ...~
i He began to question her upon them
forthwith. She could usually answer
what he asked her, readily; to- day,
however, her thoughts we're evidently
/ vahdering.s aHs tried'n,ofe than once
% fix her attention, but still, 10 spite Of
thst, the lesson was i'll said. s~>:,, :, -
|. He put down the book 1T last. - (;
:s;sY ou are not well, o-day r. he ask.
YES, lam an vsll," 81; j; said, quiet. quiet
t "W hat are you thinking Of, then
Not Of your 1essonY' ~:.'s::.5>
| "No.''' She hesitated a: moment.
"Tell me-"
Il wanted to speak to you, Mr.. Lang
top,H' she said suddenly. "You we're
| very angry with my brother this morn:
ing"
"Wenr' -.
"You hurt him very much"
II meaut to hurt him"
"He is very young 60 =
"Youne or old, he did wlong.":
There was a pause. Mr. Langton
sat forward, leaning his dark face on
I.hisshand. -:
'ssWell ?' he said again.
Her eyes had. fallen: When he
questioned her; they looked back to bis
face; she began to speak again, and
gradually IS she spoke her check flush
ed hot and bright. L. .:,..:.
"Could: you not be little gentler
with, "a little less angry. with them
when they do wrong? I know that
they must be punished; I know that
Tom deserved to be punished today
but if you could be a little geptler |!
When you are angry every one misun.
derstands you. 0, Mr., Langton {" she
cried, "you do not know half of what
is said against you!"
The tesrs had sprung up into her
eyes; her earnest distress had filed
her face with look almost Of passion.
II cannot attend to all the fools
tongues in Brent, was his scornful re-
ply. "staud you by me, and they may
talk as they please"
"But could you not bear little with
them ?" she pleaded, timidly: "Mr.
Langton, you must not think that they
can do you no harm. They can harm
you; they send every. complaint they
have against you to the rectory. They
are saying already the poor girls
voice almost broke down-''they are al
ready saying that you will not be much
longer here"
GAY? are they saying that?" and
he laughed.
She gave him one sad look, and then
! dropped her head, and spoke no more.
Her clasped hands lay on her lap !;
presently as she sat, large tears tell
down and wet them. She never NOV
ed be also sat motionless She tho't
he did not know she was weeping, but
she was wrong there; he was conscious
of every tear she shed.
Quietly watching her, he let the ST.
lence last for several minutes; then
bending to her at last, he said these
words: ,,.,: ~, ?
.:1fi it comes to that,-if I am not to
Ibeh here much longer,-Margaret, will
tyoulet me leave Brent as poor as when
l came?' ...~
She started as he spoke, but she
neither replied to him ,.nor raised her
head. He did not Withdraw his look
from her; after few moments he
spoke again.
! Il have loved no woman before
You are my first love, Margaret. Will
you be my wife p:
She answered him then.
"What 40, 1 that you should ask M
this ?" she said, in an agitated voice
II am nothing but q poor, ignorant
GIRL. Oh no--no-now she cried
"Your wife must not be one like me =
"Margaret !" he said !. 4 {: .
She had not looked up till then, bu
, 1t that call, as if its passionate tender
: ness compelled her, she raised her face
EWhyt need was there to speak again
By her two hands hs drew her near {
him, and took her in his arms.
They told no ore Of their engage
'ment, for they knew the outcry tha
t would on all hands follow its discovery
=, and NO one suspected it. For thre
1 months they were infinitely happy.
;, Even in the school during thes
! months there was improvement. MAJ
!. garet's power over Mr.. langton wa
t very great; one word or one look fror
;. her, one touch of her hand, could sui
9 due him in his angriest and haughtiet
: moods; and, rendered pliable BY hi
+ love for her, be strove, and often strov
q successfully; to bend his pride aud cur
b his temper. Thus; for time, all thine
d went wonderfully well. But this ;hollo,
o kind of peace was not thing to las
. Margaret could not be always by bi
d side, or in bis sight; and one day {
d length, IN an unlucky hour, suddenl,
e without warning, the three mouth'
n TRANQUILITY expired.
!; MIR. Langton qua'reled with the re-
}; tor. The rector was really wrong in. ii
e ground Ct quarrel, and Philip right
b but Philip, in his indignation, forgot q
ol Difference due to him as his employ
stood up before him rs equal to equa
y and the end of that days business va
d that when the school.house was close
y in the afternoon, the key Of it went In
if the ,cctor's pocket. j ::
70 tie had written the sentence Of the
ID separation. Margaret knew that, but Il
a did not reproaeh him. They met toget
l. er that evening for the last time. At Il
G. foot, of the cliff beside the. sea, Whis
n had witnessed many meeting Of thsi