The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1868-07-16

| &OO, SoA W ~ OUt III Oue 1asu1O0-
IS your husband Will you oyerlo,
all those peculiarities in my temp
which used to annoy you'll fear, ar
take what there is of true and good
me! Can you, will you do this ?"
i He looked at me in doubt, All th
was one of my bitterest moments. q
cared SO little for me, that he had ne,
er seen, never suspected, how much
loved him. And he expected me
take him SO. I clasped my hands an,
: twisted them neryously; I could no
speak at once.
"And you, Mr. Thompson" I sai'
at las.-'Fand you" NH,
i "Wel5 whatabout me? Do you NEAR
can I, too, do this % ,.
eyes; can you DO it?
"Why surely-else I had never pro
posed it,"
| He half smiled at the doubt nv
question implied, and looked at me as
he smiled. Both look and smile exas.
peratea ne.
"Mr. ihompson,"I said, eze1tedly,
Il have not deserved this. Carlo, come
here"
My poor shaggy Carlo came forward,
wagging his tail. He laid his head on
my knee, and looked up at me wistful-
y and fondly, as only dogs can look
when they vainly seek to read the
meaning of a human face.
"He was an outcast," I said, looking
at Mr. Thompson be was starving
he came to this door; I fed him, and
he would not leave it. I took pity on
him gave mat to lie on and a crust
to eat. He loves me for it; but, Mr.
Thompson, I am not quite SO low as to
be brought to this poor beasts level-I
can take care of myself"
Mr.. Thompson threw himself back
in his chair, and uttered a dismayed
whistle as I made this free commentary
upon his proposal.
"Well, WE'LL" he said recovering
slowly, II can understand that you
should not care for me-but I did not
expect you would take it So"
"And how could take it ?" cried.
"You give me PITY scorn pity. All,
Mr.: Thompson, if I were not the poor,
forlorn girl I am, would you feel or
speak so? Do you think do not know
how rich girls are wooed and wcl.? IF
you care an atom for me, world you
dare to come to me with such Ian
guage?"
"What language?"
"Waat did you mean by taking care
Of me?"
"What I sale. Yes, Augusta, I wish
10 take care of you-true, fond, loving
,are nothing shall make me unsay it."
He spoke warmly, and manly glow
rose to his face; but I would not give
in, and I said, angrily, that I did not
want to be taken care of.
"Do let us drop these unlacky
words" he entreated "and do tell me
you will marry me, yes Or no.
Let it be, if you like, that I want you
to take care Of me. I am much older
than you are, you know"
l don't know what possessed me. l
said stNo." Oh! how I would have
liked to recall the word, but it was spo-
Ken, and he rose with a clouded and
disappointed face. He fingered little,
md asked to know why it was No and
not Yes? I said we could not be hap
py together. He bowed gravely and
left me. I suppose he was hurt, fer he
did not add word. No assurance of
friendship, Of goodwill, no hope that
[ would -e!ent or change my mind,
passed his lips. The door closed upon
him. I heard the garden gate fall to,
and I felt in sort Of stupor. It was
over. What madness had made me
Danish him? Every step took him
away further from me-never-never
again-should We meet. Perhaps he
would not have left me then, if could
have said to him, Il cannot be happy
with you because I love, and you do
not; because my pride aud my love
would suffer all day long if were
your wife; because it is easier to do
without you than to have you on these
terms" If I could have said all this,
would our meeting have ended thus?
It was too late fo@ : think of that now,
but it was not too late to suffer. I bur-
led my face in the pillow Of the couch
on which I was sitting, and cried and
sobbed as my heart would break.
Poor Carlos cold nose thrust in the
hand which hung down BY my side in
the folds Of my dress reused me. I
looked up, aud saw Mr.. Thompson
He was very red, and seemed fur
ried.
II have forgotten my umbrella" he
said, little nervously.
Yes; there it was in the corner, that
horrible umbrella Of his but, instead
of going to look for it, he suddenly
came and sat down on the couch by
me. lido not know how I looked, but
1 felt ready to die with shame. He
took my hand and kissed it.
"My dear Miss Raymond" he said,
persuasively, "why should We not be
happy together? ( cannot bear to
give you up, indeed I cannot"
I looked at him in doubt