The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1868-11-05
CHAPTER III,

Will went to war. The regiment
being nearly full when he enlisted was
ordered off in very few days. And
he did not see Lou again, for she was
i'll all those days from the shock AID
injury received at the launch. Marian
Wood he did see, and that often, and
when fretted about it and told hiu,
she was artful, and asked him whether
he meant anything at ali of what be
had said to Lou, he only laughed and
said, "Be very sure, little sister,
shall not tell you all l mean."
And now he was gone, dear, brave
brother Will! I missed him, hoped
for him, wept for him, every day, and
yet, somehow, all the while there was a
strange, sweet happiness creeping into
my heart, and sending songs and smiles
70 my lips. For the. last-fex months
had been shyly dreaming efahepeard
Cleveland, scarcely knowing him, bu,
from my distance Imagining him in Iced
my hero! And now my hero was COM
ing nearer and nearer-his visits were
frequent, and all sorts of dainty little
attentions, sweeter than spoken words,
made me happier than Cleopatra when
Antony Was truest. Oh, how I loved
him l may as we'll say it, I cam,
bear eoncealment. Cleopatra dissolved
her pearls'in Antony's wine, didn't she?
Well, one day broke all the pearls out
Of the brooch Aunt Ellen gave ne
years ago, aud I dropped them into a
glass of wine and hid it away till eve
ming. When Leonard came and was
going again gave it him.
"Winc to me, Ernie? ? happiness to
yor then = and he drank it.
"Why! what are these little gray
stones in the bottom of the glass? he
exclaimed.
"My rearls,' I whispered, ashamed.
He stood still a moment, amazed.
Then winding his arm about me he
said:
"Ernie, Ernie, my darling child,
keep your pearls to yourself No man S
life is wine rich enough to deserve
such treasured"
Oh, what Of mine in the wide world
would not have laid at his feet
Next day he brought me a ring, with
one great, white moony pearl in it, 6lmy-
eyed.
'This is only half-eugagement ring
Ernie, will you take it?" he said. IL
would not SO wrong you as to ask the
promise Of your whole life and heart
now,-not till you know me better.
Some day I shall ask you to wear an-
other ring for my sake. But let this
be little link between US, Ernie. Last
night J ~ gave mo love- -philter, YOU
understand
So the pearl made proud "the fingers
of this hand wherewith write.''
This ha'f.ensagcment was to be
secret Of course. My cup Of happiness
was too full, too sweet,-and now
Marian Wood must mingle a little
poison in it.
We all met at a large party d few
nights after ; very large party, one #
the crowded kind, where one keeps los
ing and finding people in all sorts Of
unexpected ways. 1t was a brilliant
scene; promenadlug, music, dancing,
and comic. Mine was tragic.
Leonard had soon found me out, and
We walked up and down the rooms, till
at length We paused to enter curtained
recess. There stood Marian Wood,
though two minutes before am con-
viuced l saw her three rooms off, cor
ncred in the library by prosy Mr.. lin
nett. But here she stood, calm, still,
ldstrous! She greeted me with a
sweet "Good evening, Ernie," then
turning eagerly to Leonard, exclaimed: :
"You love pictures, Mr.. Cleveland I