The St. Cloud journal., 1868-11-12

~ .
IL: the grass, and scted, impromptu, !;
iF1ittle drama Of Merlin and Viveo, :.
dra~ing circles about bin, ind rnutte,
in : mystic sentences, but Merlin xxoul,
not be eoeh.ated; and sudae1l55 spiiog
i"g up-we wcre hesr a stream-hi
'eaped over upon = large rock ID tn,
middle OF the current where r could no
follow. So l sat on the bank, and T.,
please him sang little songs to ,Lt
waves and Naiads. Till at lenvth y,,,
party were all called together again. ano
in the purple twilight We wandered
home
"Max," I sail, that evening. as h,
sat at the table, idly skttchiny with :
pc" the dearest little grim imp, al
curled up to keep from falling, riding
through the sky in the crescent the
youog moon
"Mar," 1 said, "you were so good
not 10 take the knot from Marian,
Wood ~ - -.
""hy," aud he opened his eyes a.
me wonderingly.
81 don't like her, I dou't like her.
she trightens me when she comes near
me, she always spoils my pleasures
Don't ever call on her, Max, don't ever
like her !.:::j. r: -: ...--
"Nonsense, Ernie;". and she sketched
on meditatisely, making the little: imp
hideous with a grin on its face.
Nov, how foolish l vas to talk to
him 50, and arouse bis interest !. in ibis
girl! :,
By-aud-by he looked up at ue again
"Eruie,: this Miss Wood" Che. had
been thinking Of: her :then,) "must
nave done you some great injury to
make yoa feel so towards her,"
"Ob, no." L answered, deceitfully.
r. He did not seem 10 notice my answer,
and said nothing more: AT length the
imp vas fnished, thrown into my hands
and be began to walk about the room
Aimlessly, now and then stopping to let
his hand play idly over the piano.keys
in some wild strain Of his own impro-
'vising~-now and then pausing before
some portrait or landscape picture
till at length he fingered near ny own
little book-table, taking. up one book
after another, and rapidly turning the
leaves. Many of them Leonard had
given me in those days, really so little
while ago, but which seemed separated
from me by gulf of ages. Oo the
blank leaf Of these books was 10 every
case written, "Ernestine from l.. c."
At last. NJ Ak took Ills hat to 90 out ;
and passing me as I bent over ny work,
just touched my cheek with his hand ,
a sweet little caressing motion that filled
n'y heart with content all the rest of
the evening.
r:,...r:;. :: ~: -z"::..-. :S.:!-' =
"Come home soon, Max" called
after him. -. g.
'>"Oh, yes, Ernie ="
But he :di,Pt come home 5000. not
till nearly midnight l was halt asleep
when I heard his step on the veranda.
Next morning as he was preparing his
palette for the days work of beautiful
coloring, he asked in an Indifferent
manner.
"Elnie, is Mr.. Cleveland a great
friend OF Marian Wood"
"Yes," | said With an effort; then
trying to be very natural asked, "Why?
what makes you think SO, Max ?' -.
"Oh, only I met him there last eve
ming"
"0b, Max, wee you at Marian
Wood's w'.:.:.< s:-:. IS :.
"Yes, L dropped in there for while;
shc'sa very entertaiuin & girl to call co."
Max gone oger to the enemy What
did: I do but burst into tears !!
:":Ernie, you are very FOOLISH" he
said, little stelnly; lit I had known
you would have cared 50 50 much, I would
not have: told you."'. -: : - =
That didn't mend matters much.
He did not say he would not have gone,
only he would not have told me. So I
marched off to my own room, ard was not
agreeable again till dinner time, 1 Won
dor if I shall ever learn self-control.
It's policy to do it, that's evident, for
mankind don't seem to care the least
bit for all . woman's little pet feelings,
faneies, and prejudicee. ;: =. &, {: