The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1869-04-01
MARGARET MERLYN.

| WRITTEN FOR TIE ST. CLOUD JOURNAL,
! BY MRS. JANE G. SWIssHELM.
| CHAPTER XVIII.
JUDGE KNox's OPINION OF TIE STU
| ALTON, AND WHAT CAME OF 1T.
| AS Margaret walked homeward, a
brisk firm step overlook her and Judge
Knox vas at her side. She had seen
him for the FIRST time at the meeting
she had just left. His voice and man.
ner was that of man who knows he is
acting an important part in the world,
and is fully resolved to make both him
self and it the better for his having
been here. His face could best be de-
| scribed by the one word "shrewd."
His HAIR was grey, and he walked with
stout gold-headed cane, gift from a
Sunday School association. AS he
came up he said:
"Excuse me, Miss ss"-and hesitatcd,
"Merlyn" she supplied. ayes, yes,
Miss Merlyn, I believe I do not remem-
Der names quite so we'll as I did twenty
years ago; but my friends Mr.. and
Mrs. Granger, have told me of you,
and know you quite well. I intend
ed getting an introduction at the meet:
ing, but you saw 1 was engaged every
minute;" he had been Secretary; "and
so have been left to introduce myself;
but we western people do not stand on
ceremonies"
Margaret received his advances cor
daily, and noticed that in talking he
frequently threw back his head, or
rather raised it quickly as though his
lower jaw did not fall readily; and he
must lift the upper to open his mouth
wide enough for an interjectional ex-
preston to get freely out. In doing so
he usually passed his fingers under his
cravat as though to relieve the pressure
on his threat. When be closed his
mouth he shut in all the red portion of
the lips which gave it the appearance
Of a crack across his face, with dent
at each end. He was evidently char
acter; odd and interesting. After 60
ing through the motion described he
continued:
"You are Miss Mcrlyn, Margaret
Mcrlyn, and I am John Knox-good
old name, but the mantle did not fall
| with the name. They call me Judge
Knox because they elected me once TO
Probateship in new country where
was then living. The title sticks
when the Office is gone; am nothing
but lawyer now, been in practice for
th'rty.fve years; and got pretty well
used to the ropes. What do you think
of our meeting to.day?'
"Gh, I am rejoiccd at the result" :"
she replied.
"Hem" said he, closing his lips to
a crack, and striking the pavement
with his cane, then throwing up his
head, and passing his fingers ulder his
cravat he added: "We must wait for
the results"
"Thcre needs no waiting to know
Miss Ironton is dismissed" said Mar.
garet.
"But will she go?" he said, looking
straight before him and vigorously
swinging his cane.
II was afraid she would disregard
any action Of the meeting; but this
was so emphatic, and Mr.. Baxter taking
such a stand, how can she remain ?"
"Simply, by remainingv' was the
reply; and he continued, "Baxter's :
good fellow, gave hundred dollars tt
make his wife and sister Honorar,
Members Of the Association, allow!
them to use his name in their publi'
appeals for funds, and all donations arr
sent to his care. The loss of his sup
port would be quite blow, but he il
no match for Miss Ironton. Miss Au
gustus Ironton, niece Of the Hon. Au
gusta 1ronton-not a bit of it!' ant
throwing up his hand he snapped hi
fingers, saying: "she doesn't care tha
for his resolution" and he settled hi
; chin in his cravat.
"But," said Margaret, cit is the res
olution Of the society,""
"All ono! all one - he exclaimed
eff it were the resolution of two socie
! ties, aud the general assembly of tn
saints, or sinners either. Societies d
not amount to row Of pins in clos
fight, or in fact in any way except rails
ing funds. Some individual Away
controls the society or runs the ma
a chine. Miss Irontou runs this one
and has an object In it. The societ
mocts, passes its resolutions and the
its managers 60, the one to his farm
> the other to his merchandise; as
). said to my little congregation last Sur
day evening, tor you arc perhaps ava,
that I add to the profession Of the la