The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1869-11-04

: "l know Mr. Loier admired you ,
, FIRST, he has told me SO, but he resign
! sIl claim, and I will wait any length {
time for your answer. Here is Mi.
Caroline, who will help me to pray to
your favor" :,.s
Miss Caroline having just discovere
her recreant gallant; had hurried to bi
side, aud all to hear her intercession II
qucsted in bis behalf with her cousin
} Slow to understand 10 any case, sh
seemed completely ! 'dazed in this, an
} looked from one to the other with a
expression Of dawniug d,smay aud dis
traction that was laughable to behold
~"You mem to-to MARI Esther =
she gasped. "You really mean it =
and unable to conceal her confusio,
and despair, ehe fed from the room i,
haste without regard to the commeut
Of observers. This brought Esther t,
sense Of the necessity for self.:ontrol
She was quiet instantly, and dismissine
Mr.. Barretto and his suit with sudden
unceremoniousness, she mingled with
the guests and sustained the part o.
gracious hostess till the last one depart
ed.
Then standing alone, she gave way
to her own excitement and distress in q
strong, nervous burst Of feeling. Mrs.
Loder had run up to Caroline's room,
hearing Of threatened Mysteries, and
Frank had somehow slipped out Of
sight with the last departure, but Tom
was close beside her, and to him she
turned with sudden and uucontrolla-
BILE impulse.
"Oh, Tom, dear Tom,'' she cried
falling on his shoulder, "you are good,
true soul, and I thank heaven I have
you to turn to in this miserable, de-
ccitful world"
No one who knew his daily life of
quiet, selt-sacri6cing struggle with bus
mess cares, his few pleasures and entire
absence Of self-indulgence would ac-
cnse Tom Loder of idle sentiment. 1t
was strange sight therefore to see him
turn deadly pale and tremble as he
held the excited girl moment in his
arm.
ESTHER" he stammered and shook
so tha: he could scarcely utter the
words, "Esther, will you trust me
will you rely on me? God knows I
love aud honor you with my whole soul,
and the devotion of my life is at your
SERVICE"
She looked up quickly, and catching
sight of the face that expressed even
more than the words uttered, withdrew
from bis side aud sank into chair near
by.
81 do not ask you to say word, Es-
ther,' he went on with greater self:
command !; II am sorry I spoke my
mind, for l never meant you to know it
but one thing I must tell you; ard
L earnestly trust you will believe 1t.
Whatever makes you happiest or gives
you greatest joy or peace, l. will. labor
to accomplish with all my power, even
if it should deprive me Of tho greatest
treasure of my lite, the sight Of your
face -"
"Good heaven" said Esther, sighing
deeply; "you mean that you love me.
Was ever a girl SO wretched, under 50
much devotion !"
But that was her excited conclusion.
Stupg to the soul by the per6dy of the
one she had been striving to teach her.
self to love; astonished by the professed
regard Of the gentleman she had laugh
ed over as Carries victim she was too
much overcome By her position to
think coolly, and so she remsined in her
own room tho next morning without an
swering the summons to breakfast, try
ing to understand herself clearly and
uuravel the last thread Of deceit and
arti6ce that surrounded her. 49,. T..
Peters voice at the door interrupted
her 10 the task. He announced an ar
rival-uncle Wood)eigh was in the par
lor desiring to speek with her.
She spraug up, and without even
a preparatory glance in her toilet-mir-
ror, rushed impulsivcly down and threw
herself into his arms
"Oh, Tn so glad, SO truly glad to see
you, uncle Woodleigh," she cried, sob:
bing convulsively; ri think the world
has turned the wrong way since I saw
you last. feel as if it had whirled
me with it; and I'm thankful to catch
hold Of an honest, reliable friend to
steady myself BY"
"What's all this" said the old mau,
laughing. II hear from Tom Fenley
chat you've sent Frank adrift, and arc
going to marry that young fellow Bar
rctto ; while poor Frank is, obliged to
console himself with the sister," .
Ho looked from ono to the other as
he spoke. They were all there-over a
lite breakfast; and Ms. Loder. alone
seemed disposed to avoid discussion.
esther has behaved shamefully,"
c>:ed Carrie, spitofully. ".s.-. ~.1
"Esther has suited her own taste,"
said her brother Frank, with suavity. :,