The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1869-08-05

broke quietly and eoldly on the beach,
and the boughs were bare and gloomy
above me as sat alone. l remember
ed the beauty Of everything on that
day. 1t was only FIVE years ago, and 1
vas child in every ~ay, as I stood be-
side them silently feeling the peaceful
ness Of the summer afternoon in that
still, shady spot ; but it was nearer to
my memory, than that day only three
months ago, when l had turned from
him opassionately, and thrown away his
nag; and then I waited, thinking
thinking, no need to tell with how
much paia-of the time s'nce then.
Nat had not been long away when 1
heard bis step returning, but I did not
turn to look until it came quite close.
! The tall figure bowed With weakness,
the white and weary-lookiog face were
| not Nzt's, and I started and turned
pale.
81 beg your pardon, Miss Black
wood Your brother eaid he would
follow if I would walk this WY. I
would not have disturbed you if ] had
known. l beg your pardon"
Mt even yet! .... My heart
stood 80 still could not answer; could
only look wonderingly into the chang
ed face.
"Piease to tell him I have passed
on"
Pass on so! Ny cry rang through
the trees. "Errol, Enrol, I cannot bear
itw
Motionless-before me, looking now
intently in my face, be waited.
"Ob, Enrol, if I may comfort you, 1
! wil!-indeed I WILL"
4 quick, sudden drawing of his
breath and one step towards me; that
was all-no softeniog Of the stern, white
face.
"Erro1, may I tell you something Of
| the love Of my life ~
:'Yes, do, that it may break my
heart at once twill be fitting end"
''Lons ago l gave my love to some
one so entirely, 20 uuchangeably, that
now, because he has taken his from me,
my heart is breaking"
He raised his hand as if to put me
away from him, and spoke through his
closed teeth. This is pity for me-
Only pity"
"Not pity, Enrol, for when I offer
you the love you used tc prize, I will
not be content without the love l used
to prize, and would prize COW if it were
mine."
A sudden aud wonderful change lad
come into his face, and after moments
pause he drew me to him with a pas
sionate tenderness.
"My love, NJ; love! in my weakness
aud misery you have brought me
strength and happiness. I feel so low
my pure, pure little love, can you
forging. it?'
II feel, Enrol, as If it never had
been"
"My brave, true-hearted: little girl !
I never dare have spoken-never dare
have told you that my love for you was
killing me that it rose in all its
strength to torture me from the moment
you spurned it. Oh, how I wronged
you, Madeleine but l have suffered
more than you can ever know"
The agony Of his love and penitence
made me fear for him while he was so
weak. 'sErrol, will you 50 in now and
rest ?"
He held mc still and gazed into my
eyes.
"1he beautiful, truthful eyes Of old.
IF they had not come back to me, 1
must have hidden myself from them
forever Mayda, this was where l first
looked into them and saw their lowell
ness 1t vas a childish, merry face
then, with all its dreamy look upon the
sea, and there Is the childish look upon
it still. Five years ago, and the little
| lace with Its wondering, admiriug eyes
has haunted this spot ever since. 1
often thought was here in my illness ;
Nat knew, and said I must walk here
first. But could I ever dream that this
should be'a reality? I, SO unworthy.
i My darling, how shall I thank God for
this p He stood little while, silent
and bare-headed, and because I thought
I knew why it was, I thanked Hin too.
Then Enrol bent down once more
:How shall know all this is not 4
dream, Mayda, unless you will take
itp
. He drew something from his breast
!, and looked into my face. Ny own ring
, the ring I 50 eo1temptuously drow
3 of before. !
"When did you fud it-how !"
THAT very evening, alter al were
gone. l put it sacredly away even then,
though valued 50 little, 50 cherished
+ since"
held out my hand aud he put it on
:. once more, and then We went to mee'