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

~
: s1Ea.t<3 ."yu} II -,.-&'-
when he came home he was not sad
then so much as proud and stern; alto
gethcr unlike his old SELF He spoke
to her at once and went away again
thoughtfully, ! believe, for her sake
but Mrs: Mark left here directly at Ter
daughters bidding. They arc i'll London
now, as l hear"
"Tell me exactly what he heard there,
Nat"
ut seems, Mayda, that Erro! chanc-
cd to make the acquaintance Of the
very gentleman whom she had prolnis-
ed to marry as soon as be had received
the promotion he was then daily ex-
and Who held him engaged to
her."
"Did Mr. Cumberland tell her p
mo. He came home and told her,
as 1 said, and if she was not ashamed
then, I"1osder what would shame
her." n..s:4r- ~ .' +. at:t =
II always knew" said Lettie, "that
it was the wealth she cared for" q
."But3we don't know, Lettie; she
may have loved him really, though she
conld not have loved the other gentle
man,. .... ~%3 ,.*
ITO whom, navertheless,. she bad
betrothed herself" she added scornfal-
ly. ! 8. :.>.
"Where is he, Natw ..--. =.
:"'At home: now, da,ling, With his
father" e...:t- .l. = 3. ....:'
"Is cid Mr.. Cumberland very i'll ?"
.:"lIe has been !; he is a little better
now; Enrol has nursed him ;tendely
as a woman could have DONE"
!: "And how-how does he look HIM
self, Nat?" .-, ..
every unhappy-7ery much older
changed greatly. You must expect to
see that"
Ihave been looking closely, and l
see the change in myself quite as great.
Very unhappy, very old! Oh, is there
any comfort for him in the time to
come?
Saturday, November srd.-This
has been = day Of great anxiety to us
all. Nat was at the Towers until the
evening, when he cane home, telling
US Mr.. Cumberland was little better
and Enrol less hopeless about him,
though l did not think, from the way
he told US, that he himself was less so
at all.
He was resting on his low chair at
the fire, looking into it as usual with a
very thoughtful face-I'playios, as soft
ly as I could, ono of the Haudel's glo-
rious melodies-Lettie working and
Ben studying, both in the freight:
when the door opened aad my. heart
beat as l heard the familiar footstcp. I
turned, With my hand held out. We
had not met since the day I threw
away the pledge Of his broken troth,
and it was almost hard to recognize the
white, worn face. He bowed without
touching my proffered hand and spoke
to Nat, pushing the hair away from his
face, almost as If bewildered.
"Comfort ye, comfort ye.'' The
beautiful air rang in my head, throwing
wild, sorrowful cadence over his low
words.
"Will you come once more, Nat? he
is asking for you. I could not send to
summon you after your long, patient
help; but I thought if I came for
you, you would add this to all you have
done." ~
Nat rose instantly. II will hasten
on; you are tired, and can come slow
ly."
Lettie followed to get him comfort
er, and ! stood opposite to Enrol and
spoke Is natural. As I could. "Wil]
you accept my sympathy in your sor
row ?" - ..... .-:
I remember that, as ! spoke, all thu
unquiet past seemed to be gone, and
strange unheard of future to gathe1
round US. Could it be death =? Oh, no,
not that! " 49,
Raising his eyes one moment, 81
doubly dark they looked in his pallie
face, he gave a simple word Of thanks
and turned away: o, Enrol, not ever
now! -, w.. -: >;
Nat has just como home, and l wen'
down to him. Mr.. Cumberland is dcat
died with his hand in Errops; ait
Errol j. {. lonely, rich man, proud as h
never Vas befcre-ill and lonely. Oh
al too late {! "Comfort ye, comfort ye:'
How it hausts me in all its wondrou
pitifalness -s;''.;. :.
Monday, December 3lst.-Shall
write it? Why not? What eyes be
s;do my own will ever look upon it !
could not write it all through Errol'
illoess, though I often usca to try, th'
it might take my thoughts from the
anxious ysaraing for him whom l ha
no right 70 yeara for more than other
whom I longcd so bitterly to sec, b.