The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1870-06-09


Chretlen, without looking round.
"Reine is tired, and has como far: To
morrow she will visit the poor lady,"
"Where is she ?" Reine asked in 4,
odd, Indifferent voice, beginning to til
on her cloak, Petitpere shrugged BIZ
shoulders. Iu "a minute more Reint
and Butler were crossing the DARK
courtyard together.
II shall send Dominique after you
with the cart" cried Petitpere, coming
to the door. "Reine, you would have
done better to stay" u
They came out into the wide open
plain. There were rolling mists,
clouds, sudden winds; darkness was
descending like veil. The two went
side by side through wreathing vapors !;
they scarcely broke the silence. For q
minute Petitpere watched their dufky
figures, which were hardly perceptible
as they crossed the road and they struck
across the fields. Refine, walking along
beside her lover. tried to put away all
thought that was not of the present
ot a present that to others seem dark,
and doubtful, and chill, and yet which
to them both vibrating With an uncon-
scious and unspeakable delight, for
were they not walking together through
the darkness, and yet, at the same time,
they were both doubling whether it was
reality tha: made them happy, or on
ly semblance Of what might have been
true once.
Alas Refine was not strong enough
to forbid sad thoug ghts Of the future to
come between them. She was 50
strange, so reserved, at once so agitated
and so uumoved, that Butler, who had
been looking forward oil through bis
long sick watch to this happy meeting,
was disappointed, wounded, and pain
ed. When Catharine had sent for him, |
and begged him to bring her friend, it |
was not of this Refine he had been I
thinking, but Of another, tender and |
full Of sympathy. This was SO sad and |
so cold that she seemed to freeze him |
over and sadden him, and all the while
the poor soul was aching and sickening
for the loving words, tho tender reas-
surances she had waited and hoped to
hear. It was in vain Dick tried to ex.
tort the sympsthy from her he wanted.
She would not, could not respond.
Reine was for the moment wondering
who might be most pi.isd if-if- She
interrupted him once when ho was
spaeking Of Catharine. +
"Do you know that Madame de Ira.
cy was up at the farm yesterday? She
asked my grandfather great many
questions. Can she suspect the truth j?
Gan Madame Fontaiue have told +
ber :" .... 1
II am sure she guesses the real state
Of the cause,' Dick said; ''but Cath. I
arlne Foutaine has not told her. Poor
little woman !! she has other things to |
think of just now" |,
"ls she very unhappyr
"How can you ask 4? Should not you
be unhappy if I had been drowned io-
stead of Fontaine ?"
The girlshivercd, and then suddenly,
with passionate movement, drew her
hand from his arm, and almost pushed
him away.
II am not married to you," she said,
bitterly and furiously; "perhsps if I
were only your widow, I could bear to
part from you. Widows recover and
marry again." >. -:
"Hush, Reiner' said Dick, .pgrily.
"Why do you mind my saying this sw
persisted the girl, in her rough, grating
voice.
"Because it is not like you to show
no sympathy for some one in great sor-
row. l think you must be already sor.
ry for what you have said," the young
man answered, gravely.
The girl did not speak, except, indeed
by strange and vistfal look, and walk
ed on by his side in silence. II
l have no excuee to make for RENE
Chretien, nor do want to make one
for her.: With all her faults, her pride,
her waywardness, there was . noble
truth and devotion in the nature tb.t
spoke for itself, and forced You to for
give, even while you we're vexed still
and angry. The two walked on for q
long way. For once evil and good. /
were urging her in the Same direction /.
Her jealousy was helping her to fulfill
what she had grown to look upon as
duty. i !
All me! how often it happens 10 life
that tho generous self, the passionate
great heart, unconscious, or perhaps
ashamed of its own tenderness and no. |
bility, takes, in selfdefense, small means |
to accomplish great ends. Refine was
one of those who would swallow camel |
and STRAIN alta gnat. We have all of |
US been blinded and ungratcfal in our |
life, at one time or another, uncon-