The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1870-07-21

others; anxiety, disappointnsnt, and
the heavy load Of responsibility which
almost crushed the tiny figure. But
this was different from them all = hot,
proud pain, the seamo Of which was
growing into agony.
Neither she nor Noel had spoken
again when Freddy came up to them,
and laid his little pale face wistfully
upon her shoulder. She drew him in
to her arms.
"Joe," he whispered, "tell me a
story and let me rest here will Noel
| mind ?'
Major Herman Lad refused to be
| called anything bat Noel by the invalid
child from the first, yet, as the little
lips said it to-day, Josie WINGED.
II should like to hear = story, too,
Freddy, above all things" said Noel
bending back his head and looking at
her for the first time 'fonly shall I go
and see if Mr.. Kcnnard likes his seat,
Miss Josephine r.
Hardly quite conscious Of what he
was saying, except that he offered to go
away, she nodded, and he went slowly
down the garden, talked for atime be-
side Dir. Kennard's chair, then Wheeled
1t carefully into the house, to the
study.
Ye: he could not 90 even then, hc
thought; he had not said goodbye
to Josie. So, without arguing With
himself whether it was wise or right to
linger hear her as he always fingered
now; only feeling how impossible it
vas to prevent it he sauntered into the
drawing-room and sat down near the
open window, involuntarily leaning for
ward as .. low voice reached him from
the steps outside.
"No, I did not say that, Freddy. I
am only telling you the story as it-as
it is, you know"
"In a book, Joe?'
"Don't ask any questions until it is
over, please. Well, then the ugly lit
tie dark fairy went on with her twenty
brethers, and still the fairy prince a.
ways showed her the way, as he had
done out of the dungeon; and they
went over hills and all kinds Of places
and nothing really hurt them, because
tho prince was able to make it all
smooth; and he was kind to the twenty
brothers, and they we're kind to tho
poor little dark fairy. Well, at last
they got among the cliffs aud rocks;
you know the good fairy prince turned
and said they must all 60 on in their
old boat-that one told you of-and
that he had another boat waiting for
him with-something else in it. Then
| they-they shook hands, and all the
twenty brothers said they were sorry;
but the ugly little fairy d,da't, because
the prince would have laughed and he
went sailing away with a beautiful,
beautiful princess, very tall and grand;
and the other boat got tossed and
kicked about, and
eyes, Joe, don't stop''
"And the little ugly fairy didn't
mind at first, because she thought it
looked very still and beautiful down,
a long way down, in the sea. Only
the twenty brothers all tried to make
her wise, aud So"
"Yes-and so?"
"And so the boat tossed about a
long while, and at last-But, Freddy
darling, you have never rested proper
ly. Put your head here my little one'
Quietly stepping through the open
window, Noel bent and took the child
from Josie as their eyes met in a long
searching gaze.
"Leave the end Of the story, Miss
Josephine" he said, very low, aud
with a tremble on his firm lips. "The
end is more than I can bear to-day.
Such sorrowful day, this is!'
She followed him in, wondering
vaguely what SORROW there could Be for
him yet knowing there was some as
she watched him take his leave and
walk to the gate slowly and with bent
head.
There was letter from Agatha,
awaiting him. He read it carefully
through, crushing it 10 his hand un-
consciously as he leaned his head
against the window iu his room.
"Agatha, Agatha 7" he moaned.
sWhy did you not come at once ? Why
did you put the claim Of others before
my claim, and cause this misery?"
And for the first time in all his man.
hood, he hid his face upon his strong
right arm, and sobbed like = child
among his rare and silent companions.
CONCLUDED NEXT wEEK.)
REVIEWING the condition of the
crops, the New York Tribune concludes