The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1870-09-15

gathering. I saw Mr.. Armar and
Isabella wander off together Miss
B., the eldest daughter Of the
house went clipping at the rose.trees
with basket on her arm. Some soft
vapors were beginning to float hitler
and thither in the gardens; dim veil
seemed to fall upon US from the solemn
depths of the great vault overhead.
There was great calm and sense of
ease in this placid hour, passing by to
the sound of the flowing liver. All
the vivid feelings and emotions Of the
day began to fade imperceptibly; sort
OF solitude came to each one of US
wandering hither and thitber in the
calm evening. Where do people 20 to
when the evenings fall and why do We
each begin to feel more alone than at
any other time? There are as many
people in the world at eventide az at
morning, but our hearts grow quieter
tor while, our fancies and feelings
leave US in peace The day is over and
we are making ready for the night.
SO the dusk had come, the sun had
set, and the shadows were gathering 10
the garden, and the lights from the
house already cast yellow CLEANS across
tie grass. The rose-walk was still in
the day, but the lawn and the laurel
grove were in the night. Armar and
Isabella went wandering between the
laurelhedges in shadow and in silence ;
all hushed, and fading lights. The
yellow west was dying, the battle was
swaying still between the armies Of the
risiog winds and the tossing vapors :
sometimes with one side, sometimes
with the other, the victory seemed to
lie. The winds with one great effort,
would drive away the clouds, and onco
more the dying lights would food the
world with last 1arcwells then the
clouds silently spreading would veil the
lights as they burnt on in the track Of
the great condsgration. And when'at
last the lights began to pass away, pink
roses turned white, the leaves gray and
black, the trees were silent. 7 was
walking by myself: Mr.. Nieland, who
had kept me company at frss had just
gone in. (he left me abruptly, saying it
was no. place for him,) and almost i'm
mediately after l met the lovers in tho
dusk. could scarcely see their faces,
but could hear the tone Of Armar's
voice; it sounded deep and almost like
a distant chord of music.
"Doyou know what has happened p
he said to me. "Can you guess, Miss
Williamson? Shall 1 tell her :" he
said, turning to Isabella.
"You need not tell me-" I answered;
"when did it all happen"
@From the moment first saw her. y
Armar said, laughing; "but Isabella
only agreed half an hour ago" The
music thrilled with triumph as he
spoke; Isabella sighed gently, and
seemed to stir in the dimness. Poor
child, it was we'll she should be loved,
and cared for, and own home and a
sheltering beartin lite. She seemed to
me too sensitive and too reserved to
play her part alone. Unreserve is a
priceless gift to those who are made
lonely by fate, and whose homo and
friends and sympathies must needs be.
long BY rights to others. Isabella was
50 discreet, so silent, so undemonstra-
tive, that no casual friendships and in.
tercsts we're possible to her, and yet,
more than any Que, it seemed to me,
that she must be in need of them.
AS l have said before, Isabclla's was q
song without words. Her eyes could
speak, her lips could utter, though they
might be silent. Her very repose
seemed to be more eloquent than mauy
peoples animation. Soft clouds and
summer lightnings, this was what she
most recalled to me. But 1 never could
realize her entirely; her mind was
difficult one to grasp; vague, sensitive
impressionable, it seemed to elude one.
rude attempts to fathom it, and to keer
| its secret safely to the end.
The guests were all assembled in the
great hall when Armar and Isabella
came In At last, with two pale dream.
faces, coming out of the darkness into
the commonplace candle and fire ]ieb,
Of daily life. Every evening . grea,
log was lit in the big chimney-pl.ce
for those who were chilly and who
liked the blaze. s,-.,
X Lord B.. --=. was writing in an inne,
j room ;, Thornbam and the young ladies
Of the house and the young men we're
standing at table looking over some
drawings. Lady B, who was q
frail little person and easily tired, was
resting in her accustomed corner, slow.
ly twisting scarlet wooll and ivory pins
into tango. They all looked up with
interest when the two came in. lsa-
bella went across to her protectress,
aud sitting down beside her, said few
words in low tone. Armar Joined
the young men, who only RETAINED
from eongratulatiog him because o1
Isabella presence, for 10 some way-1