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

distressed, her !? After moment or two
that she spent Auttering in the morn
ing-room, she happened to see the Ger
mans figure crossing one Of the win
dows, and she started up with a fright.
ened. impulse, and fled away through
the hall and the open door, and along
the green deserted sweep to the gates.
| All the servants and visitors were in
the front of the house towards the riv-
er, and no one saw her 60. Shadows
aud leaves trembled overhead, grasses
looked green under foot; and the
! depths of the cool lilac-t1ees, and the
tringing elms and chestnuts, made de-
light of the sultry summer; but L. sabclla
was too much distressed for enjoyment.
She could scarcely have told you why :;
her pulses were throbbing, she could
not rest. It seemed to her that the
painter was calling her back, that he
was reading her heart, and she could
not bear it !; and she fled away in ner-
vous haste out once more into the roads
again. She knew the way almost
blindfol9-crossins and rccrosslug by
one dismal street or lane after another
until sho came to the vista Of the ceme-
tery arches that led to her home. As
she got to the great iron gates, she was
stopped for the first time; long, slow
line of funeral carriages came passing
her one by one; and as she looked up
she saw the despairing face Of woman
with wan eyes, leaning against one Of
the carriage windows, and a sudden
p ng Of sympathy caused her heart to
sink. Closer and more close, she held
to the rails Of the cemetery in her pas.
sing weakness. AS the last carriage
rolled away, some one who had been al:
50 standing waiting, bare.headed On the
opposite side ofthe road, came across,
and called to her by name, and she
started with little nervous cry. But
it was not Nielaud. 1t was Armar, on
his way to The Lawn. He had been
coming along by the arches ot the
cemetery, and thinking of Isabella, in.
deed, but not expecting to find he1
there.
"What are you doing here7" he
said, coming up to her and noting
with pleasure her looks Of sudden re-
lief. "You are not going home just as
/ am coming? I could not get awa1
earlier" he went on ;"I did not guess
that you we're waiting too for that fun
eral to pass. Do come back to Fulhan
:, Lawn-unless you arc tired. Won
you take my arm?''
| Isabella did not refuse she chung K
his arm, pale and agitated. 81 wa
coming away" she said, "but I will g
back now, Mr.. Armar. Are they no
terrible, r. she said ;"hlack, :, and. ter
ible,. and slow. Did you SEQ that poo
woman's face I dream of them a
night" she went on little wildly; 81
cannot forget them. They seem to MI
always passing. Even when the shut
ters are closed and the curtains drawn
I feel them going by. My aunt ecil
not believe me."'
"Poor child" said Henry Armar
full of compassion. "You are nervous
and lonely. Funerals are only tht
same black coaches over and over again
with 50 many yards of black cloth dip
ped and redipped. think myself the,
are a great mistake. 1t is not death
which is so awful, and which frightens
us; it is the sham black dye, and the
make-believe woe at so much a yard
When I die," he said kindly, II shoulG
like my friends to come, let us say, II
lilac or white, and with roses in theil
hands, and to think Of: me with lovin!
sympathy instead of with terror. A
lonely man like me may ask 50 much o
Of his friends. Will you promise me-
he said suddenly, '.that when I die ) o,
will come without regret or pain will
}: Kindness only?' -,
; Isabella looked at him he had neve
spoken in such way before. "With
out regret ?" she said, gently; "!wha
do you mean ? you who are my kindest
best friend 2" -. 49,, !:
Something in the trusting ant
troubled look Of her sweet face at tha
moment, overcome all Armar's pruden
considerations, oil his long sel:re
str.iptsY He spoke as he had never in
:. tended to, speak, Though. he ha'
> meant to love her always, he had neve
!. deliberately looked forward to an end +
/. \, J.
this silent love-making Of his now b
spoke almost before BE- had, felt vha
he was speaking. ,"Ah, Isabella, max y
q me your best frieod give me q right t
feel that I am ,frst With you" Fl
;. looked strange and excited, and waite'
for her to answer, stopping short in tn
dusty road. y~-...,.4 :
1t The girls face changed again an,
:: sgain ; she too was content to love hin
in a certain tranquil way j.. but nov
that be had spoken, it came to her lik
revelation. She loved him in a way
but did she want him: TO- love, her
"Oh, wfat can I say 2" she said. ."Le
us be ourselves that is enough, is il