The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1870-03-24

this rudely, but rather sadly, and then
she suddenly turned to -Catharins, and
asked her if she would not IKE ~ some t,iil;
milk too. 'And % you are English p
Refine said, in her odd sweet ! voice,
pushing open a door with both. hei
hands: Reine's hands ! we're, not like
Madame Bin.ud's, two red paws which
could be seen shining mile Of; but
thin aud whitelike a lady's.: Cath.r,iinas,
glanced at them : little curiiously; Il Il
they lay outspre.d upon the oak, and
she saw that Refine xcre. s.ignlet-ring
on one finger; then she looked Up up ) ID ID
her face again, aud Refine Chretien
caught the glance and melted some.
what toward the little thing with tho
startled look and curious soft ewes that
seemed to ba taking everything in.
The love-matine Of friendship is not
unlike that Of sentiment, and friends
are friends sometimes in an instant a.
most, even though they may not have
vet the feeling to the tune Of words and
protestations. ..
hardly know which Of these two
women needed the other most, when
they met BY chance in the silent, sun:
ny courtyard that morning. In after
times, doubt, trouble, cruel suspicion;
pain and jealousy came to part them;
but they were faithful to one another
through it all. There was something
to forgive and forget for each Of them;
but they loved one another we'll enough
to be able to remember and to need no
forgiveness. They suited. Somehow.
there was certain affinity between
them which is priceless ia ftisndship:
1t Is worth all the virtues, and merits,
aud accomplishments put together to
people who care for one another Of
who ought to care. .,..->'
CAtharine, who had never in her life
spoken to Normandy peasant before,
listened and looked with Ill her eyes.
There was Refine, dressed like doll,
in flaps, and apron, aud ornaments; but
Catharine was touched and fascinated
BY the grave, noble face, the pathetic
voice. Alas! she was not the first
RENE had charmed.
The girl gave the children their mill
out Of great brass pan standing sur
rounded by little barrels for making
butter. "should you like to see th'
farm :" she asked them. "Thls i,
where We keep our cider;" and, open
ing door into an old vaultcd cellar
she showed six huge butts, standing
side by side, and reaching to tho cell
ing. Fac one Of them was larg'
enough to drown the whole party. M
nine exclaimed At their size. ."The,
are half of them empty already,". .sai,
Reine, laughing. dominique alon
could drink one Of those for his suppe,
I don't offer you any, she said :
Catharine, leading them away, an
locking the door behind. her: "
know English people do not like cider;
and she sighed as she. spoke.
She went befor. them through man
courts, opening arehed doors, into stor.
rooms heaped with tho oily COLA grair
She showed them = wheat:6eld inslo.
cd by four walls, against which: meet.
rines and apricots were .ipsaing. Th
COWS were al out in The meadows, bu
there were few sheep in ths stable
and At last she brought them into :th
great farn.ki:chen. ! It had g been add
cd on to the rest Of tho buildings; q
had Reine's own room, which was oye
it, aud reached by stone steps fro,
outside. ...~
, Petitpers was sitting at the tsbl.
eating bread and soup. He looked ht
aud tired, but he got up to make . bo
aud . little speech. He was hospit,
ble and courteous fellow, whatever b
/ other defects may hare been. "Ladie
you are welcome to the farm" he SAT-
, "Pray excuse my continuing breakfas
, I have been out since Eve o'clock
+ tho fields With the soldiers"
"We have not men enough to get
, the harvest" Rene explaised to Catl
arine, land We send for soldiers 70 hel
u.s." If. ..-.a.. ..; -a4 -
, :: "And have You been mp since su'
rise :" C.tharine asked. :. ~. AZ.
: /; ~ SEQ it every morning Of my life,
] said Refine. ri should iks 70 show i,
, You from our arehwsy. The 50 a*sl
ems frst, all our animals stir - If th,
knew; it isss most beautiful. hour;
: she said gr.vsly, land like = prayer ;
fore vork." ,1.4 gs:,..:.x 4 ,z-,,5 ii
; Z. What VA thore about Refine Chr
! aien that attracted sud interested: b
) 20 curiouslya :Catha'ioo asked hszss
: this, aud also how vas.it:ahd why y
il that the plaoo seemed 10 strange
J.; familiar72 Had she been there in sou
D previous existence ? She turned n
= looked round about. The window, Il
i great cupboard; with the gleani'
- biaees. she had aesn them bsfoEs CON