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

shone in Cstharins's window. Diei
j. pacing up and down outside in th
moonlight, looked up .tit more thu
once, and laughed = little bitterly /
. himself over the perversity Of women
8 de did not like Reins the better fo
, her Jealousy. 1t vas not worthy q
;: her, he thought. The house was YER,
dark and silent within and without
! Monsieur and Madame Merard ha,
; gone away for few days; Madam
Binaud had come for them, and Cath
ar'ne had piteously begged them to g
Ito leave her with Toto. She was on
ly longing for silence and rest.
Poor old Merard's little piping voice
I quavered when he came to say good.
by, and bis jolly face seemed circled
With dark brown wrinkles which had
not been there before. "P.uvre et-
ite," said he: kissing tho tvo little
cold clioging hands which he held in
h's' Madame Merard, too, seemed
changed and greatly shaken. She said,
little, bpt trotted about, overturning
drawers, and keeping visilaot watch
over the goings-ou 10 the house. Just
before starting she oarri"d up = cup OF
strong broth to Catharine, which she
had made with her own hands
':Drink it down hot" she said. "There
is pound Of meat in it, for 1 arranged
it myself"
Dick would not have thought Refine
hard or perverae could he have seen in
to that room from where the faint ray
Of light was streaming, aud where poor
little Catharine was sitting on . low
chair by the smouldering fire, while
RENE knelt beside her, holding her
hand 10 tender clasp. Refine had
that strange gift Of healing and COM
fort which some people possess; there
was strength and peace in tho touch Of
her strong gentle hands, and in tho
wise, wistful leok Of her eyes. Cath
arine spoke few broken words telling
her how it happened, speaking Of Dicks
courage and devotion. Refine listened,
gazing into tho fire, keeping time With
heart to Richards footsteps outside.
It was long before she listened to, them
again tho clock ticked monotonously, |
aud time went on. !
And then they heard voice speak
Ing down below. "Justine, do not let |
Mademoiselle Chretien go without see-
ing me-" said somebody.
"It is Madame de Tracy" said Cath
a,rine, hnguidly. "she has been here |
Ill day."
1t vas Madame de Tracy's voice; 1t
vas Madame de Tracy herself who
stood waiting in ambush ip tie kitoh.
on, waiting ID agitation, palpit.&iou, and
excitement, expecting her prey, not |
without some alarm, poor lady; for he,
own claws we're not fierce, nor her bites
very fatal, and, dragon though she was,
she wonld have liked to run away. Jus.
tine the cynical eaw that something
was going on. It did not concern her
she only shrugged her shoulders Is she
ploddcd about the house from one !
crcaking wooden room to another. She
was putting away the linen in the /
maire's little Office, which was nov, at
last, d'spouible. 1t was convenient and
near the kitchen; she had always
wanted a place for her table-oloths. |
Coming down stairs with an arm full Of |
linen, she met Refine leaving Cathariue's |
room. "You are wanted in the kitch.
en-" she said. 'sMadame de Tracy |
certainly will not let; you go without
seeing her." And as che spoke, Mad
ame de Tracy, with her bonnet all on
one side, came out At the sou,.d Of the
voices, aud held open the door with
much difficulty. !
II have to speak to you; come in |
here, if you please. My nephew is |
outside, but 1t is to You, mademoiselle, |
Iaddrese myself He Is waiting for |
you-do not deny it; know .ll-I
everything" And the countess blaxed
round upon the peasant girl, who, how.
ever, seemed but little discomposed BY
the attack. "Ah! madomoiselle," !" con.
ttinuad Madame De Tracy. !. suddenly
changing from feroeity 70 ,,uppl;c.tion,
':siif you DO really care q. for that fSoli,h,
! ilnpetuoa. hoy; you WIN forgive !, m.
and sympathi.e With me Wien I i'm
:plore you 70 reflect upon tho ..eri6e. |
hs il m.kiog-a saeriioe that will. dis |
grace him, and drag him dovi in the
eyes Of the world. Il i 90 hard ia II.
judgments. Is that door securely fast.
enedr 1woaM not for the world that
Justine should overhear, that Dick
should suspect m. Of influencing you.
He was furious once not long ago, when
l foolishly dreaded another attraction,
but this would be still less still
more-Cst:, a1ine. at least was :"
The poor lady stopped short, embarass.
cd, unable to finish her sentence; we'll
she might be, for she caught sight of
'Reiue's indignant cheeks burning, and
of tho much dreaded Dick himself com.
ing in through the glass door. A chill
night-wind surged in as he opened the
door, Of which tho shutters lad not