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

... NO. |.
bearing something in his arms wrapped
70 the great old plaid from which the
brave little face had first peered up at
him. -t'''z -
Josephine saw and understood it all,
but her eyes never dropped till a little
figure which had followed them in fell
at her feet with arms clasped tightly
round her knees.
II killed him Joe, Joe, do yoa
hear? l shot him. Oh! kill me.
Josie, don't you hear me =? he's dead !"
She bent down and unclasped Jerome's
hands from her dress, looking into his
face with far-away unconscious look ;
but realizing the fact more from the
a*tul change in the boyish face than
she could have done from any words ;
then she crept into the drawingroom.
Noel stood beside the sofa on which
lay the little figure in the plaid, but
as she came up he drew back.
There was low stiaed cry, and one
word clearly and distinctly uttered in a
voice they hardly recognized. "Dead." "
Then, in the heavy, terrible silence,
they softly moved away and left the
little child-mother tneeling beside the
white still face, which could never
until one happy day-brighten at her
coming, IS it had ever frightened un-
til now:
+ X - - X
1t was = warm, bright, April after
noon and on the stone steps outside
the drawingroom window at The IA
pies, Major Herman sat and waited.
Miss Kennard was in the garden,
the servant had said, and 80 he would
wait for Der there.
As she came up to him and he rose
to meet her, bis grave handsome head
bent In the sunshine, she noticed AS
she had noticed often lately-a worn
look upon his thoughtful face; yearn-
ing sadness in his eyes, which she
could not comprehend.
She held out her little cool baud,
but he scarcely touched it.
II hope l am not disturbing ycu,"
be said.
She sat down in her own corner OF
the steps. "No, indeed you are not.
l have just been settling pspa's chair
in the shade and finding his book. I
am to 60 back in an hour ard wheel
him to the house."
Cor you will let ma do it ?" he re-
piled, but without his old ease.
eyes, I will let you do it. Freddy
is sitting by him with the new pictures
you brought him, aod is to come up to
mo when he is tired. He is getting
stronger daily. Don't you think he
locks better, Major Herman ?''
"1ndced I do, almvst as he used to
look. He never was very, was he p
Eever like"
She interrupted him softly. "Never
very rosy-dear little fc]lcw-but he is
certainly getting stronger now; for
these six months he has been perfect
shadow. How is Mrs. Herman ?"
"Very we'll, for her, thank you. She
is very anxious to see you at Hill6eld,
and wants me to bring your promise :;
but I am always ashamed to ask you
when I get here aud see bow YOU are
needed by every one."
"Oh, you need not be-" she answer
lightly. II could come any day-any
evening at least. Will is always home
from school at five, and Don soon af.
ter"
GLOW pleasant that is !" said Noel,
warmly.
"Indeed, indeed it is," she answered
from her heart, "they are so much
kinder and tenderer to me than-than
they have sny cause to be ; SO good to
Freddy SO watchful over papa. I can
almost'-but here she broke off, tight.
ly pressing together her quivering lips ;
and Noel looked away, down to the
river, flowing past them in the sun.
shine. ...
"You have no idea how they bright.
en- us up when they come over to Hill
field, /" he said, "the house is quite differ
ent With Donald's pleasant fact abou,
it, aud my mother forgets all her mala
dies talking to WILL"
"You have made it so pleasant 70,
them," began Josie, without turning
II wish I could make it pleasant 70,
their sister," went on Noel gently "she
comes so very seldom now"
"Perhaps the fault is the other way
'he answered, simply; "perhaps it i.
too pleasant, and other things come
harder Afterwards"
One quick look he gave into her
face, then he moved little ; Watching
the river still, and showing her nothing
of bis white face.
"What I should like would bo for
you to come to night" he said, Gas to.