The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1870-05-05
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CHAPTER XIII.

CHAPTER XIII.
IN THE TWILIGHT AT LAMBswoLD.
1t seemed: that there we're man1
things of which Fontainc was uncon
scious. Catharine never dared to trus
him With the secret of Dicks engage
ment to Reine Cbretien. This was TOT
valuable a piece Of gossip to be con6d.
ed to the worthy maire's indiscretion
The country people talked a little; but
they were all used, to Mademoiselle
Chretien's odd, Independent ways, and
after Dick had been gone some week.
they appeared for time to trouble their
heads no more about him &
J But Richard Butler reached home
more than eyer determined to make a
clean breast Of it, as the saying goes.
Reine's good:by ana las. bright look
seemed to give him courage. What
would he not do for her sake?
Her knight in ancient times would
have gone out valiently, prepared to
conquer dragons, fierce giants, monsters
Of land and sea. The only fierce drag
on in Buffers way was the kind old
man at Lambswold; and yet, some-
how, he thought he would rather en-
counter many dragons, poisonous darts,
fiery tails and all. But then he
thong ht again. OF Reino standing in
the sunset glory, in all her sweet nobil-
ity, and gentle look came into Dicks
own face. Women who have the rare
gift Of great beauty may we'll cherish
it, and be grateful to Heaven. With
the unconscious breath of moment,
they can utter all that is in them. They
have said it at once, forever, while 9TH
crs are struggling for !. words, toiling
with effort, trying in vain to break the
bonds which fetter them so cruelty
What sermon, what text, is like that of
a tender heart, speaking silently in its
own beauty and purity, and conscious
only Of the meaning of its own slnceri-
ty? What words can speak so elo-
quently as the clear sweet eyes looking
to all good, all love, all trust, encourag-
ing with their tender smile?
Queens Walk did not look so desert
ed as the other more fashionable parts
OF London. The dirty little children
had not left town. The barges were
sailing by; the garden door was set
wide open. The housckeeper let him
in, smiling, in her best cap. Mr.. Beam
ism was away, she told HIM, iu Durham
with bis father, who was recovering,
poor gentleman. There were great
many letter. waiting on the table. size
said. Dick pulled long face at the
piles Of cheap.lookiug' envelopes direct
ed very low down, with single initial
letters upon the seals. Mrs. Busby
had cleaned down and rubbed the old
staircase to shining pitch: The studio,
too, looked very clean,: and cool, and
comfortable. Every body was away
Mr.. and Mrs. Heryey Butler were a,
Brighton, and Mr.. Charles Butler had
not been up in town for some time
MIR. Beamish had desired: all his letters
to be forwarded to Durham; ho was
coming back as soon as he could leave
his father. = *3|
Every body knows the grateful, rest
full feeling of coming home after hol
iday; crowded hotels, fierce landladies
extortions excursions, all disappear W
the chimney ; every thing looks clear
and scomfortablc ). THO confusion Of dal
~ life is put to rights for . time, ant
one seems to start sfresh. Mrs. Bush,
had had the carpets beat, she said, anl
dinner would besquite ready at six
Dick, who was not sorry to have an ex
cuse to stay where he was and to pu
off the announcement he~had In ii
mind, wrote few. words TO- Lambswold
saying that he would come down in
week or two, as soon as he had 6nishe,
picture he had brought back with hin
from Tracy. T. =
For some weeks Dick worked yer
hard-harder than he bad ever don
in his life before. az suppose the fie
ures upon my canvas have come ther
somehow out of my BRAIN" he wrote
Keine, "but they seem to have an od
distinct life: Of their own, SO that Z IL
sometimes almost frightened at my ow
performance "a The picture he wa
painting was amelancho)y one; was
of brown transparent sea, a mist &
gray sky, and some black-lookiog fe
ures coming across shingle, carrying
drowned man.. A woman and chill
we're plodding duly alongside. It ".
unlike any of the pictures Butler ha
ever painted before. There was no a
tempt at detail; every thing was vagu
and undetermined; but the wav'
! came springing in, and it seemed IS
! there was sunlight behind the mist.
s. Sometimes he fell into utter d
!, spondency over his work, plodding I
i atit,ss he dld, day after day, With Z,
one 70 speak to Ok encourage him; )
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