The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1871-08-10

W ~ ~ l. 9
strong arm detain'ng her, his daring
eyes devouring her, his lips only sepa-
rated from hers by ever SO little it was
possible that he might be tempted
again.
"1f you will let me g, Mr.. M'Greg-
Or" refusing to meet his glance.
''Go where? Is not this your place,
Salome Philosophers have said in vaiu
that whatever We love is ours, if you
are not nine. Salome, dear child, do
not turn your face away. Iloue you I?
Her eyes we're drawn to bis now,
those beautiful clear orbs, swimming in
lustre half way between smiles and
tears, as it such happiness were too big
for belief, too dear for doubt then the
lids dropped under a rain of tender
kisses, and Sweet Salome was indeed
won.
" What swift, delightful days were
tho' e that followed, whether they walk.
ed abroad in the holiday fields, or
mouated horse aud rode to catch tho
odor Of pine woods ; whether they sang
or kept sacred silence. To Salome
these fcw weeks were the poem of the
year, and had she died on. that last day
she might have deemed it only the sub
limation Of an existence that had al
ready exhausted earth and its pleasures.
It was a fresh page she had opened at,
by chance as it seemed, a page illumi-
mated as no monk ever dreamed in
spite Of scourge and fnsting through
which bis brain might soar to dazzling
heights of fantasy. She had had Low.
ers before, it is true, had speculated
and spoken upon the marvellous iuflu-
ence, but never before for her had love
"illed all the stops Of lite with tuoeful
BREATH"
10 the mean time, if it was a SEN
sation less novel to M'Gregor, it was
none the less absorbing, none the less
strong aud enduring. Today they loved
and eejoyed to the ut.ermost to.mor.
row might come storms, or clouds, OF
disatfettiou, but to-day was their own,
with all its bright entauglemeuts.
They were sitting together one morn.
ing as usual, Salome crochetirg some
delicate mystery in brilliant wool, while
M'Gregor read from the last new poem,
when the letters from the mail were
brought IN.
II must run up to town at once"
said M'Gregor hastily scanning bust.
ness scrawl.
"AudAunt Parry" returned Salome,
"has sent for me she has a foreign
minister in town, whom shall find it tc
my advantage to know"
"We have parried that stroke"
said M'Gregor.
eyes. But I shall humor her to the
point Of making flying visit there
while you are off. In the mean tine
shall say nothing of other views l en-.
tertain concerning the disposal of my
precious self, and it will be exceedingly
amusing to watch her maupuvres.
1T may be fun to you, but death to
me-"
Salome made no reply. She had torn
open another envelope, and was grow
ing by turns hot and cold over q para
graph contained therein. It was only
a word or SO that followed IN the cur.
rent of gossip, straw as it were, it
may be giving signs OF a tornado:
81 hear that Thorpe is entersing the
fascinating August M'Gregor, who, BY.
the.way, was so kind as to inform Col.
onel Alston that he meant to marry
you! Prenez grade. Don't be caught
IN such snare"
"He was so sure as that" she
thought, still keeping silence 80 very
sure."
"What disturbes you, salome 2
asked M'Gregor, who had been regard
ing her. "There is something in tha,
letter about me, is there not ?"
81 ought to congratulate you on tn.
success Of your plans," she said, meet
ing his eye as coldly as it was possible
for her to do; "but the old proverl
warns us that there's many a slip be-
tween the cup ana the hp," and she
gave him the letter.
i "Colonel Als,on," no replied
"Pshaw You don't let such triAes an
noy you, salome, dear? I dare say
may have made Some such remark OF
the impulse. Ay. / recollect now tha
he was 50 good as to warn me; friend.
are 50 oficious, love-" coming to kiss
her forehead and burning cheek
"1f meant to marry you, it could
have been only that I meant tc
love you You wanted me to love you
without meaning it, in defiance of an
opposite resolve-wasn't that it?"
"Pcrbaps so. I zee it was nothing
she returned, smiling graciousIy. "Af
ter all one knows what one can and CAT
not do;' and thus the subject dropped
and next night they were miles apart
"a month without you, love-" be
had said in parting; "but what if fl