The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1871-08-03

"No," the maid said. "Miss Tres
ham had not como in. Miss Tresham
had left word they we're not to be alarm.
I'd about h:r. Sls iaoull croba' u
tAko tea at &rs. M~llo:.' =" :,
So. Il he had taken her sue ges.
ton aad acted upon it, instead OF be-
ing provoked thereat! Did one over
see straight With the sun in his eyes?
Perhaps she had intended to make
amends for uneraoiousness Of tho morn
ing. But was it a.oor,h ,0hize' to be
50 easily conciliated? Yet how could
he help It? There was the walk home
through vet and fragrant lanes, With
the little arm restiog 10 his, the little
h.nd--perbaps--who could tell7 Well,
it were as wise not to dream too much.
At least, it would be merely civil to
step over and see if she were safe.
Consequently be stepped over, matter
Of country mile or more, and found
that she was not there not been
there. Not there? He thought no
longer whether OF no it were worth
while, he thought only of her, lost in
tie dismal woods, assailed by fear.
faintipg and footsore. All his anger
bad vanished, ifindecd it had been any
thing but mockery at the worse; his
only impulse was to give the alarm,
and 90 in search With torch and Ian
tern. If she were lost-if any thing
had happened to her he did not stay
to define his fears ; he went With the
stride of centaur, you might have
said, calling her name till all the leaiJ
spaces re-echoed it, and blended 1t into
a deep and sonorus harmony; starting
the birds from sweet dreams of sunrise
shaking the dew in showers from brake
and bough, treadiug out perfume, and
scattering plume Of sparks from his
f1ambeau as he swept along. He cared
for none of these, nor for the beauty of
the night, for Orion, who ss eager as
as himself seemed breaking through
the tangle growth above ; he cared
only for her-ouly to save and hold
her oue blessed instant, if no longer
through all the years Of earth. But
no answer came to bis Wild appealing !;
nothing but the wind whispered
through the lonely night, and sped past
him like some disembodied spirit, moth
ing but the scented dew dropping like
slow tears between the leaves.
He had pursu~d bis search for some
hours, when, returning again to his
starting point, he there encountered ono
Of Thropo's men come to meet him.
"Miss Tresham is safe at home, Sir,
said he. M'Gregor drew long breath
of relief; but after all be would like to
have been the one to 6od her; he was
already envious Of the lucky wight.
"Thauk you, Oakes," he returned :
"you were very good to come and let
me know"
| "Faith, Sir" said the man, in utter
simplicity, Il knew you'd be after
spending the night here al for naught;"
and after that they went on in silence.
! Salome, waiting in the window-seat,
saw MGregor came up the garden.
walk and quench his torch at tho foun.
tain, but not till it had showed her his
face, white aud still and pain-stricken,
"You have no idea what . picture
you made, coming ~ under the indens
with that swinging torch," she said ;
"you looked like the knight Of tho
Rueful Countenance."
"And no wsnder," he answered, hold.
ing her hand as if he never meant to
let 60; then, bending nearer till his
li.s almost touched her cheek, IF !
we're indeed he of the Ruefal Counte-
nance, would you be more compassionate,
Sa!ome 2" he whispered.
"How can I tell 2" she answered,
laughing and Withdrawing her hand
"the probability is too remote for con
sideration. Come" moving away, "af'
ter your tramp you want your tea.
have been waiting for you"
They went into the dining-room aud
sat down under the aaring ehandel
ier: Kitty and Hildrith had long
since vacated for some more sequester
ed haunts. "The dear old dining. hal
} at Thrope Lodge" Kitty used to eay
years after, when she was happy Mrs
Hildrith without care in the world
, chow many love.makings it has wit
nessed p
t So there was only the Tresham an
cestors leaning out Of their heav,
frames, 10 wide Elizabethan ruds, t
J catch whatever tender words ant
t glances might pass between the two.
0 "Now tell me how you came here,
q said M'Gresor, taking the offered cup
"By very natural process. When
t found that my basket.maksrs had fold
ed their tents like the ArAbs,' I Is 81
lently stole away;' but coming roun'
BY the mill, I net old Gulnnes, IN,
, nothing would do but l must listen 4
oil the ins aud outs of a lawsuit abou
J the mill.privilege, Of which I under
stood just nothing"
my heart was in my mouth whom
found you had not been at Mn. Msl
lory's."
3 "a comfortable place for geutlema,
2 to carry bis heart"