The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1871-11-09
and feel my heart beating; but Alexis
was near me, and altogether mine.
Therefore, feared not, even here.

and teel my heart beating but Alexis
was near me, and altogether mine.
Therefore, I feared not, even here.
After coffee, the gentlemen went out
to some evening amusement. We, the
weary wives, contented ourselves with
loungiug about, discussing toilettes, and
Paris sights, aud the fair Empress
Eusenie-the wifely crown which my
old aversion Louis Bonaparte had chos.
en- to bind about his ugly brcws. Mrs.
Hart was anxious to see all, and then
fly back to her beloved London.
"How long is it since you left Lon
don, Mrs. Saltram ?''
IA year, think. What is today ?'
''The twenty-fifth h-ro, the twenty.
sixth Of May"
dropped my head on the cushion.
Then, that date-the first she mention
ed-had passed over unthought Of by
US. That night-night of mortal hor.
ror when the Argo went down-lay
thus far buried in the past, parted from
us by two blessed years.
But l found it impossible to converse
longer with Mrs. Hart; so about ten
O'Clock L left her reading, and went to
take half an hours rest in my chamber,
which, as have explained, was divid.
ed from. the salon by small boudoir 0,
dressing-room: The only other entrance
was from door near the head of my
bed, which. I went and locked.
It seemed uncourteous to retire fol
the night; SO l merely threw dres.
siug-gown ever my evening toilette, and
lay: down outside the bed, dreamily
watching the shadows which the lamp
threw. This lamp was in my chamber;
but its light extended family into the
boudoir, showing the tall mirror there,
and sofa which was placed opposite.
Otherwise, the little room was dusky,
save fer narrow CLINT streaming
through the net quite closed door Of
the salon.
I lay broad awake, but very quiet,
contented, and serene. I was thinking
of Alexis. In the midst of my reverie
I heard as I thought, my maid trying
the handle Of the door behind me.
ct is locked" I said; "another
time"
The sound ceased yet I almost
thought she had opened the door, for
there came rift of wind which made
the lamp sway in its socket. But
VIXEN looked, the door was closely
shut, and the bolt still fast.
1 lay, it might be, halt an hour long,
er. Then, with certain compunetion
at MY discourtesy, I saw the salon door
open, and Mrs. Hart appear.
She looked in, drew back hurriedly,
and closed the door after her.
OF course I Immediately rose to fol.
low her. Ere doing so, I remembe,
particularly standing with the lamp in
hand, arranging my dress before the
mirror in the boudoir, and seeing re-
aected in the glass, with my cashmere
lying over its cushions, the sofa, uuoc.
cupied.
Eliza was standing thoushttully by
the stove.
81 ought to ask pardon of you Mrs.
Hart"
"Oh, no,--but I Of you. I did no!
know Mr.. Saltram had returned.-
Where is my husband ?"
"With mine, no doubt! We need not
expect them for an hour yet, the rene
gadcs"
"You are jesting," said Mrs. Hart,
half offended. Il know they are come
home. I saw Mr.. Saltram in you,
boudoir not two minutes since"
"How 2"
"Iay your boydoir, I repeat. He was
laying on the sofa.''
"Impossible!' ~ aud I burst ou
laughing. "Uuless he has suddenly
turned into cashmere shawl. Come
ard look"
I flung the folding doors open, and
poured blaze of light into the littl'
room.
"lt is very odd" 6dgetted Mrs. Hart
livery odd, indeed. I am sure I saw
gentleman here. His face was turne,
aside,-but of course I concluded i
was MI. Saltram. Very odd, indeed.
! I still laughed at her, though an IN
easy feeling ~as creeping over me. T
dismiss it, I showed her how the doc
was fastened, aud how it was impossible
my husband could have entered.
/ "No; for l distinctly heard you ga,
its locked-another time 2"
Il thought it was Fanchon."
! To change the subject I began show.
ing her some parures my husband had
just bought me. Eliza Hart was yer,
fond Of jewels. We remained looking
at them some time longer, and then sh
bade me good night.
"No light, thank you. I can 6n'
my way. The boudoir is not dark. -
Good night. Do not look so palo TO-
morrow, my DEAR"
! She kissed me in friendly Englisl
fashion, and We parted.
/ She went through rapidly, shutting
my bedroom door. A minute after
wards she re-appeared, breathless, GOV
cred with angry bushes.