The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1871-09-21
SENTIMENT NDACTIoN
CONCLUDED FoRMs1AsT WEEK.

CONCLUDED FoRMa1AsT WEEK. "
Paul had sunk back in a stupor
when he heard what errand that muf-
fed stranger had come upon: But,
when Magda!cn, having given her or
ders, turned to him and spoke to him
as quietly as if nothing had happened,
he started up then flung himself on his
knees, beseechiug her to give up every
thing, to sign anything, confess to any
thing, rather than submit to this ter
rible trial. Oh, that she would listen
him! Oh, that she had but listened to
him when he had first spken that she
had had courage to prefer q life like
the brave old troubadours Of = better
time-the heroic artists of the day.
when art was heroism-to this fearful
scepticism Of to-day and had trusted to
Providence aud him Oh, that his life
could buy her safety that he could
deliver ber by some heroic deed that
should not only free her, but stir mems
hearts to bravery and nobleoess to the
latest time! And then he sobbed
afresh and the nerveless arms, which
were tv stir the world, fell weaker than
weak girls round her.
"Hush," said Magdalen, gravely ;
edo not distress yourself SO painfully !!
You know that 1 am guiltless be
sure than that shall oe proved so. Do
not fret i; do not agitate yourself. You,
who trust 50 in truth and God, will
He not defend the innocent, and will
not my truth be Of itself sufficient to
protect me?"
"No, no, Magda'en ! they are going
to murder you" cried Paul, olinging
to her. "Magdalen I shall never SEQ
you more!'
"Not so bad as that, young gentle
man." said the officer, mildly, taking
him up from the ground as if he had
been a child; unloosing his nervous
clutch Oh Magdalen's gown, and seat
ing him on tho sofa. 81 assure you
wo are going to do your aunt no kind
Of harm. Let 60 her dress, ny dear
young sir,-sho has need of all her
fortitude, and you are only knocking it
down by carrying on so. She will
come out we'll enough. know too
much of these things not to kno" the
truth when sec it starting before my
eyes"
"Will she be proved innocentr'
cried Paul, appearing to the officer,
| as if he were Rhadamanthus. "Shal]
I ever. see her again ? Magdalen
! Msgdalen are We to meet only in the
grave? Is tho tomb to be the altar Of
| our marriage vow?"
"Dear Paul, for heavens sake lit
tie courage "a little fortitude !" said
Magdalen, laying her hand on hi.
shoulder. "Where is your manhood !
I, woman on whose head all this
! misery is accumulated, I should blush
| to bear myself as you do! Cheer up
| am not sent to the colonies YETI!
and she smiled, sadly enough.
Hc tried to rise, but his agitation
| wss so extreme that be could not stand.
Half faiuting, he sunk into chair,
while the maid brought in carpei-bag
! in great wonder and grief, and some
suspicion Of the truth. The Office,
drank glass Of vine, with an unusua
feeling OF oppression at his heart. Mag
dalen, in her black dress, her face as
palea nd as composed as marble, looking
as if she had concentrated all he,
strength and courage within her hear
and held grasp Of iron over hcl
nerves, leant over Paul; who trembling
aod faint, seemed to be dying. She
stopped down and kissed his forehead
murmuring softly some love names
which he preferred to all others. HI
revived, only to catch convulsivcly al
her hands aud waist, and try to hole
her near to him by force.
The calm grand air with which she
gently undid that feverish clasp, while
he still cried, "Nothiog, even your own
WILL. shall port US !-the quiet majesty
With which she forced him to be cain
and to listen to her-t'H, indeed, he
wished to do her any good, rather tha,
merely to indulge the selfish weakness
of his own sorrow, Paul felt that sh'
was the strongest now, if never before
in their whole lives together; and
while her influence was on him, he con
tro!led himself sufficiently t. understand
what she said.
/ "Listen," she said. in a deeper ani
! more mouotonous voice than usual, 3D.
+ you wish mo to feel that l have left be
Hind mo a child, to weep at my depart
ure, or man to care for my interests
If man, rouse yourself; if ch,ld
can you ask me to yoke my life to :, !
child's feebleness? Listen to me well
! Paul, for; much depends now on you:
IT, "O6,. Magdalen, you know I woult
I give my life for you !"' cried the poo
boy, passionately.