The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1871-11-09

Then indeed, siokeaed, "a deadly
horror came over me. No wonder the
young thing, convinced Of my guilt fed
from me, appalled,.
For I knew now whom she had seen.
Hour after hour l must have lain
where fell. There was some confu-
sion in the house-no one came near
me. 1t was early daylight when I
woke and saw Fanchon leaning over me
and trying to lit me from the floor.
"Fanchon,-is it morning ?"
"Yes, Madame"
"What day is it?"
"The twenty-sixth Of May"
1t had been he then. he followed,
us still. ::
Shudder after shudder convulsed me,
1 think Fanchon thought was dying.
"Oh, Madame y oh, poor Madame
And Monsieur not yet come home,"
/ uttered horrible cry-for my soul
foreboded what either had been, OF
would be.
Alexis never came home again.
An hour after, I was sent for to the
little woodcutter's hut, where he lay
dying.
My noble husband had in him but
one thing lacking-his passion were
"not in his hand" When Col. Hart, on
tho clear testimony Of Eliza, impugned
his wife's honor, Alexis fought and
fell.
It all happened in one night, wber
their blood. was fiery hot. BY daylight
the Colonel stood, colt as death, pail
as shadow, by Alexis bedside. HI
had killed him, and he loved him!
No one thought of me. They let MI
weep near NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. as he va.
doubtless believing them the last con
trite tears Of an adultress I did moi
heed or try to deny that horrible name
Alexis was dying.
Towards evening be became stron ger
and his senses returned. He opened
his eyes and saw me, but they closed
with shudder.
"Alexis ALEXIS !'
"1s5el, am dying. You know why
In the name Of God-are you'-
''In tho name Of God, I am you.
pure wife, who never loved, even in
thought, any man but you"
II am satisfied"
He looked at Colonel Hart, family
smiling; then opened his arms and
took mo into them, as if to protect me
with his last breath.
"Now," he said, still holding me
"my friends, We must make all clear
Nothing must harm her when I an
gone. Hart, fetch your wife here"
Mrs. Hart came, trembling violently
Woman-like, seeing my misery, ever
she caught my hand and wept. Ny
husband addressed her.
"Whom did you see ? Answer, al
to dying man who tomorrow vii
know all secrets. Who was the mar
you saw in my wife's chamber 2"
"He was stranger. never saw
him before, anywhere. He lay on th'
sofa, wrapped in a fur cloak"
"Did you see his face 7"
"Not the first time. The second tim,
I did,"
"Nhat was he like :? Be accurate
for the sake of more than life-honor
My husbands voice sank. There
was terror in his eyes, but not that ter
1or-he held me to his bosom still.
"What was he like, Ellza?" repeated
Colonel Hart.
"Hc was middle aged; Of pale
grave countenance, with keen, larg'
eyes, high forehead, and a pointed
beard"
"Heaven save US! I have seen him
too," cried the Colonel, horror-struok
'It vas no living man you saw, Eliza
| "1t was NJ. Anastasias -
! My husband died that night. H
died, h s lips on mine, murnuriog bo,
he loved me, and how happy he ba
been.
! For many months after then I We
quite happy, too; for my Wits wander
ed, aud ] was again little West Ind
an girl, picking gowans in the meadow
about Dumfries.
The Colonel and Mrs. Hart were,
believe, vory kind to me. I Away
took her for little playfellow I hat
who Was called Eliza. 1t is only latel
as the year has circIed round again t
the spricg, that my head has becom'
clear and I have found out who she is
and alb, me who I au..
This coming to my right senses doe
not give me SO much pain as the
tn ought it would because great weak
ness Of body had balanced and soothe
my mind.
I have had but ne desire: to go t
my own Alexis and tetore the 25tl
Of Nay.
Now have been able to complet
nearly our story. Reader, judge be
tween us-and him. Farewell.
| IsBEL SALTRAM.
Postscriptum.-l think it will b
we'll that l, Eliza Hart, should relat
as simply, as veraciously, the circum
stances Of Mrs Saltram's death, whic1