The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1871-09-14

in his eyes: He followed her about
the house with q kind of mournful
Watching, as if be was afraid of some.
thing carrying her of bodily from b.
fore his eyes. He was for ever creep
ing close to her, nesting in, if she had
left space on the sofa large enough for
a asparro~ to perch on. Then she
would move farther away, with perhaps
40, apology. Then he would look hurt
perhaps have a fit OF mournful sulki-
ness, which it was inexpressitly painful
to witness When that was passed, he
would 60 to her With an air tendsrly
forgiving, and attempt come gentle ca.
ress and, when she repulsed him, as
she generally did now-although she
did not know why, his caresses annoyed
her-he would either droop suddenly
like stricken bird, or stand like the
lovsr in a. melod1ama who opens his
vest and cries "Tyrant !! strike your vic
tim m"-with; that provoking kind of
resignation which infers meek virtue on |
the one side and hard barbarity on the
other Or, with the temporary CON-
bativeness which belongs to weak ma
lures, he would press any particular
manifestation Of love on her until he
made her accept it, unless she had un-
dertaken to discuss the matter openly,
which was net desirable for either. So
she would submit to his offered kiss, or
suffer him to take her hand, or hold her
waist and press him to her (they were
just the same height, aud she was much
the stronger), with her teeth set hard
and her nerves strung like cords. She
felt sometimes as if she could have
killed him when he touched her.
! He came ottener than ever to the
house; ard he had always haunted it
like spectre or an unlaid ghost. But
no" he was never absent; she was new
er alone, never free from him. She
began to weary Of him fearfully, and to !
feel that solitude was an unspeakable
luxury. She was brought to the pass
of feeling that, to escape from Paul
Lefevre, her alta need lover, was one of
the things most to be desired and at
tanned in. her daily lite. He tried to
lead her to talk Of their marriage, and
she turned pale instead. He spoke of
the great things they would do in
life together and her lip curled con-
tomptuously. he repeated again and
again his own high hopes ; and she an
swered, "Dreamer !! to believe in . fu |
ture Of fame without endeavor; con-
tent to say that you will be famous,
while taking no means to become so
dreaming away the hours which should |
be employed 10 action, and thinking |
that the will can do .ll things, even
without trauslasing that will into deeds !
enthusiast who of ideas makes reali.
ties, and Of hopes certaiuties." This
was but sorry answer, however true,
to the burning thoughts that did verify
stand the young artist in place of deeds. |
They were finding out how little moral
harmony there was between their na-
lures, and how unfit they were for the
real union of life.
Paul came one day, as usual, early in
the morning. He used to run all tho
way from biz lodgings to Oak6eld, SO
that he always came in a terribly ex-
cited, heated, painting condition, which
Of itself irri;ated Magdalen. To-day he
came, flushed and eager; pouring out q
volume Of love as he entered, and for
his greeting flinging himself at Mag
dalen's feet, embracing her knees, and,
calling her his morning etar and his
life. Magdalen had not slept all the
previous night; she too was excited, bat
in different way-,rritable aud per-
vous. She would have given tho
world to be alo6e, but how could she
send Paul away? However being there,
she muet> make him reasonable. He
spoke to her epassionately aud teuderly;
she answered him IN monosyllables, Der
head turned away or her eyes on the
! ground He took her hand. and she
yylshdrew it, saying, "Dear Paul, leave
me alone, to-day, and do not touch me-"
He asked her if she had chosen the
plain silk or tae aowercd, for the we'd
ding-dress? And she said *Neithcr,"
very coldly. "We have plenty of time
before it comes to that" she added, with
an accent that said Of itself ri am hap.
py to be able to say So"
Paul had long been choking with
sobs, kept back with wonderful
amouat OF selEcommand, for him. But
now, he suddenly gavo way. A violent
flood of tears burst from him as he ex~
| claimed, "Magda)en Masdalen we
are drifting fearfully spart. Tell me
what you disapprove Of in me ; and
trust inc, my beloved, I will olter it,
whatever it may bc-were it to cut my
very heart QUITO please you"
He sobbed so bitterly, that Magdalen
was almost overcome too. For she had
real affection for him, if not quite the
strength Of lovo desirable between Der.
sous who are betrothed.
"Dear Paul." she said, gently, ~
dare say have been very much chang
ed lately; but have been suffering a
great deal Of misery, which have not
liked to tell you Of. That is the only
reason IF my coldness. / know that