The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1871-06-08

"A'~ o~'AoA' AAo o"A~3 oo 1~Aos~
ly and gently-'Don't :be frightened,
my child. Mr.. Rivers is badly hurt,
bnt he will not de- I Icannot tell you
what a relief his words we're; and
when he led me into the room and put
me into arooking chair, as il l had been
q child, and whispered me to trust him,
AID not alarm myself reedlessly, l felt
as if could trust him with ANYTHING
in the world.
"Papa insisted that l should go to
Newport with Mrs. Ware, as we had
intended but I asked him if he thought
| would 60 away and dance and make
merry whils he was suffering at home;
and he consented at last that I should
stay if wished to.
"Cousin Louis has gone with Mrs.
Ware and her party. Bella Ware writes
me that he is the most popular man at
the spriogs. He has winning ways,
you know and Bella says he is break
ing feminine hearts by the score. Oh!
shame on man who can put his gifts
and graces to so ungencrous a use.
Shame on him if he is my cousin.
"Do you know, Louise. 1 have faint
suspicion that papa wishes me to mar
~ Louis, some day. I wonder if the
idea strikes you as strangely as it does
me-the idea Of marrying my cousin ;
though, to be sure it is cousinship twice
removed. But I don't regret in the
least my decision about staying at home.
think papa is glad to have me with
him and Doctor Stanton looks at me
as If he thought l had done right, and
1 want his approval. LOUISE"
Lilly was standing near while read
this letter. I handed it to her when I
had finished, thinking it would please
and interest her to hear from Esther.
She read it through to the end, and
handed it back to me without speak
ing but her face was white as death,
and she shivered in the sultry summer
air. Like flash the truth dawned up.
on my mind. Lilly had lost her heart
to Louis Mayue; and he-had been
simply amusing himself.
You might possibly wonder how she
could have been so foolish. I did not.
I knew the mans power-the bewilder-
ing beauty OF feature, the winning smile,
the charm of voice and manner; and
had often secretly wondered at the tact
which enabled him to adapt his manner
so exactly to the mood and temperament
Of the person he was addressing-some.
times grave and respectful; sometimes
witty ; sometimes careless; sometimes
tender-always fascinating. Recalling
it all and looking at Lilly's anguish
stricken face, I thought of Abaddon,
the Fiend.
That night Lilly told me all-6rst
exacting promise that I would never
breathe word of it to any one while
che or Louis lived-clingiug to me as if
l was tho only friend she had in the
world-murmuring at last, eff papa
were only here"
Day by day she grew paler, her step
slower, her smile more family sweet.
Papa and mamma grew alarmed, and
Insisted on sending for physician. He
looked very grave when he came and
advised papa to write to Mrs. Howe
and Mr.. Hayse.
knew that Lilly had witten to her
father, begging him to come home.
AT length he came, a tall, handsome
man OF thifty-eight, his fair complexion
Drowned by the sun of India My heart
ached for him as he held his daughter
10 bis arms aud kissed the white fore.
head 50 soon to wear heavenly crown.
And one cold, starlight night in mid
winter, when the snow lay white and
deep over the earth, she died.
think she was glad to 60. A strong
er woman would have battled With this
sorrow, and in time, perhaps, have over
come it; but Lilly was not strong wo-
man, and it killed her.
She never spoke the beloved name
but once, and then it was whispered SO
low that no ear but mine heard it..
"Pray for him, Louise. Pray for me
that I may meet him again up yonder." !"
Her face frightened just at the last
was it beam from the glori6ed of
God, whom living she had tried always
to serve
! She looked round and smiled on US
all. at is coming. Goodbye, dear
trends. Goodbye, Louise. Goodbye,
papa," aud the light died out suddenly
Ia great shadow fell on the white face.
Mr.. Hayse fingered long at our
house. When at last he went he held
me close to his breast and kissed me,
whispering softly, "My dearest! My
darliag Louisev ~
Do you comprehend, oh, reader ? Do
you understand how I came to love this
man who had been once married, and
was twenty years my senior? I can on
ly tell you that I did love him-that he
was dearer to me than all elso on earth.
And when the period which custom
gives to mourning had expired I be-
came his vile.
But Esther was not my bridesmaid.
She had written to me when on the eve
OF embarking for Europe, saying that it
I y