The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1871-11-02

it alone, will lie tame aud cowed in her
solitary den,' to be shot at by any dar.
ing hunter; whereas if she be not alone
If she have any lovc:instinct ct work
tor cubs or mate-her whole nature
changes from terror to daring, from
cowardice to fury.
When, as wo neared the tropics, I
sa" Alexis cheek growing daily paler,
and his eye more sunken and restless
With some secret struggle, in the which
NJ. Anastaslus never left him for day,
an hour, minute, I became not unlike
that poor wild-beast mother. It had
gone i'll with the relentless huuter of
souls, if he had come near me then.
But he did not. For the last week of
our voyage, NJ. Anastasius kept alto
gether out OF my way.
1t was nearly over,-we were in
sight Of the shores of Hispaniola.
Then we should land. My es-
tates lay in this island. Mr.. Saltram's
business, I was aware, called him to
Barbadoes; thence again beyond seas.
Once parted, I we'll knew that if the
power aud will Of my guardian could
compass anything-and 1t seemed to
me that they we're able to compass
everything in the whole vide Garth
Alexis and I should never meet again.
In one last struggle after life-afte,
the fresh, wholesome, natural life which
contact with this yourg mans true
spirit had given mel determined te
risk all.
1t was rich tropio twilight. W.
we're all admiring it, just as three ordi
nary persons might do who we're tend
ing peacefully to their voyage.end
Yet Alexis did not seem at peace. A
settled, deadly pallor dwelt on his face
Ia restless anxiety troubled bis whole
mien.
M. Auastasius said, noticing thf
glowing tropic scenery which already
d'mly appeared in our shoreward view
"lt IS very grand j.; but Europe ii
more suited to US grave Northerns. Yo,
will think so, Alexis, when you ar,
once again there.'
care you returning ?" I asked Of Mr.
Saltram.
My cousin answered for him, eyes
immediately"
Alexis started then leaned over tn
poop in silence, and without denial.
L felt profoundly sad. My interest il
Alexis Saltram was at this time-and
but for the compulsion Of opposin:
power, might have ever been-entirel,
apart from love. We might have gon
on merely as tender friends for year
aud years,-at least I might. There
fore no maidenly consciousness warne'
me from doing what my secss OF rish
impelled towards one who held tn
same faith, and whose life SCENE,
struggled in the same mesh of circum
stances which had nearly paralysed m.
own.
"Alexis, this is our last evening go,
will sail for Europe-and We shall b.
friends no more. Will you take on
twilight stroll with me ?''-and I ex
tended my hand.
| If he had hesitatcd, or shrunk back
one second, would have flung him te
the winds, and fought my own warfar
alone; 1 was strong enough now. Bu
he sprang to me, clung to my hand
looked wildly in my face, as if Their
were tho sole light Of truth and trus
left in the world and as if, even there
he had begun to doubt. He did net
now.
"1sabel, tell me =! You still hold ou
faith-you are not going to become I
nun."
"Never! Twill offer myself to HeAv.
en- as Heaven gave me to my'elf-free
bound by no creed, subservient to nc
priest. What is be, but q man tha
shall die, whom the worms shall cover?'
| I said the words out loud. mean
| NJ. Anastasius to hear. But be look e.
as if he heard not J.; Only when u
turned up the deck, he slowly followed
I stood At bay: "Cousin, leave me
Cannot I have any friend but you ?"
"None whom 1 believe you woul
harm and receive harm FROM"
"pare you"-
~ dare nothing; there is nothiu
VIII ch my church docs not dare. Coz
verse, my children. I hinder you no'
The deck is free for ALL"
! He bowed, and let US pass, then fol
lowed. Every sound of that slow
smooth footstep seemed to strike on m,
heart like the tracking tread Of doom
Alexis and I spoke little OF nothing
A leaden despair seemed to bind u
closely round, allowing only one con
eciousness, that for listle, little time, j
bound US together lie held IN,
arm so fast that l felt every throbbiu{
of his heart. My SOLE thon 5 ht was nov
to say some words tl'a'ml sht be fixed
eternal'y thcrc-so that no lure, n,
power might make him swervo from
i,;e faith tho foith wh;cb 1vae mn oh 10