The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1871-06-22

could understand how worse than death
tbs discovery must have been to her,
to her SO true herself, so generously
truettul Of others, too proud to act or
speak J. lie. Her hot hands still held
'-atne As she went on, speaking slowly,
+ {yo tszzety' i; ~ word hurt her.
'or9 lady, you are beautiful and wealthy
IFnss :, ;said. I have notbing-not even
my good name. In my aoger and jeal~
ousy, I intended to expose him in the
preseuse Of your father and the servants.
But you are not to blame. You did
not even know Of my existence, SO to
spare your feelings, I come to warn you
privately" l do not know what an
swer made, or, indeed, whether I
made any at all. I felt stunned and
bcwildered. The baby smiled up in
my face as l. bent over him. I kissed
his innocent forehead, once, and made
a motion toward the door. The woman
understood-sbe gathered her child up
in her arms, and went silently OUT
When she had gone went up to my
own room aad lockcl myself in.
"After a while heard Willard's firm
step in the hall, on his way to papa's
room. l shivered when I heard it
thinking how often l had listented for
that very step. It Was weakness, mad
ness, I knew, but l felt, even then, as
if must go to him-as if one touch
of his hand, one kiss from hlm, would
blot out all of that dreadful story I had
heard. I was possessed with a mad
impulse to throw myself into his arms
and tell him what that woman had said,
and ask him which of us be loved best.
II was not myself then, or should
have never dreamed of such thing
My senses returned to me ip, time to
save me the degradation Of such step.
"When Dr.. Stanton came out, I
heard him inquiring for me. l sent
down a card with line penciled upon
It, saying that could not see him, and
be must never ask to see me agaiu." -
He sent it back, inquiring, is this a
dismissal ? What have l done :?
Please let me speak to YOU But I
was inexo1able. I dared not See hin,
lest, hearing his voice, looking into
his eyes, I should not have courage to
tell him that we must never meet
again. 1t was easier to write the words
than to speak them.v L never will be
your wife, I said. 4 could not trust
you. If you have any honor do not
importune me fasther. 1t is utterly
useless could commit murder now
more easily than l wrote those lines
then. 1 heard him return to papa's
! room. They were closeted together
half au hour-then Willard went away,
| aud l have never seen him since.
"Papa told me at dinner that day,
that Dr. Stanton had given notice that
he could not attend him any longer, as
business called him to the West. But
the arm was getting on so we'll that
daily visits were no longer necessary,
be thought; and he could recommend
his partner, DR.. Salter, as competent
surgeon, who would as we'll. He would
speak 10 DR.. Sa!ter if Mr. lRivers wished
nd give him all necessary data in re-
gard to the case. so you see, puss,
| DR.. Salter will be here tomorrow in
| stead of Willard Stanton
"He never knew what business it
was that called Dr.. Stanton so suddenly
the West.
"Papa improved vey fast, and in
September We came to Europe. I've
been everywhere, and seen the lions, as
people say, but I'm dreadiully tired o|
| it, and 1 want to get back to America
A few more weeks OF gayety, and
we all embarked together for New
York. Never went wearied child more
gladly to the arms OF Its mother, than
did Esther to her old home.
Louis Maync was a very attentive
lover. He was ono of those persons
who value a thing lust according to the
value placed upon it by other people
and the difficulty Of obtaining 1t. In
the old days, though not at all rude OF
impolite to his cousin, he had been
careless and Indifferent. But now that
princes and dukes had thought it worth
their while to seek her favor, und re-
publican society, in general more en-
thusiastic but not quite 80 dlscrimina
ting As that of the Old World, was al
her feet, his manner had undergone a
radical change.
AS for Esther herself; she rode and
dressed and sung and laughed aud
talked as brilliantly as she had done in
the salons Of Europe. Listening to bel
gay sallies, I sometimes wondered what
difference would have been made in he'
life If that love affair with DR.. Stanton
had terminated differently.
She never referred to the subject
md my lips we're sealed. And in the
summer, when painters and glaciers
and upholsterers had done their work a,
Fairview, its doors were thrown open te
| visitors, Mrs. Ware once more summon
cd to play propriety, and invitations is
sued for grand wedding reception.
There were dozen pleasant people