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

make mistake, it is from 4 nobler mo.
live than others hsve. But now, open
your heart to me, M.gd.len ; it will do
you good and l will help you and SUP.
port you!"
M'gdaleu glanced down At the up-
turned face, still flushed and suf.
fused with tears: nervous, quivering,
full OF passion, but SO weak; ; and a
smile stole over her own calm, grand
the features of a Greek
goddess-as she SAID to herself, "Sup-
port from hin, r'
my brother disputes the WILL" she
said, suddenly. "He says that the cod
icil which you witnessed is = forgery ;
that l forged my fathers handwriting,
and that you were privy to it, Of course.
l can write like poor papa, as you
know and as I have often written let
ters to Andrew in jest, pretending that
they came from poor papa, he has .
strong case. On this fact, as tho prin-
cipal evidence against me-on the fact,
also, Of the codicil being written in =
trembling hand, very unlike my fathers
firm distinct writing, he has founded
his charge Of forgery. Is it not pain
full"
"But what are you going to do, Mag.
d.len z" said Paul, who had become
deadly pale, and w.s trembling.
"Dispute the point to the last inch Of
ground" she answered firmly.
He covered his face in his hands.
"Are you obliged to do this p he ask.
ed.
"No; l had q letter again to-day
from my brother, Offering, .s he haa
done before, to withdraw his charge,
and not proceed with tho affair at all,
If will give up possession, and de-
stroy the codieil. IfI do not, he will
have me arrested for felony"
"Magdslen p That tremendous word,
felony, had an overpower,Dg effect on
Paul and he asked wildly, "You will
not surely let it come to this ?"
"What else can I do, P.ul?"
"Give it all up to your brother-to
the last tarthing-your portion-all..-
rather than begin this unholy and most
unfeminine strife"
"And what are VIC to do then, Paul,
when I am beggar?"
"What ?-can you ask me, love 7
Hand in hand we will wander through
the world ; my art our aid, our love
our consolation and protection. We
shall not be deserted, M.gd.len."
"What, give it up, Paul, and allow
him and the world 20 believe me guilty?
-be myself my exeoationer :? L could
not do that"
"Let them believe what they like,
Magdalen. Does belief make truth 7
Are you not innocent? Who judges you
but God? What il the opinion Of tho
world, compared to the truth of your
Innocence, aud the reality Of Heavens
favor2 Magdalen, take my advice
do not enter into this contest. Give it
all up without struggle. Come to mu !!
my arms shall uphold you, my
heart shall shelter you"
"That is very we'll IN Words" said
Magdaleu, a little coldly; "but you
know that in reality it means nothing.
If give up this property, We give up
all hope Of our union. We have moth
ing for our support but this; what
would you do, then 7"
"My art" said Paul. "Have I not
said SO already 7"
"Your art how can you rely on
that Have you not always said that
you could not paint for money, and that
so soon as you began anything like q
commission, you lost all power aud in.
spiralion Have you not again and
again congratulated yourself on this
good fortune, as giving you the power
OF painting for fsme, aud the regener'
alton of mankind 7" And Msgdalen'i
lip slightly curled.
"But if necessary, and if I could not
support you, I would postpone our mar
riage to an indefinite time, Msgd.leo,
rather than that you should do wrong
to your nature"
"And you think . manfal defense oi
my just rights wrong act, Paul 2"
"Agafnst = brother-yes."
"Then must We submit to soy op-
preston and tyranny whatsoever, rather
than defend ourselves? ? L. this . man, =
creed :" Maedalen was speaking now
with somewhat uadisgused contempt.
"Yes" said Paul, his lips auivering
# would rather you submitted patient
ly aud woman-like to any wrong then
that you came out into the open day to
defend yourself: The publicity! TIE
disgrace! You-you, my queenly
Magdalen in the criminals place !:
eazed, at BY the coarse r.bble; spoken
of by the liceutious press your beauty
on; your innocence made
the theme of arguments aud doubt,
banded about from counsel to counsel ::
insulted, looked 1t BY bold
eyes-ncver! never! Magdalen, it
would break my heart! 1t would be
such degradation to you, as l could
never bear. For1 am jealous of you
for your own sakev'
"1s not this rather childish 2" said
"Have you no more sense