The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1871-08-10
SWEET SALOME.

{ CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.
He was absent an entire week, snd
Salomc had tho chance 81 realizing 70,
the first time how long week may be,
in spite of three delightful letters tha,
woke all the slumbcriug pulses Of he,
heart, but to which shs replied not q
word. Why? He had not asked her,
forsooth he had only asked, Would
she bum those he might choose to
write? Rum them! She would quite
as soon put her own hand to the fame
they were part OF him, the picture Of
bis thoughts, the vital expression Of his
being.
1t was sad cross that the very day
he had fixed Tor his return she must at
tend jinuer-party at tho house Of a
friend some miles away. 1t seemed to
her, in the first place, that th, dinner
would never have a beginning, and
secondly, that it would never have az
end ; and then, was the way home ever
80 long before? With Kitty aud Hid.
reth cooiug in one corner Of the coach,
aud Sishing it would creep on forever.
But vexation was all forgotten when,
spurriDg up the drive, she could plainly
desory M'Gregor and Thorpe sitting on
the piazza, euveloped in a drifting
cloud If incense like two Morse gods.
M'Gregor threw his cigar away as
they drew up, and came down to meet
her.
"Salome," said he, lifting her from
the carriage, II have lived whole week
without word from your lips"
ut was not the first experiment OF
the kind, I fancy" she answered, light.
ly. "1f I'm not mistaken, you lived
and thrived some thirty years or more
without it,"
"True. But what miserable exist.
once ! Did you receive my letters p
looking into her eyes.
eyes," the color mounting.
"Did you devote them to the
flames Z"
"Aud what if 1 did 7"
"1t was very proper, no doubt they
held words that burn,' did they not p
"l'm sure I don't know, Mr.. NJ Greg
or. Won't you tell me what you've beer
seeing and enjoying ?"
"I've beeu Consistently seeing this mo
meut, in'hy minds eye, and enjoying
the prospect"
"1t'. impossible for you to talk re-.
sooably, l believe. 1fyou aren't soios
to be entertaining I shall say good
o,ght."
They had reached the foot of tht
staircase in their talk. and stood there
delaying in tho dimly-lighted hail, Is n
something were yet to be uttered.
"Won't you say goodnight to me p
asked salome, giving him her hand
"Those people we're so tiresome that I'm
already balf asleep"
"lhis is my good. night" said he
and before she could have spoken he
had stopped and lett kiss on her lips
For an instant the spirit of the Tres.
hams stirred angrily within her; then
she turned and vent up to her room
sobbiog beneath her breath, "If he
loved me he would never have stolen
what I would not give;" but in be,
dreams that long, lingering touch still
burned upon her lips and made the
heart beat double measure.
The next morning she did not e
down to breakfast 1t the usual hour, #
a. much as the kiss vas sw,eet-whict
fact conscience would not allow her tt
evade-so much che meant to deny
herself the equ.l sweetness of bis pres
once; besides, she argued, it was vel, t<
show dis.pproval Of his conduct. Bu'
ali this was to no purpose; M'Gregol
waylaid her the moment her foot was IN
the stairs: and whether it was owing K
his sudden appearance, or to treacher
QUE carpot:rod, she tripped, and voult
have fallen headIong but that he pu
out IN arm and saved her.
"When tho heavens fall we cstcl
lark" said he "You were offended
with messlast night 7" he questioned
still holding her fast. II confess that:
did ~rongly-m.y perhaps b tempted
again->Will you forrive mo 2" With hi,