The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1872-03-14
He sh.ugs bis shoulders.

He shIugs bis shoulders.
Il believe did sbamble round tho
room once or twice, but it was not a
very successful experiment."
After the dance, which is surely ten
minutes longer than any galop that ever
was played before, after a prolonged
stroll in the corridors, after tea, Lcnole
returns to her chapcrone; returns,
laughing end flushed, but With 4 look
Of uneasy excitement underlying the
surface'merriment Of her fce
Paul has been waiting, With no out.
ward sign of impatience on his grave,
sad face. He goes up to her.
"May have five minutes talk with
you :" he asks, formally.
She takes his arm, and they walk off:
Neither speaks till they reach the
bench on which, in the earlier and hap
pier part of the evening, they had sat
together, gayly ohatteriug. Then Paul
addresses her with cutting, cold polite
ness.
"May I ask, Lenore, what is induc-
ing you to make yourself so remarkable
with Scrope tonight? Is it solely for
your own satisfaction, or for the double
pleasure Of amusing yourself and annoy
ing me?"
The opening is not conciliatory. The
color rushes red and headlong to LIE:
nore's cheeks she filings up her proud
head.
81 killed two birds with one stone,"
she says, in angry jest; che dances like
an archangcl, and it makes you jeal.
ous."
II do not doubt your first assertion"
says Paul, more coldly that ever, "and
I fully agree with your last; perhaps
am more prone to jealousy than other
men. I have not been so used to wom-
en- and their ways. But I confess l do
not enjoy seeing my future wife hauled
about BY man, who is Gas is evident
to the most casual observer) making
passionate aud unrest,aipcd love to
her."
She is about TO interrupt him, but he
stopssher.
II confess / do not relish seeing him
pointed out as occupying the position
which, till tonight, I supposed was
mine.'
"What do you mean ?"
~ mean" Gin a tone where the per-
suasive is quite swamped in the imper-
ative) "that I distinctly object to your
dancing with Scfope."
"That is unfortunate p rctorts Le-
more, to whose ears the imperative has
been, from her youth up, an unknown
mood, and whose gorge has always risen
at the faintest attempt at coercion ;
"for have every intention of dancing
with him again-onoe-twice-if not
more."
"After the opinion l have just ex.
pressed Z" cries Paul, bis anger effect
ually breaking through the armor Of
his coIducss, voice raised and gray eyes
tightening.
"Most decidedly" she answers, with
distinct emphasis. II am not in the
habit of breaking. my word, and last
night promised him that as he leaves
Sylvia's house tomorrow, l would waltz
four times with him to-night-and
waltz four times with him l will ~
"You promised him ~ repeats Paul,
hardly any longer master Of his own
indignation. IAN I to understand
that you have been making terms
bargaining with him? How ought h,s
comings or goings to affect you ?"
"ln this way" sheianswers, her lii
quivering with anger, but articulatine
with slow clearnese. II have, or fancy
have, considerable regard for YOU
and slight regard for him, and l have
no wish to see you kick each other
down.stairs-a denoxment which is on
ly qucstson..ot time as long as you art
in the same house."
"Lenore !" (snatching her hand, ant
holding it with almost painful tight
uese, while his eyes glow bright ant
deeply angry in this dim plaoeO Gar
you mad, or are you bent on driving
me mad ? After what has often passe'
between US about that fellow, can yo'
dare to tell me to my face that 20,
F have regard for him ?"'
Whom the Gods wish TO destroy the,
first deprive Of understanding.
"Dare /" she says, while her eye
meet his untlinchingly, though, within
her spirit quails-her heart yearns
him in his honest anger. "What al
ugly word Yes, do dare Why shoul'
not 1? He is handsome, aud I love Il
look at beautiful things and people ; b.
admires me bliudly, and admiration il
food and drink to me; he can see n
fault IN me, and l hate to be eternall,
carped At and picked holes in"
II see," says Paul, dropping he
hand, aud steaking in tone of smoth
cred resentment, which (if she oouls
but have understood it) was NOR
alarming than his out-spokcn anger, 81
understand; you cannot sec our insult
ability more clearly than l do; from
the first, I felt it profoundly, and ever.
day I live I feel it more. But, Lenore
Why" (graspiug her arm with uncon
.:o.,. so,oonoee\-uvhu-; fro,n th.